Talmud zu Tehillim 119:71

‘This is the way [conducive to] the study of the Torah: a morsel of bread with salt thou shalt eat.’¹⁶³Cf. Sanh. 111a (Sonc. ed., p. 762). [Rab] saw [R. Kahana] indulging himself¹⁶⁴He was dressing his hair instead of attending to his studies. and asked him, ‘Do you not know of the verse,¹⁶⁵Or, do you not accept the teaching? Neither is it found in the land of the living¹⁶⁶Job 28, 13. [which means that] the Torah will not be found in one who attends to his needs [instead of studying it constantly]?’ He replied, ‘It refers to [abstention from pleasant things] which enter the body, but does it refer also to such matters?’¹⁶⁷As dressing one’s hair. [Rab] said to him, ‘Has it not been taught:¹⁶⁸Ber. 57b (Sonc. ed., p. 356). Three things enter the body without its deriving any benefit therefrom, viz. melilot,¹⁶⁹A kind of clover. date-berries and unripe dates; three things do not enter the body but it derives benefit therefrom, viz. washing, anointing and regular motions?’ He asked him, ‘Does, then, the study of the Torah entail affliction?’ He replied, ‘Yes, for it is written, It is good for me that I have been afficted, in order that I might learn Thy statutes.¹⁷⁰Ps. 119, 71. Furthermore, is [Torah] found [in all others] except those [who attend to their wants]? But has it not been taught:¹⁷¹‘Erub. 55a (Sonc. ed., p. 384). It is not in heaven¹⁷²Deut. 30, 12. [which means that] Torah will not be found with those who exalt their knowledge, Neither is it beyond the sea [which means that] it will not be found among merchants, traders and sailors. With these Torah is not found but craftiness is found. And whence do you know that beyond [‘eber] the sea refers to merchants? For it is written, And there passed by [wayya‘abru], Midianites, merchantmen’.¹⁷³Gen. 37, 28. The root of the verb passed is the same as of ‘eber, ‘beyond’, and the inference is drawn that the Midianites were merchants who came from beyond the sea.
‘Do not seek greatness for yourself’: so that you should not say, ‘Behold, I study the Torah and what a great man I am!’ Should you do so, the consequence will be that you will occupy yourself with the Torah not for its own sake.