Commentary for Berakhot 126:20
אמר ר' שמואל בר נחמני מאי דכתיב (משלי ל, לב) אם נבלת בהתנשא ואם זמות יד לפה כל המנבל עצמו על דברי תורה סופו להתנשא ואם זמם יד לפה:
R. Samuel b. Nahmani said : What means that which is written, "If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast planned devices [zamam], lay thy hand upon thy mouth" (Prov. xxx. 32)? Everyone who makes himself foolish for the sake of words of Torah will in the end be lifted up ; but if he muzzles [zamam] his mouth, he will have to put his hand to his mouth.
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
By asking his teacher questions concerning what he does not understand, thus exposing his ignorance.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
And he is afraid to ask questions.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
Being unable to answer when a question is put to him. Cf. Hillel's maxim : Nor can a shame-faced man learn (Abot ii. 6; Singer, p. 187).
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