“Rabbi Ila'a said, ‘The world exists only on account of him who restrains himself in strife, as it is said, ‘The earth hangs on nothing’’” (Hulin 89a).
Understanding that the existence of the world depends on this—that if two people who are quarreling with one another, the world cannot exist. Only if one keeps silent, meaning avoids answering, then the world can exist.
We should understand this in ethics. It is known that man has the evil inclination as soon as he is born. When one wants to engage in Torah and Mitzvot [commandments], the evil inclination asks him, “What will you get out of it?”
There are four answers to this:
1) He replies to the evil inclination that he intends to avenge, meaning to make the other party feel bad. Our sages call this answer Lo Lishma [not for Her sake], “and it would be best if he had died at birth” (Berachot 17a).
2) In order to be called “Rabbi” [title of honor]. That is, he answers to the evil inclination that he is learning so that people will reward him. If he is unmarried, he will find a good wife. And if he is married, people will respect him for his Torah and work. This, too, is called Lo Lishma, but from Lo Lishma we come to Lishma [for Her sake].
3) He replies that he is learning Lishma in concealment, so no one will see his work in Torah and Mitzvot [commandments], so that people will not respect him for his Torah and Mitzvot.
This is regarded as Lishma because Lishma means that he engages in Torah and Mitzvot so the Creator will pay his reward. This is similar to one who works for a certain company. He will certainly not ask for his salary from another company.
Also, one whose aim is that people will respect him for the Torah and Mitzvot is regarded as working not for the sake of the Creator, but for the sake of the created beings, that people will reward him.
But one who works in concealment intends for the Creator to pay his reward. This is regarded as working for the sake of the Creator, that his aim is that only the Creator will pay his reward.
4) Not in order to receive reward, meaning he serves the Creator but without any reward. At that time, the evil inclination asks, “What is this work that you are doing without any reward?” Then there is nothing to reply to the evil inclination, as it is written in the Passover Haggadah [narrative], “Blunt its teeth,” and then he can accept the work only above rhyme and reason.
By this, one is rewarded with complete faith, for through the faith he is rewarded with the real wholeness, as for this, man was created. Therefore, at that time, the verse, “If he is rewarded, he sentences himself and the entire world to the side of merit” comes true.
This is the meaning of restraining himself in strife with his evil inclination, meaning that when the fight is over the work in the manner of not in order to bestow, at that time he has nothing to answer. This is called “hangs the earth on nothing,” meaning he has no basis, which is called “nothing,” but only above rhyme and reason.