Reflections on Proverbs 1:5-6

... a wise man will hear and will increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, to understand a proverb and the interpretation, the words of the wise and their riddles.
Proverbs 1:5-6, Modern English Version (MEV)
 
Of course, it's not just the naive or the young that need instruction, but also those who deem themselves wise and/or not in need of instruction. If we think we already know all we need to know, then we truly need to study Proverbs, because our attitude shows that we really don't know or understand anything.
 
And yet, there is also a paradox at work here. In order to gain wisdom and understanding, one must be wise. Say what? Impossible? Not really. Wisdom itself is multi-faceted. On the one hand, wisdom comes from learning and listening to the wise counsel of others. On the other hand, wisdom is knowing that there is much to learn. Wisdom is knowing that we don’t know everything. Wisdom is the willingness to learn and to listen. So yes, one must be wise in order to be wise.