Abdullaah Ibn Bishr (rahimahullaah) said: I heard Sufyaan (rahimahullaah) saying, ‘’Indeed (the knowledge) of hadeeth is an honour; so whoever desires the worldly life by way of it, then (for him) is the worldly life.  And whoever desires the afterlife by way of it, then (for him) is the afterlife.  [Hilyatul Awliyaa:6/366]