Pirkei Avot - Ethics of the Fathers

~Level 1~
Bartenura - love work - even if one has money to live on, he is obigated to toil in work, for "idleness brings to shiamum (mental instability)" (Ketuvot 59b)

~Level 1~
Tiferet Yisrael - if nevertheless you were appointed a Rav, at least hate to be lording over your flock. Lead them with mercy as a father to his sons, not like a master rules over his slaves. For you were not appointed for that, and like Rabban Gamliel said:

"Do you imagine that I am granting you authority? I am granting you servitude, as it is stated: 'And they spoke to him saying: If you will be a servant to this people today' (I Kings 12:7)" (Horayot 10a).

Whoever becomes haughty is as one who worships idols (Sotah 4), and for a leader who becomes haughty over his congregation, his sin is very great before G-d (Rosh Hashana 17a). And all the troubles and anger he causes is guarded for him. This is what our sages said: "Rabbanut buries its possessor" (Yomah 86b), i.e. lording of the Rav will bury him despite his physical health, his honor, his intellect, his righteousness - all of them will melt away with him.

~Level 1~
Rabeinu Yonah - "do not become known (intimate) with the ruling power (government)" - for the work of the shiltonut (ruling power) is very hard. And if he accepts on himself the yoke of the shiltonut, eventually he will remove the yoke of the kingdom of Heaven. For he fears the shilton (ruler) and his extensive work. Thus he will cut corners in the work of G-d due to this work. Furthermore, in the end, they will take away all his property for nothing. For they draw him close only for their benefit..

~Level 2~
Rambam - "hate Rabbanut" - he will have trials and evils in this world. For since people will be jealous of him and will argue against him, he will lose his emunah (faith) as they said: "one who is appointed as a leader of the public becomes wicked (power corrupts)".

Likewise for knowing the rulers and being close to them in ancient times. It is very difficult to save oneself in this world. It causes one to lose his emuna (faith). For he will be concerned with nothing other than what will draw him close to this. You know the story of Doeg (who lost everything) despite that the ruler he drew near to was the "anointed of G-d", a prophet, and chosen by G-d (king Saul).

~Level 2~
Chatam Sofer end of Vayikra - "ruling power (reshut)" - "reshut" i.e. ruling power (malchut). He used the term "reshut" (literally "permission") to say that they have the ability to do as they wish and no one can stop them. In truth, it is impossible to join a man who has no ruler or authority over him. For who can know which path he will choose next? In an instant he can transform to trample and kill. Thus if not for the fear of the justice of the king, one could not join anyone. If so, the king himself who has reshut (permission) in his hand, it is proper to distance from him. So too for people who think themselves hefker (free), and there is no G-d nor human king below watching them (atheists). All is included in "do not become involved with the ruling power".

~Level 3~
Maharal - see next mishna.

~Level 4~
Rabbi Avraham Azoulai - Ahava b'Taanugim human society is generally divided into three divisions. This is besides the special "solitary ones" (mitbodedim) who toil in wisdom and are above everyone and who have no occupation with other people.

The first division comprises all the various workers and businessmen in the world, whose intent is to work to earn money.

The second division is the leaders and judges of the people, each generation and its leaders, judges, etc.

The third division is those who have power to be in the palace of the king and the officials who are close to the government.

Regarding the first division, he said it is the choicest of the three and it is proper to love this [path] for it is the best one for man to toil in.

Regarding the second division, he said it is proper to hate it. But it is not proper to distance from it totally. For sometimes necessity brings one to become a judge or a leader, namely, when there is no one there more fit than himself. Then it is not proper to distance from it. All [important] positions and leadership (minui v'hanhaga) is included in the term "Rabanut". (as written in Avodah Zara 17b: "rabbi (master) of weavers".

This is the meaning of "hate Rabbanut".

Regarding the third division, he said: "do not become known (intimate) with the ruling power". Avoid it completely. For there is no benefit. Only evil all day.

He said "love work", and not "engage in work", i.e. habituate yourself until the work becomes second nature and it is not a heavy yoke on you.

He did not say "love the earnings of work", but rather "love work", even if you have money and don't need the earnings. For as the talmud says: "idleness brings to shiamum (mental instability) and immorality" (Ketuvot 59b).

Also hate Rabanut for in this, man becomes haughty and haughtinesss brings to sin and perhaps he will sin. All the more so "do not become known (intimate) with the ruling power". For with the "ruling power" certainly he will sin. Because the reshut wants only someone who flatters it and brings it benefits and he will sometimes take other people's money wrongly.