Musar for Avodah Zarah 36:16
אמר רבי אליעזר קשה היא שתחילת' יסורין וסופו כלייה דרש ר' שמעון בן פזי אשרי האיש אשר לא הלך לטרטיאות ולקרקסיאות של עובדי כוכבים ובדרך חטאים לא עמד זה שלא עמד בקנגיון ובמושב לצים לא ישב שלא ישב בתחבולות
Shimon b. Pazi expounded: “Happy is the man that has not walked” to theatres and circuses of idolaters; “nor stood in the way of sinners,”—this refers to the one who does not attend contests of wild beasts; “nor sat in the gathering of the scornful,” that is he who does not participate in [evil] conspiracies.
Mesilat Yesharim
According to the severity of the sin and its consequences, the True Judge increased its punishment as our sages of blessed memory taught us: "levity is extremely severe; it starts with suffering and ends in utter destruction as written (Isaiah 28:22):'And now do not be mockers lest your bonds be strengthened for a decree of destruction have I heard...' " (Avodah Zara 18b).
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