Responsa for Yevamot 125:14

רבי חייא הוה קא מצערא ליה דביתהו כי הוה משכח מידי צייר ליה בסודריה ומייתי ניהלה אמר ליה רב והא קא מצערא ליה למר א"ל דיינו שמגדלות בנינו ומצילות אותנו

to avoid disgrace;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of starvation or begging (v. Rashi). Other readings and interpretations: 'Buy ready-made cloth and do not wind skeins' (read [H], for [H], ); 'Buy etc. and do not spin' (v. Jast. and Aruk). ');">³³</span> but only mattresses, [not] however, a cloak, [since one] might not always again obtain [a suitable one].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. BaH. a.l. ');">³⁴</span> Stop up<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A small hole in a building. ');">³⁵</span> and you will need no repair;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf., 'a stitch in time saves nine' (Eng. prov.). ');">³⁶</span> repair<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If it is too late to stop up the cracks. ');">³⁷</span> and you will not need to rebuild; for whosoever engages in building grows poor. Be quick in buying land; be deliberate in taking a wife. Come down a step in choosing your wife;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A wife of superior position or rank might put on airs. or not be contented with her husband's social or financial position. ');">³⁸</span> go up a step in selecting your shoshbin.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The bridegroom's best man. By associating with superior men one has a good example to emulate. ');">³⁹</span> R. Eleazar b. Abina<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The last two words are missing in Yalkut. ');">⁴⁰</span> said: Punishment comes into the world only on Israel's account; for it is said, I have cut off nations, their corners are desolate; I have made their streets waste,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Zeph. III, 6. ');">⁴¹</span> and this is followed by the text, <i>'I said: Surely thou wilt fear Me, thou wilt receive correction'</i>.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid, 7. ');">⁴²</span> Rab was once taking leave of R. Hiyya. The latter said to him, 'May the All Merciful deliver you from that which is worse than death'. 'But is there' [Rab wondered] 'anything that is worse than death'? When he went out he considered the matter and found [the following text]: And I find more bitter than death the woman etc.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Eccl. VII, 26. ');">⁴³</span> Rab was constantly tormented by his wife. If he told her, 'Prepare me lentils', she would prepare him small peas; [and if he asked for] small peas, she prepared him lentils. When his son Hiyya grew up he gave her [his father's instruction] in the reverse order.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So that when his mother, as usual, did the reverse of what she was requested by Hiyya in the name of his father, Rab had exactly what he had wished for. ');">⁴⁴</span> 'Your mother', Rab once remarked to him, 'has improved'!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'improved for you', (dative of advantage). ');">⁴⁵</span> 'It was I', the other replied, 'who reversed [your orders] to her'. 'This is what people say', the first said to him, 'Thine own offspring teaches thee reason';<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The expedient had not occurred to him before his son had thought of it. ');">⁴⁶</span> you, however, must not continue to do so' for it is said, They have taught their tongue to speak lies, they weary themselves etc'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Jer. IX, 4. ');">⁴⁷</span> R. Hiyya was constantly tormented by his wife. He, nevertheless, whenever he obtained anything suitable wrapped it up in his scarf and brought it to her. Said Rab to him, 'But, surely, she is tormenting the Master!' — 'It is sufficient for us', the other replied, 'that they rear up our children and deliver us

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