Talmud Commentary: Bavli 3/2. bBetsah 25b (mBetsah 3:3)

Said Rami bar Abba: […] From here we learn the way of the world, so that a person not eat meat before he flays and cuts it […] It turns out that Rami bar Abba teaches the way of the world, as it is taught: A person should not eat garlic or an onion from its top; only from its leaves; and if he did eat so, he is a glutton. Similarly, a person should not drink his cup in one gulp; and if he did drink so, he is a guzzler. The rabbis taught: Someone who drinks his cup [of wine] in one gulp is a guzzler, in two [gulps] [he follows] the way of the world; [in] three [gulps] he is among the course in spirit. And Rami bar Abba said: The hatsuva[1] cuts off the legs of the wicked; the young tree[2] cuts off the legs of butchers and of those cohabiting with niddot [menstruants]; turmus[3] cuts off the legs of the enemies of Israel.

“She’era” (Exod 21:10) these are her provisions, as it is written: “You have devoured the she’er of my people” (Mic 3:3) and it is written: “He rained she’er on them like dust” (Ps 78:27). “kesutah” (Exod 21:10) literally. “And onatah” (ibid.) this is the way of the world, as it is written: “And lay with her and ye‘aneha” (Gen 34:2) […] Rabbi [Yehudah the Patriarch] says: “She’era” (Exod 21:10) this is the way of the world, as it is written: “None of you shall come near his flesh she’er” (Lev 18:6) and it is written: “She’er of your father […] she’er of your mother” (Lev 18:13-14). “Kesutah” (Exod 21:10) literally. “Onatah” (ibid.) these are provisions, as it is written: “He subjected you to onah [va-ya‘nkha] and hunger” (Deut 8:3).

Said Abbayye: Whoever is not competent in the way of the world should take three qefizi of safflower and grind them and boil them in wine and drink [them]. Rabbi Yohanan said: Precisely these restored my youth.

Said Rabbi Yohanan: Had the Torah not been given we would have learnt modesty from a cat and [avoidance of] robbery from an ant and [adherence to the rules of] forbidden sexual relations from a dove and the way of the world from a rooster, who [first] coaxes and then penetrates.

So did Rabbi Me’ir say: As there are opinions about food, so there are opinions about women. You have a person who [when encountering] a fly passing over his cup, he leaves it and does not touch it. This is a bad part in women, for he has cast his eyes on his wife to divorce her. You have a person who [when encountering] a fly dwelling in his cup, throws it away and does not drink, such as Pappus ben Yehudah, who locked the door against his wife and left. You have a person who [when encountering] a fly fall into his cup, throws it away and drinks. This is the way of all persons, who see their wives conversing with her neighbours and her relatives and let her. You have a person who [when encountering] a fly fall into his dish, takes it out and sucks it and throws it away and eats what is in [the dish]. This is the way of an evil person who sees his wife going out with her head dishevelled and her sides.

A certain woman came to Rabbi. She said to him: Rabbi, I laid the table for him but he turned it over [meaning either he penetrated me from the back or he made me lie on top of him]. He said to her: My daughter, the Torah has permitted you. What can I do for you […] “so that you will not follow your heart [and eyes in your lustful urge]” (Num 15:39). From this [verse] Rabbi derived [the following lesson]: A person should not drink from this cup and set his eyes on another cup.

The Rabbis taught: A man should always be unassuming like Hillel, and not strict like Shammai. A story: It once happened that two men made a wager with each other, saying, he who goes and makes Hillel angry shall receive four hundred zuz. Said one of them: I will make him angry. That day was Shabbat eve, and Hillel was washing his head. The man went to [Hillel’s] house and at the door shouted: Who here is Hillel? Who here is Hillel? [Hillel] dressed himself and confronted the man and said to him: My son, what do you seek? He replied: I wish to ask [you] a question. You may ask [it], my son. Why are the heads of Babylonians round? You have asked a great question, my son, answered [Hillel]. Because the midwives of the Babylonians are not very experienced. [The man] waited one hour and came back and shouted: Who here is Hillel? Who here is Hillel? Hillel dressed again and went out to him: What do you seek, my son? I wish to ask a question, he said. Ask, my son, ask. Why are the eyes of the Palmyrans inflamed? He replied to him: My son, you have asked a great question. Because they live in sandy places. [The man] waited another hour, went back and [again] shouted: Who here is Hillel? Who here is Hillel? [Hillel] dressed [again] and went out to him. He said to him: What do you seek, my son? I have a question to ask. Ask, my son, ask. Why are the feet of the Africans broad? You have asked a great question, my son, answered [Hillel]. Because they live in marshes. Then [the man] said to him: I have many questions to ask [of you], but I fear that you will become angry. Whereupon [Hillel] adjusted his robes and sat down near him and said to him: Ask all the questions you have to ask. Then he [the man] said to him: Are you Hillel, whom people call the Nasi [Patriarch] of Israel? He [furthermore] said to him: If it is so, then there should be no more like you in Israel. Why, my son? asked Hillel. Because I have just lost four hundred zuz through you. Said [Hillel]: Be careful of your temper. Hillel is worthy of your losing four hundred zuz and four hundred zuz. But Hillel will not loss [his patience and] temper.