There are seven characteristics in an uncultured man¹ Cf. Aboth V, 10 (Sonc. ed., V, 7, pp. 64f.). and seven in a wise man. A wise man does not speak before one who is greater than he in wisdom and in number,² does not enter into the midst of the words of his fellow,³ is not hasty to answer; he asks in accordance with the subject-matter and answers in accordance with the accepted decision, speaks on the first [point] first and on the last [point] last, concerning what he has not heard he says, ‘I have not heard it’,⁴ and acknowledges the truth.⁵ The reverse of these are in an uncultured man.

footnotes: ¹ Heb. golem. ² Of years. ³ i.e. does not interrupt. ⁴ Cf. above, p. 571, n. 4. ⁵ He does not consider it inconsistent with his dignity to admit when he is in the wrong.

A scholar must be modest in eating, drinking, washing, anointing,⁶ putting his shoes on, walking, his attire, [the modulation of] his voice, expectorating⁷ and good works.⁸ As a bride keeps herself secluded all the time she is in her father’s house and only makes herself known when she goes out⁹ [as if] to say, ‘Anyone who can testify anything against me,¹⁰ let him come and testify’, so must a scholar be modest in his [good] deeds but renowned for his conduct. He must seek truth and not falsehood, honesty and not robbery, meekness and not haughtiness, peace and not conflict, the counsel of the Elders and not the counsel of the young.¹¹ He should rather walk behind a lion than behind a woman.¹²

footnotes: ⁶ i.e. rubbing with oil after a bath. ⁷ i.e. clearing his throat. ⁸ He should perform them unostentatiously. ⁹ Leaves her father’s house for the wedding ceremony. ¹⁰ Against her virtue. ¹¹ Cf. Meg. 31b (Sonc. ed., p. 192): ‘If old men say to you “Throw down” and young men say to you “Build up”, do the former’. ¹² To avoid unchaste thoughts.

He honours the wise¹³ [and does not show disrespect towards them.] What is meant by ‘honours the wise’? He gives him food and drink, dresses him and puts his shoes on for him, leads him in and out. This applies to both a teacher¹⁴ and a Sage.¹⁵ What is meant by ‘showing disrespect’? He must not sit in his [accustomed] place, speak¹⁶ in his stead or contradict his words.

footnotes: ¹³ Added by GRA. ¹⁴ A variant is ‘a father’ in agreement with Ḳid. 31b (Sonc. ed., p. 154). ¹⁵ Although he is not his teacher. ¹⁶ In Ḳid. ‘stand’; cf. also Midrash Rabbah, Num., XV, 17 (Sonc. ed., p. 660).

R. Ḥiyya taught: Silence is good for the wise and how much more so for fools; and so did Solomon say, Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise.¹⁷ It is not necessary to say, ‘When a wise man holdeth his peace’.¹⁸

footnotes: ¹⁷ Prov. 17, 28. ¹⁸ Because a wise man knows when to be silent.