Horayot

Raba said: Even Rabbi who was unassuming used the ex pression,  'it was said in the name of R. Meir', and did not say 'R. Meir said'. R. Johanan said: [On the following point] there is a difference of opinion between R. Simeon b. Gamaliel and the Rabbis. One view is  that a well-read scholar  is superior [to the keen dialectician] and the other view is  that the keen dialectician  is superior. R. Joseph was a well-read scholar; Rabbah was a keen dialectician. An enquiry was sent up to Palestine:  Who of these should take precedence? They sent them word in reply: 'A well-read scholar is to take precedence'; for the Master said, 'All are dependent on the owner of the wheat'.  R. Joseph, nevertheless, did not accept office. Rabbah was head  for twenty-two years and only after this period did R. Joseph take up the office.  Throughout the years of Rabbah's rectorship. Rab Joseph did not call to his house even a cupper. Abaye, Raba, R. Zera and Rabbah b. Mattena once sat studying together and felt the need to appoint a head.  They agreed  that whosoever would make a statement which could not be refuted shall become head. The statements of all of them were refuted, but that of Abaye was not. When Raba  saw that Abaye held up his head, he called out to him: 'Nahmani,  begin and say something'. The question was asked: Between R. Zera and Rabbah son of R. Mattena which is the superior? R. Zera was keen-witted but undecided  while Rabbah son of R. Mattena was slow but able to arrive at conclusions.  Now, what is the answer? — This must remain undecided.