משלי, פרק כ״ט, פסוק כ׳

Rushing into a response or acting on pure impulse is a destructive habit that can place a person on a lower level than a complete fool. When someone operates with constant speed and panic, it manifests in different ways. The primary approach among commentators is that this impulsivity is rooted in speech. It is the habit of panicking and answering without pausing to think, or even worse, rushing to speak words of heresy against God and His providence. Other commentators view this impulsivity through the lens of a person's actions and daily affairs [רלב״ג, אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. In this view, it describes someone who makes rapid decisions and acts without a settled mind or the guidance of others. Taking this into a specific practical setting, [אלשיך] suggests it describes an employer or master who, out of pressure, hastily does the work himself rather than taking the time to properly guide and educate his servant.

Surprisingly, a recognized fool is in a better position and has a much greater chance of correcting his path than someone who is constantly hasty. A fool is often aware of his own lack of knowledge, which leaves the door open for him to seek advice from others. In contrast, the impulsive person is dangerously overconfident, assuming he is wise enough to act immediately without ever consulting anyone [רלב״ג, אבן עזרא]. Furthermore, a fool typically makes mistakes because he is led astray by his physical desires, yet he still possesses a basic understanding of the rules of wisdom. If he can overcome those desires, he can fix his behavior. The hasty person, however, actively ignores and disrespects the very process of wisdom, destroying any hope for improvement [מלבי״ם].

In fact, acting with such reckless speed is inherently foolish, and a person who lives this way will ultimately become a complete fool himself [עמנואל הרומי]. Beyond just comparing the two, there is a perspective that a fool actually stands to gain a direct advantage from an impulsive person. Because rushing inevitably leads to errors, even a fool can step in and profit from the mistakes made by someone who refuses to slow down [ביאור שטיינזלץ].