One is forbidden to engage in slippery and deceptive words, nor should he speak with one thing on his tongue and another in the heart.¹ Rather let his insides be one with his word and that in his heart be that in his mouth.² ed. Schechter, version A, Chapter XXVIII, p. 86. It is forbidden to deceive people including the gentile.³ And those who insult gentiles during an exchange of greetings while the gentile thinks that he means well, are sinners, for there is no greater deception than this.⁴ One should avoid greeting the wicked in every way possible,⁵ but in the interest of peaceful relations we can initially extend greetings to the more important among them.⁶, 7b. Also he need not repeat the greeting,⁷ for such is the custom that he who responds repeats the greeting twice.⁸, ed. Soncino, Genesis 1:303. And so one should not prod his neighbor and say to him, “Eat,” when he knows he will not eat.⁹ He should not overdo his hospitality if he knows that the other is not receptive. And so let him not open (wine) barrels (supposedly in honor of his friend), that he would ordinarily need to open,¹⁰ for this is to deceive, since it leads him (the friend) to believe that he opens them in his honor. Rather let him say, “Know that I do not do this because of you.”¹¹ And so everything that is similar to this, even one word of guile or deception is prohibited, only let there be truthful language, a proper spirit and a heart cleansed of all perversion and vanity. All facets of a person should be truthful. He should not be contentious, scornful or jesting, for jesting and lightheadedness bring a man to lewdness,¹² therefore let him not be excessive in laughter¹³ nor sad or mournful,¹⁴ but receive each man with a cheerful countenance.¹⁵ Therefore he should not be a greedy person, driving for wealth,¹⁶ ed. Soncino, Numbers, VI, 796. nor lazy or shirking, but possessed of a generous eye, engaged in a little trade and occupying himself in Torah, and in that little (small share) which is his portion let him rejoice.¹⁷ Let him not be quarrelsome, jealous, lustful or a pursuer of honor; for jealousy, lust and ambition carry man away from this world.¹⁸, 4:28.

footnotes: ¹ Pesahim 113b. ² Aboth of Rabbi Nathan, ³ Hullin 94a. ⁴ Tosafoth, Gittin 62a, “Peace to you.” ⁵ Berkoth 17a. The wicked were not accorded this deference (see Mekor Hesed). ⁶ Ibid. ⁷ Daath Zekenim Baale Tosafoth, Deuteronomy 20:10. See also R. Nissen, end of Chapter V, of Gittin. ⁸ Midrash Rabbah ⁹ Taanith 23b. ¹⁰ Hullin 94a. ¹¹ Makkoth 24a. ¹² Aboth 3:17. ¹³ Berakoth 31a. ¹⁴ Sanhedrin 59b. ¹⁵ Aboth 1:15. ¹⁶ Midrash Rabbah, ¹⁷ Aboth 4:1. ¹⁸ Ibid.