23. R. Eleazar Chisma said, "The laws concerning the sacrifices of birds and the purification of women are essential ordinances; astronomy and geometry are the after-courses of wisdom." Rabbi Chanania, the son of Akashia, said, "The Holy One, blessed be He, was pleased to make Israel worthy; wherefore He gave them a copious _Torah_ and many commandments, as it is said, 'It pleased the Lord, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify the _Torah_ and make it honorable'". CHAPTER IV All Israel have a portion in the world to come, and it is said, "And thy people shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified". 1. Ben Zoma said, "Who is wise? He who learns from all men, as it is said, 'from all my teachers have I gotten understanding.' Who is mighty? He who controls his passions, as it is said, 'He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth over his spirit than he that taketh a city.' Who is rich? He who rejoices in his portion, as it is said, 'When thou eatest the labor of thine hands, happy art thou, and it shall be well with thee'; happy art thou in this world, and it shall be well with thee in the world to come. Who is honored? He who honors others, as it is said, 'For them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be held in contempt.'" 2. Ben Azzai said, "Hasten to do even a slight precept, and flee from transgression; for one virtue leads to another, and transgression draws transgression in its train; for the recompense of a virtue is a virtue, and the recompense of a transgression is a transgression." 3. He used to say, "Despise not any man, and carp not at any thing; for there is not a man that has not his hour, and there is not a thing that has not its place." 4. R. Levitas of Jabneh said, "Be exceedingly lowly of spirit, since the hope of man is but the worm." 5. R. Jochanan, the son of Berokah, said, "Whosoever profanes the Name of Heaven in secret will suffer the penalty for it in public; and this, whether the Heavenly Name be profaned in ignorance or in wilfulness." 6. R. Ishmael, his son, said, "He who learns in order to teach, to him the means will be granted both to learn and to teach; but he who learns in order to practise, to him the means will be granted to learn, and to teach, to observe, and to practise." 7. R. Zadok said, "Separate not thyself from the congregation; (in the judge's office) act not the counsel's part; make not of the _Torah_ a crown wherewith to aggrandize thyself, nor a spade wherewith to dig." So also used Hillel to say, "He who makes a worldly use of the crown (of the _Torah_) shall waste away." Hence thou mayest infer that whosoever derives a profit for himself from the words of the _Torah_ is helping on his own destruction.