Commentary for Berakhot 125:10
תניא הלל הזקן אומר בשעת המכניסין פזר בשעת המפזרים כנס ואם ראית דור שהתורה חביבה עליו פזר שנאמר (משלי יא, כד) יש מפזר ונוסף עוד ואם ראית דור שאין התורה חביבה עליו כנס שנא' עת לעשות לה' הפרו תורתך
There is a teaching : Hillel the Elder says : When people collect [learning], do thou scatter ; when they scatter [learning], do thou collect. If thou seest a generation to which Torah is dear, do thou scatter ; as it is said, "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth" (Prov. xi. 24); but if thou seest a generation to which Torah is not dear, do thou collect ; as it is said, "It is time for the Lord to work ; they have made void Thy Law."
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
I.e. when people are eager to study Torah, impart thy knowledge to them; but when they are indifferent, do thou continue to study. On the wording of this saying, cf. A. T. I. p. 6 n. 2. A metaphor from agricultural life is employed, "scattering" referring to the sowing of seed, and "gathering" to the harvest; cf. T. A. II. p. 578 n. 299.
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