XLII
Listening to the Instruction of the Wise
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The most precious of treasures is the treasure of the ear: verily it is the crown of all kinds of wealth.
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Even unto the stomach some food will be offered when there is no more food to be offered to the ear.20
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Behold the men who have listened to much instruction: they are very Gods on earth.
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Let a man hear instruction even though he hath no learning: for it will be a stay unto him when he is encompassed by difficulty.
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The counsel of the righteous is like unto a strong staff: for it keepeth those that listen to it from slipping.
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Listen to good words though they be but few: even those few will add to thee a proportionate dignity.
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Behold the man that hath meditated much in himself and hath laid by a store of instruction by listening to the wise: he talketh not nonsense even when in error.
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Deaf indeed though it heareth is the ear that hath not been drilled by words of instruction.
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Humility of speech is hard to be attained by those who have not listened to the subtle words of the wise.
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Behold the men that taste with the tongue but know not the taste of the ear: what doth it matter to the world whether they live or die?