A Good Name Outweighs Gold and Is Itself Torah

Midrash Mishlei 22:1

"A name is to be chosen over great wealth; good favor over silver and gold" (Proverbs 22:1). Come and see how weighty a good name is in the world, for even if a person has a thousand gold dinars and has not acquired a good name, he has acquired nothing. And so it says, "For they are a graceful wreath for your head" (Proverbs 1:9). "Good favor" - there is no "good" except Torah, as it is said, "For I have given you a good teaching" (Proverbs 4:2), and it is written, "My fruit is better than fine gold, than pure gold" (Proverbs 8:19).

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