ויאמנו דבריכם ולא תמותו ויעש כן (מקץ מב:כ)

An ehrlich (worthy) Yid who learns about a Middah – a good trait that another person has, becomes inspired and tries to emulate that Middah.  When the brothers heard Yosef say “את האלה-ים אני ירא”- I am a G-d fearing person (Bereshis מב:יח), they connected to the Middah of יראת שמים – fearing Hashem and reflected upon the act of them selling their brother all those years ago – as we see in a later passuk “ויעשו כן” – and they did likewise (Ibid, מב:יח).  Indeed, the next passuk tells us: “They said to one another: “אבל אשמים אנחנו” – “Indeed, we are guilty”.