אות - קע

Once I asked him why several G-d-fearing people labored greatly in the service of Hashem (what is called "hariven") and even so did not attain the level of the great Tzadikim. He answered simply: presumably they did not labor so much. And he said in these words: "Min hastem hobn zey nit giharvet" [Presumably they did not labor]. For the rule is: the main thing is the toil — and everything depends on the abundance of deeds (345). 345. RAK: See Shivchay HaRan 21.