על שהרע נוהג לארוב לטוב ל״זThat the Worse is wont to Attack the Better 37
א׳
1[135] This lesson would seem to have been taught by the most holy prophet Moses. It is taught by the fact of Aaron the Levite meeting his brother Moses and on seeing him rejoicing in himself (Exod. 4:14). The words “rejoicing in himself,” apart from what I have already remarked about them, bring out a truth of yet greater importance for unselfish service. The lawgiver is directing attention to the kind of joy that is genuine and most fully proper to man.
ב׳
2[136] For strictly speaking there is no ground for rejoicing over abundance of wealth and possessions, or over brilliant position, or, generally, over anything outside us, since all these things are soulless, and insecure, and have the germs of decay in themselves. Nor indeed is there ground for rejoicing over strength and robust health and other bodily advantages. Not only have we these in common with the most worthless of men, but many a time they bring inexorable ruin on those who have them.
ג׳
3[137] Since, then, joy that is free from all sham and counterfeit is found only in the good things of the soul, it is “in himself,” not in the accidents of his position, that every wise man rejoices; for the things that are “in himself” are excellences of mind, on which we have a right to pride ourselves, but the accidents of our position are either bodily well-being or plenty of external advantages, and of these we must not boast.