One should pray to God that this new honor should not harm him in any way and that his soul should not be taken from him. Usually, however, the honor comes for good. For when a new soul comes to a man, it is clothed in honor. A greedy appetite is a blot upon the honor of God. God hides His face, and the world comes under the shadow of His harsh severity.
Glory falls to the arrogant, who abrogate all the dignity to themselves.
Power, kingship, authority and honor fall into the hands of the heathens, the wicked and the insolent, and when a situation arises where the Jewish people needs to take some firm action to ensure the survival of our holy faith, it is necessary to have recourse to their strength. But when we break the lust for food, the honor of God is vindicated and the insolent are left without power, authority or dignity. By giving respect to an old man who has forgotten his learning, cool waters are drawn to revive the fainting soul. For a Tzaddik it is very hard to be widely known. A Tzaddik who is revealed and famous has to bear much suffering on behalf of the people.