Make, Acquire, Judge

On Pirkei Avot and Becoming a Life Artist

Here is one of my favorite teachings (it’s about 2,000 years old!):

Joshua ben Perahiah used to say:

1. Make for yourself a teacher, and

2. Acquire for yourself a friend;

3. Judge all people with the scale weighted in their favor.

   — Pirkei Avot 1:6

Joshua ben Perahiah could have picked any three verbs, but he chose “make,” “acquire,” and “judge.” Why?

First, note t…