A Short Tribute

The evil inclination is aware that Torah study leads to its obliteration and its being overpowered by the individual; Torah study prevents it from trying to seduce the individual into transgression. It therefore invests all its might in being a nuisance, and tries to lead one's heart to idleness and to avoiding Torah study. It may falsely present the individual as incapable of Torah study – for how can anyone, tired and weary in the evening after a long day's work to bring home a livelihood, study Torah? One evil thing leads to another, and one goes from neglecting Torah study to attending to the evil inclination, and that leads to thoughtless transgression. An Israelite must gather a lion's strength and overcome the evil inclination, and try to study Torah in poverty, so as to attain delight and pleasure, for such distress will lead to wellbeing.