Regard yourself as nothing, as the Gemara (Sotah 21b) interprets the verse “Wisdom shall be found from ‘nothing.’” (Job 28:12) 1
This means that you are to regard yourself as if you are not in this world, 2 thus “what is there to gain from people esteeming you?” 3
“Words of Torah remain only with him who makes himself as one who is nothing, as it is written, “Wisdom shall be found from nothing.’“
I.e., material reality and pursuits mean nothing to you: you are indifferent to them and you concentrate solely on the spiritual. See below, sect. 62.
Cf. above, sect. 2, 5-6 and 10.
