R. Abin the Levite said: Whoever tries to force his [good] fortune will be dogged by [ill] fortune,4
and whoever forgoes his [good] fortune will postpone his [ill] fortune.5
This we can illustrate from the case of Rabbah and R. Joseph.
For R. Joseph was 'Sinai'6 and Rabbah was 'an uprooter of mountains'.7
The time came when they were required [to be head of the Academy].8
They [the collegiates] sent there [to Israel] to ask, As between 'Sinai' and an 'uprooter of mountains', which should have the preference?
They sent answer: Sinai, because all require the owner of wheat.9
Nevertheless, R. Joseph would not accept the post, because the astrologers had told him that he would be head for only two years.
Rabbah thereupon remained head for twenty-two years, and R. Joseph after him for two years and a half.10
During all the time that Rabbah was head, R. Joseph did not so much as summon a cupper to come to his house.11
[Babylonian Talmud: Tractate Berakoth, Folio 64a]
