The journey to acquiring wisdom is not measured by physical distance, but by a person's focus, attitude, and state of mind. A sharp contrast exists between an understanding person, for whom wisdom is readily available and clearly visible, and a foolish person, who searches for it in vain in distant, unreachable places [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The primary approach among commentators is that this distinction lies in the ability to learn from one's immediate environment. An understanding person can learn from anyone nearby [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד], finding great wisdom simply by observing the reality and nature that exist right before their eyes [רלב״ג]. In contrast, a foolish person looks down on the people in his own community, assuming they are as ignorant as he is. Convinced that true wisdom can only be found among sages in faraway lands, his eyes constantly wander to distant horizons [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד]. This mindset leads to laziness and despair, causing him to abandon the pursuit of knowledge altogether [רלב״ג], and makes him ignore the practical reality and the basic demands of justice right in front of him [אלשיך].
Beyond where wisdom is found, this contrast also applies to the method of studying. An understanding person approaches learning with patience and a gradual pace. Rather than being intimidated by the vast amount of knowledge, they learn a little each day, advancing step by step. A foolish person, however, immediately looks at the ultimate distance. Seeing the enormous scope of what there is to learn, he becomes overwhelmed and gives up before even starting [רש״י]. Alternatively, he tries to leap directly to the final goal without going through the necessary learning process [עמנואל הרומי]. Another difference lies in the ability to concentrate and choose what to study. While an understanding person focuses all their attention entirely on the wisdom currently in front of them without looking away, the fool suffers from scattered thoughts. Instead of delving deeply into wisdom, he clutters his mind investigating ancient history, the chronicles of past kings, and distant wars that occurred at the edge of the world [עמנואל הרומי].
On a deeper, inner level, wisdom is very close to human nature. An understanding person, whose soul is pure, only needs to look inward; like looking into a mirror, they will find wisdom already engraved upon their soul. A foolish person, however, pollutes his soul with material desires, which blurs the natural imprint of wisdom inside him. Because of this internal corruption, he feels that wisdom is entirely foreign and disconnected from his nature, leading to the illusion that he must wander to the ends of the earth to find it [מלבי״ם].