אות - רעא

A certain vain man entered before him in a certain city and boasted before him that he was learned in the languages of the nations — for he had been in their courts and the scribes there did not know how to read even one word properly and he had explained it to them. And that man mentioned had very great pride that he was so learned in their languages. Afterward that man left, and Rabbainu, o.b.m., was mocking him for having such great pride over such foolishness. And there sat there a certain man from his people who was an outstanding scholar and God-fearing. And he answered and said to Rabbainu, o.b.m.: Perhaps it is better that one has pride over foolish matters than that one should have pride, Heaven forbid, over matters of Torah? And Rabbainu, o.b.m., was silent for a brief moment. And afterward he answered and said: On the contrary — the opposite is so. As our Sages o.b.m. said (Berachos 61b) regarding Rabbi Akiva who was arrested: Papus said to him: "Fortunate are you, Rabbi Akiva, that you were arrested over matters of Torah — and woe to Papus who was arrested over vain matters." For the punishment for pride is arrest. And as is explained in the Torah "Seal within a Seal" [Chosom b'Soch Chosom], section 22 of Likutay Moharan Part One — and see in Likutay Tinyana section 63 in the Torah beginning "When there are wars" — for there the matter of the arrest of Rabbi Akiva is discussed. See there. It is found that the pride whose punishment is arrest — when it is over matters of Torah that is better than pride over vain matters.