A person with a solid intellectual and moral foundation possesses a constant desire to grow. While wisdom is available to everyone, it recognizes that not all are willing to listen or capable of benefiting [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Great individuals, however, treat every new piece of information, suggestion, or correction as a stepping stone to deepen their knowledge and refine their character.
When an idea or moral lesson is presented to a wise individual [ביאור שטיינזלץ, עמנואל הרומי], or when a worthy student is taught [רש״י], they do not merely absorb the raw data. Instead, they take the foundational concepts and independently develop them, gaining insights far beyond what was explicitly stated [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד]. For example, Noah deduced on his own that God commanded him to bring extra pure animals into the ark simply so that he could later offer them as sacrifices to Him [רש״י]. Because wisdom is boundless, a truly wise person remains perpetually open to new principles and continuous growth [מלבי״ם].
Similarly, when a righteous person is guided on how to improve or maintain justice, they treat the instruction as a profound learning opportunity [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. They internalize the message and independently create additional personal boundaries to ensure they stay on the right path [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Even if they momentarily stray, a word of correction is enough to bring them back and increase their wisdom [עמנואל הרומי]. Ultimately, bringing a blind spot to the attention of a wise or righteous friend inevitably leads to personal growth and character refinement [אמרי דעת].
Commentators offer different perspectives on the relationship between the wise and the righteous. Some view the two as reflecting the exact same concept of a person who learns and develops independently [אבן עזרא]. Others highlight fundamental differences between them. One perspective notes that the wise person builds their foundation on theoretical study and instruction from teachers, allowing them to constantly absorb more wisdom. The righteous person, however, operates out of practical habit and good deeds, even without formal study. Thus, they must be informed of new concepts to layer intellectual learning over their practical habits [מלבי״ם]. Another view suggests a process of completing personal deficiencies. The wise person may possess deep knowledge but lack in action, requiring correction to improve their deeds. Conversely, the righteous person may have perfect actions but lack knowledge, needing instruction to complete their righteousness through study [אלשיך].