He who learns from his colleague a single chapter, a single law, a single verse, a single word, or even a single letter [of Torah] must treat him with honor, for so we find in the case of David, king of Israel, who learned nothing from Ahithophel except two things, [yet] he called him his teacher, his mentor, and his adviser, as it is stated: But you are a man of my measure, my mentor, and my adviser. And does not the matter [lend itself to] a kal vachomer? If David, king of Israel, who learned nothing from Ahithophel except two things, called him his teacher, his mentor, and his adviser, one who learns from his colleague one chapter, one law, one verse, one word, or even [just] one letter, how much more must he treat him with honor. And honor [is due] only [for] Torah, as it is stated: Honor is inherited by the wise, and the perfect inherit good. And “good” refers only to Torah, as it is stated: For I have given you a good teaching, do not forsake My Torah.

This is the way of Torah —- eat [only] bread with salt, drink water in small measure, sleep on the ground, and live a life of privation, and you should toil in Torah. And if you do this, you are fortunate and it is well for you. You are fortunate in this world, and it is well with you in the World to Come.