וְאָמַרְתִּי אָנִי טוֹבָה חָכְמָה מִגְּבוּרָה וְחָכְמַת הַמִּסְכֵּן בְּזוּיָה, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְכִי חָכְמָתוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא שֶׁהָיָה מִסְכֵּן בְּזוּיָה הָיְתָה, אֶלָּא זֶה זָקֵן שֶׁהוּא יוֹשֵׁב וּמִסְכֵּן בִּדְבָרָיו, כְּגוֹן זָקֵן שֶׁהוּא יוֹשֵׁב וְדוֹרֵשׁ (דברים טז, יט): לֹא תַכִּיר פָּנִים, וְהוּא מַכִּיר. (דברים טז, יט): לֹא תִקַּח שֹׁחַד, וְהוּא לוֹקֵחַ. לֹא תַלְוֶה בְּרִבִּית, וְהוּא מַלְוֶה. שִׁמְשׁוֹן הָלַךְ אַחַר עֵינָיו (שופטים טז, לא): וְהוּא שָׁפַט אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה. גִּדְעוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שופטים ח, כז): וַיַּעַשׂ אוֹתוֹ גִּדְעוֹן לְאֵפוֹד וגו' וְהוּא שָׁפַט אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, הֱוֵי אֵין מִסְכֵּן אֶלָּא מִי שֶׁמַּסְכִּין דְּבָרָיו.
“I said: Wisdom is better than courage, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded” (Ecclesiastes 9:16). “I said: Wisdom is better than courage, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised.” Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Was the wisdom of Rabbi Akiva, who was poor, despised? Rather, this is an elder who sits and is impoverished regarding his words, such as an elder who sits and teaches: “Do not give preference” (Deuteronomy 16:19), but he gives [preference]; “do not take a bribe” (Deuteronomy 16:19), but he takes [bribes]; do not lend with usury, but he lends [with usury]. Samson followed his eyes, “and he judged Israel for twenty years” (Judges 16:31). Gideon, as it is stated: “Gideon made it into an ephod [and he displayed it in his city, in Ofra. All Israel strayed after it there]” (Judges 8:27), and he judged Israel. That is, “poor” is only one who impoverishes his words.