Avos 4:14-15

Avos 4:14

Rabbi Nehorai said that one should voluntarily exile himself to a place of Torah rather than assume that it will come to him or that one’s friends will bring him up to speed on what he missed, nor should one rely on his own understanding (i.e., think that he doesn’t need a Torah-study support system).

Avos 4:15

Rabbi Yannai said that we haven’t been given the ability to understand why some evil people live peaceful lives while some righteous people suffer. Rabbi Masya ben Charash said that one should be quick to greet others first, and it’s better to be a tail to lions than a head to foxes (i.e., a relatively small person in the company of great people rather than a leader of lowly people).