Mishnah 10 - Chapter 1 - Pirkei Avot

Shmayah and Avtalyon received it from them. [Shmayah and Avtalyon were righteous converts, of the descendants of Sancheriv. I heard it said that because Avtalyon was the av beth-din he was called by this name, which means "a father to the young ones," "talya" in Aramaic meaning "young," as in (Megillah 5b): R. Yochanan said: "When I was young (talya)," (Yevamoth 114a): "Let the young boy (talya) and the young girl (talyata) come." Here, too, "Avtalyon," the father of young orphans.] Shmayah says: Love labor. [Even if one has enough for his livelihood, he should work, for "idleness leads to lassitude" (Kethuvoth 59b).], and hate high station. [Do not say I am a man of eminence and work is demeaning to me, viz. (Pesachim 113a): Rav said to R. Kahana: "Flay a carcass in the marketplace and take pay (for it), and do not say: 'I am a distinguished personage and it is beneath me.'" Alternately: "And hate authority." Do not lord it over the people, for "lordship buries its practitioners."], and do not ingratiate yourself with the authorities (rashut) [in order to assume authority thereby. Or: Do not do so, so that they not turn you from your faith, as happened with Doeg the Edomite. (The authorities are called "rashut" (lit., "permit"), for they are "permitted" to do as they will.)]