Likutay Moharan - Torah-teaching 194

194 - One Who Wants Honor is a Fool

Anyone who desires honor is a fool. For example, a great prince sends an officer to a distant town under his rule. The officer claims all the honor there, as the locals, unaware he is the prince's servant, mistake him for the prince himself. They prostrate before him when needing something, granting him all honors and titles due the prince. When the prince arrives, the officer inquires about state affairs before him. Calling a policeman, the prince questions him about the town. The policeman, recognizing only the officer as prince, prostrates to the officer, honors him as prince, and answers. The officer's face turns black with shame – there is no greater disgrace than receiving such honor in the true prince's presence.

Likewise, true honor stems only from speech, as a limb like a hand cannot bestow honor (it does not distinctly represent the person). Even the face is not unique to humans (e.g., a monkey has a human-like face; it does not define humanity). Honor comes from speech, which distinguishes humans from animals. Since honor primarily arises from speech, and speech is the king's palace ("heichal" numerically equals "Adon-ai," aspect of speech, per Psalms 51:17: "Adon-ai, open my lips" – Tikun 18), desiring honor in the king's palace is the ultimate disgrace, as is known intuitively, that certainly a servant would be deeply shamed receiving great honor before the king (as in the parable).