ייִדישער מחשבֿה אויף משלי 1:5

It is worthwhile to examine Ben Zoma's statement in detail, especially the scriptural proof he cites for each of his dictums. Concerning the attainment of wisdom, Ben Zoma quotes Psalms 119,99, "I have learned from all those who teach me." This sounds quite inappropriate. Surely, not everyone is qualified to teach merely because he wants to! Even if we understand the word melamdai in the sense of "who are more learned than I," the word used should have been melumdai. The truth of the matter is, however, that true wisdom is reserved for the Almighty by definition. He alone possesses knowledge that embraces every subject matter. He alone understands the interrelation between all phenomena. Human wisdom is only a state of comparative ignorance, by comparison. The wisest human being is he who is somewhat less ignorant than his peers. Realising this, a wise man demonstrates that he is aware of his monumental ignorance by being prepared to increase his knowledge, drawing on any source of information that helps to reduce his ignorance. True scholars,-while not too proud to learn from anyone-, are able to integrate information secured from unlikely sources into the existing fabric of information they already command. In this way, any new piece of information enlarges and widens their existing knowledge, sometimes adding a completely new dimension. The same piece of information which is hardly meaningful when in the hands of an ignoramus, may be of immense value to the scholar. Of such men Solomon says "the wise will hear and add additional instruction." (Proverbs 1,5) The meaning of our verse in Psalms 119,99, then is "I have obtained more comprehensive knowledge through all those who have instructed me."

INTRODUCTION TO THE YETZER HARA
I saw fit to clarify for you in this subject some examples which will teach [even] on things I do not mention in order that people will watch out for them, and so that their hearts will be complete with G-d. As the wise man said: "Let the wise man hear and increase understanding" (Mishlei 1:5).

* Another sign: That he straightens people and teaches them the path to the service of G-d, whether with soft words or with harsh words, according to what is needed for the time and place, and according to the class and level of the people, and that he does so to everyone, from the great men down to the men of the shuk (market), as the wise man said: "a wise man will hear, and will increase in learning;" (Mishlei 1:5), and "To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion" (Mishlei 1:4).