Proverbs of the Fifty: The Students

In/By
Reward
Thing/Word
Year/Study
Willed/Desired
Wise man
Fifty
Student
Skirt/Hem
Intellect
Proverb
Will stand
He did
Pauper
Did
Intellect
Business/Work
Willed
Valid
Part
Pursuer
Will overtake him
From him
Riches
Free
Sweetness

A Wise Man

A certain wise man desired to test the wisdom of fifty students as they were sitting before him and kissing his hem. He said to them, "Know that it is my will to test your understanding and to weigh your wisdom in the scales of intellect. Now, let every man among you speak a desirable proverb by which anyone who comes to it might stand." They all said, "Whatever you command, we shall do; and in all that you wish, we are your servants. Test us."

The first of the students approached and said:
"In the time of testing and investigation, a man is either trivialized or honored."
The second said:
"The servant is free when he is content with his portion, and the free man is a slave when he seeks more than his allotted bread."
The third said:
"The son of man is a pursuer and a pursued; he pursues that which he will not overtake, and is pursued by that which he cannot escape."
The fourth said:
"I wonder at him who buys slaves with his riches; why does he not buy the free with the sweetness of his tongue?"
The fifth said:
"The days..."