(17) Every argument that is for [the sake of] heaven, it is destined to endure.

But if it is not for [the sake of] heaven -- it is not destined to endure.

What is [an example of an argument] for [the sake of] heaven? The argument of Hillel and Shammai.

What is [an example of an argument] not for [the sake of] heaven? The argument of Korach and all of his congregation.

Rabbi Abba said in the name of Shmuel,

For three years, the House of Hillel and the House of Shammai argued. One said, 'The halacha is like us,' and the other said, 'The halacha is like us.'

A heavenly voice spoke: “These and these are the words of the living God. And the halacha is like the House of Hillel.”

A question was raised: Since the heavenly voice declared: “Both these and those are the words of the Living God” why was the halacha established to follow the opinion of Hillel?

It is because the students of Hillel were kind and gracious. They taught their own ideas as well as the ideas from the students of Shammai.Not only that, but they taught Shammai's opinions first.

This teaches you that anyone who humbles themself, the Holy Blessed One, exalts them. And anyone who exalts themself, the Holy Blessed One humbles them.

Anyone who seeks greatness, greatness flees from them, and, conversely, anyone who flees from greatness, greatness seeks them.

And anyone who attempts to force the moment the moment pushes back [ie. their plans backfire]. And anyone who yields to the moment, the moment aligns with them.

The Sages taught: For two and a half years, Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel disagreed.

One argued it would have been better had humans not been created. The other said: It is better that humans were created.

The votes were counted and concluded: It would have been preferable had humans not been created than to have been created.

However, given that humans were in fact created, they should explore their actions (yepashpesh). And some say: they should scrutinize their actions (yemashmesh).

There was another incident involving one gentile who came before Shammai and said to Shammai: Convert me on condition that you teach me the entire Torah while I am standing on one foot. Shammai shoved him away with the builder’s cubit in his hand.

The same gentile came before Hillel. He converted him and said to him: “That which is hateful to you do not do to another. That is the entire Torah, and the rest is its interpretation. Go study.”

Although in some cases these permit and these prohibit, Beit Shammai did not refrain from marrying women from Beit Hillel, nor did Beit Hillel refrain from marrying women from Beit Shammai.