Reference for Bava Kamma 173:3
אמר רב יוסף מריש הוה אמינא מאן דאמר הלכה כר' יהודה דאמר סומא פטור מן המצות קא עבדינא יומא טבא לרבנן מ"ט דלא מפקדינא וקא עבדינא מצות
he who is subject to the 'ordinances' is subject to 'commandments' and 'statutes', but he who is not subject to 'ordinances' is not subject to 'commandments' and 'statutes'. R. Joseph stated:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Kid. 31a. ');"><sup>4</sup></span> Formerly I used to Say: If someone would tell me that the <i>halachah</i> is in accordance with R. Judah who declared that a blind person is exempt from the commandments, I would make a festive occasion for our Rabbis, because though I am not enjoined<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As R. Joseph became blind through an illness; cf. Shab. 109a. ');"><sup>5</sup></span>