The Wealth Of Acceptance (Avos 4:1)
Avot4: 1
בֶּן זוֹמָא אוֹמֵר: אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם? הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ”מִכָּל־מְלַמְּדַי הִשְׂכַּלְתִּי כִּי עֵדְוֹתֶיךָ שִׂיחָה לִּי”. אֵיזֶהוּ גִבּוֹר? הַכּוֹבֵשׁ אֶת יִצְרוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ”טוֹב אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם מִגִּבּוֹר וּמשֵׁל בְּרוּחוֹ מִלֹּכֵד עִיר”. אֵיזֶהוּ עָשִׁיר? הַשָּׂמֵחַ בְּחֶלְקוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ”יְגִיעַ כַּפֶּיךָ כִּי תֹאכֵל אַשְׁרֶיךָ וְטוֹב לָךְ”. ”אַשְׁרֶיךָ” — בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, ”וְטוֹב לָךְ” — לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. אֵיזֶהוּ מְכֻבָּד? הַמְכַבֵּד אֶת הַבְּרִיּוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ”כִּי מְכַבְּדַי אֲכַבֵּד וּבֹזַי יֵקָלוּ”.
Ben Zoma says: Who is wise? He who learns from every person, as it is said: From all my teachers I grew wise, for Your testi-monies are my conversation. Who is strong? He who subdues his personal inclination, as it is said: He who is slow to anger is better than a strong man, and a master of his passions [is better] than a conqueror of a city. Who is rich? He who is happy with his lot, as it is said: When you eat the labor of your hands, you are praiseworthy and all is well with you. You are praiseworthy —- in this world; and all is well with you —- in the World to Come. Who is honored? He who honors others, as it is said: For those who honor Me I will honor and those who scorn Me shall be degraded.