Chasidut for Proverbs 9:8

Speak to Aharon your brother - we see to explain that [here] the Holy Torah is teaching people who rebuke others that they should not rebuke those who are clowns and empty-headed, into whom clearly the words [of rebuke] will not enter into their ears at all, as it is said "do not rebuke a scoffer" (Prov. 9:8); only people who pay attention to the voice of rebuke and mussar and who want to do teshuvah, to those one speak and directs to the ways of teshuvah.

And the Shelah, may his memory be blessed, greatly enlightens us about our path regarding the education of our generation, when he says about the verse (Proverbs 9:8), "Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you": When you come to rebuke someone else, do not disparage him and do not curse him and say to him, "You are a scoffer." For he will hate you for this and not listen to you. Rather rebuke the wise - say to him, "Is it not the case that you are a wise man? So why are you doing this?" And so he will love you and listen to you. To here are his holy words.