- Oh, beautiful Wisdom in an ugly vessel! - Caesar’s daughter exclaimed at the sight of R. Joshua, who was not distinguished by the beauty of his face.
“My daughter,” R. told her. Joshua, in what vessels does your father, Caesar, keep wine?
- In clay ones.
- What, Caesar’s wine - and in the same clay jugs as all ordinary people?!
- What should we keep our wine in?
“It becomes you, so famous and glorious, to keep your wine in silver and gold vases.”
The wine was poured into silver and gold vases - and turned sour.
Caesar asks:
-Who advised you to do this?
“R. Joshua ben Hananiah,” the princess answers.
Caesar called R. Joshua:
- How could you advise this to my daughter?
Told R. Joshua, for what reason did he do this:
“My advice was only an answer to her question.
- However, there are also wise men with a beautiful appearance?
- Ugly ones - they would be even wiser.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru