Four things are unbecoming to scholars. One should not start out on a journey by night,¹ go out scented,² be the last to enter the Synagogue,³, reads ‘Beth Hammidrash’. or frequent the society of ignorant persons.

footnotes: ¹ Either because of danger or not to arouse suspicion of immoral intention. ² According to Ber. 43b (Sonc. ed., p. 266) this applies to scenting one’s clothes and in a place where people are suspected of sodomy. ³ Ber. loc. cit.

On entering the elder precedes, on leaving the younger precedes;⁴ when ascending a staircase the elder precedes, when descending a staircase the younger precedes; [when entering] a Council Chamber the elder precedes; [when entering] a prison the younger precedes; to pronounce a blessing⁵ the elder takes precedence. The passer-by greets one who is sitting.

footnotes: ⁴ Or, ‘the more important … the less important’. Cf. Ber. 61a (Sonc. ed., p. 381): ‘In conferring honour we commence with the greatest’. ⁵ At the beginning of a meal or to recite Grace after it.

No person should sit down at table to eat before his elders [have taken their seat]. When cutting off a piece of bread [for Grace before meals] one should do so from the part that is baked into a crust.⁶ When one is about to eat a leek or onion, he should begin to eat from the leaves.⁷ One should not take hold of a loaf, bite a piece off and place it back upon the table. When about to drink water in public, one should turn his face away and drink.⁸

footnotes: ⁶ Cf. above, p. 553. ⁷ And not from the top; cf. above, p. 553. ⁸ Because it is customary for a scholar to exercise privacy both in eating and drinking.

A man should not be a caviller, trickster or tippler. He should overlook an insult and not glorify himself by his fellow’s humiliation.⁹

footnotes: ⁹ Cf. Meg. 28a (Sonc. ed., p. 168).

The first stage in committing a sin is impure thought, the second is scoffing, the third haughtiness, the fourth cruelty, the fifth idleness, the sixth causeless hatred and the seventh an evil eye.¹⁰ That is what Solomon said, When he speaketh fair, believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart.¹¹

footnotes: ¹⁰ An envious nature. ¹¹ Prov. 26, 25.