The pupils of R. Ada son of Ahaba asked him, "What have you done to live so long?"

They meant, "What good deeds have you done that the Lord should have so prolonged your days?" for he had reached a very great age.

He replied, "I have never been angry with my household. I never preceded my superior. I never meditated on the Torah in an unclean place, and never walked four cubits without Torah and tefillin (phylacteries). I never slept or dozed in the bet ha-midrash (house of study). I never rejoiced in the misfortune of my neighbor and never called a man by a nickname. These are the good deeds which I have done."