Ancient Jewish Proverbs: Chapter I: Human Existence

CHAPTER I HUMAN EXISTENCE § 1. Youth and Age 1. Youth is a crown of roses; old age a crown of willows (Shab. 152a; D. 323). In the former case the "crown" is an adornment lightly worn; in the latter an unwelcome burden. The stages in the career of a man are summarised by R. Judah, the son of Tema, as follows: "At five years the age is reached for the study of the Scriptures, at ten for the study of Mishnah [cf. Introduction, § 3], at thirteen for the fulfilment of the commandments, at fifteen for the study of the Talmud, at eighteen for marriage, at twenty for seeking a livelihood, at thirty for entering into one's full strength, at forty for understanding, at fifty for counsel; at sixty a man attains old age, at seventy the hoary head, at eighty the gift of special strength (Psalm xc. 10), at ninety he bends beneath the weight of years, at a hundred he is as if he were already dead and had passed away from the world" (Aboth v. 24). p. 31 *2. Every pumpkin is known by its stem (Ber. 48a; D. 146). One can usually detect in the young what they will be like later on. "The child is father of the man." See the following. 3. While [the thorn] is still young it produces prickles (Gen. R. ch. ii. § 1; D. 549). Used to illustrate "Even a child maketh himself known by his doings" (Prov. xx. 11). *4. He who has issued from thee teacheth thee reason (Jeb. 63a; D. 206).