מדרש על משלי 6:3

R. Jeremiah had not been on quite intimate terms with R. Abba: he went to appease him. He sat down on the threshold. The servant-maid came out to empty dirty water, and bespattered R. Jeremiah. He said: I was made like unto mud, and applied unto himself the passage (Ps. 113, 7) From the dunghill he lifieth up the needy. He abandoned hope and began to walk away. When R. Abba heard about this, he came out and followed him. Meanwhile R. Jeremiah, noticing that R. Abba pursued him, returned in the desire to approach and appease R. Abba, when R. Abba said to him: "Now, I have to ask forgiveness of thee, as it is written (Pr. 6, 3) Go, humble thyself, and urge thy neighbor." When R. Zera was on bad terms with any person, he passed him repeatedly, in order that the other might recollect and [try to] appease him.