The Laughable Stories Collected by Mar Gregory John

PROFITABLE SAYINGS OF THE HEBREW SAGES. 35
CLIX. Another sage said, ''Now, as concerning those j^
"who argue madly with each other in the debate, if they
''sought the truth they would never strive, because
"truth is a thing by itself, and truth and striving do
"not agree. But if they do not seek the truth but
"victory, then the contest must increase between them,
"for one of them cannot conquer unless the other be
"overcome."
CLX. Another sage said, "It is right that the gover-
"nor of a nation should first of all order his own
"goings and then those of his people, for unless he
"doeth this it will happen to him as it would happen
"to the man who should wish to set in order the
"shadow of the thread before he had set in order the
"substance to which the shadow belonged."
CLXI. Another sage said, "It is right that the man
"who wisheth to do good things should thoroughly
"examine himself, [that he may do] even as he would
"that a man should do unto him. And he must be
"like the man who wisheth to sow seed, to whom it
"is therefore necessary to plough up thoroughly the
"ground in which he would sow the seed, lest perad-
"venture it should be barren."
CLXII. Another sage said, "The king who is an op-
"pressor speedily destroyeth his kingdom, but the
"righteous king prolongeth the life thereof; for the
"oppressor is a waster and a destroyer, and the
"righteous man is one who buildeth up. [With him]
"that which hath been laid waste speedily cometh into
"being [again], and in the process of time the edifice
"appeareth."
I CLXIII. Another sage was asked by the wise men, j^
"Wherein lieth the difference between fear and
E2