Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses an interlude where a sage, named Bar Ahina, explained to Rava how a certain law is derived from a verse. Apparently, this Bar Ahina had a knack for noticing scriptural derivations as we see in a different Gemara (Sotah 39b) that once again, Bar Ahina helps Rava understand a scriptural derivation. 

Akeidas Yitschok (65:1) uses this relationship as an object lesson from the dictum, “Who is a wise man? One who learns from every person.” (Avos 4:1). He explains that although Rava was teaching Bar Ahina the basic halakhos, Bar Ahina contributed insight into how to see this hinted at in the verses. This is a paradigm for highly intelligent people to apply. Even when they possess superior knowledge, it is in the nature of study that a lesser student may have an insight or approach that the advanced sage did not catch.

Smart people are especially prone to making the error of assuming that other opinions have nothing to offer. This shows a lack of respect in relationships but also a lacking of the basic quality of wisdom. Even when the advanced scholar’s ideas are indeed more correct, and the less intelligent person is incorrect, there are aspects or angles within the discussion that still can lead to insight and new ideas. It is so refreshing when a spouse, child, or employee gets the sense that their opinion is valued, and it leads to more cooperation and closeness, aside from more wisdom.

Akeidas Yitschok discusses the difference between an “accidental wise man” and a “true wise man.” He uses the word “accidental” in the medieval philosophical sense, meaning that the quality is secondary to the person. The wisdom is just an acquired collection of data. But a wise person with the character trait of humility, which allows him to genuinely be curious and collaborative, realizes how little he knows in comparison to what he must acquire. This is wisdom in a deep sense, cultivated internally.

Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation

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