Hillel, fifty years before him, had given utterance to aphorisms very analogous to his own.

By his poverty, so meekly endured, by the sweetness of his character, by his opposition to priests and hypocrites, Hillel was the true master of Jesus,[1] if indeed it may be permitted to speak of a master in connection with so high an originality as his.
[Footnote 1: _Pirke Aboth_, chap.i.and ii.; Talm.

of Jerus., _Pesachim_, vi.

1; Talm.

of Bab., _Pesachim_, 66 _a_; _Shabbath_, 30 _b_ and 31 _a_; _Joma_, 35 _b_.] The perusal of the books of the Old Testament made much impression upon him.