Musar for Pirkei Avot 3:9

רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בֶן דּוֹסָא אוֹמֵר, כָּל שֶׁיִּרְאַת חֶטְאוֹ קוֹדֶמֶת לְחָכְמָתוֹ, חָכְמָתוֹ מִתְקַיֶּמֶת. וְכָל שֶׁחָכְמָתוֹ קוֹדֶמֶת לְיִרְאַת חֶטְאוֹ, אֵין חָכְמָתוֹ מִתְקַיֶּמֶת. הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, כָּל שֶׁמַּעֲשָׂיו מְרֻבִּין מֵחָכְמָתוֹ, חָכְמָתוֹ מִתְקַיֶּמֶת. וְכָל שֶׁחָכְמָתוֹ מְרֻבָּה מִמַּעֲשָׂיו, אֵין חָכְמָתוֹ מִתְקַיֶּמֶת:

R. Chanina ben Dossa says: If one's fear of sin precedes his wisdom [I have heard (this to mean) that in his mind his fear precedes his wisdom, that he thinks in his heart: "I will learn in order to be a fearer of sins," as per "The beginning of thought is the end of act"], his wisdom endures. [For his wisdom brings him to what his heart desires, and he enjoys it (his wisdom)]. But if one's wisdom precedes his fear of sin [i.e., if he does not learn in order to do, since his heart does not prompt him to be a fearer of sin], his wisdom does not endure. For since it (his wisdom) prevents him from following the inclination of his heart, he hates it and despises it and leaves it.] He was wont to say: If one's acts are more than his wisdom [(Here, one who is zealous in the performance of positive commandments is intended, whereas above, in respect to one whose fear of sin precedes his wisdom, one who is watchful of negative commandments is intended)], his wisdom endures. But if one's wisdom is more than his acts, his wisdom does not endure.

Orchot Tzadikim

The third thing that can stir the heart to repentance is when he hears the chastisement of the wise and of those who reprove him, and this arouses his heart to repent, and he receives upon himself all the words of these rebukes. From the time that he accepts them, this man earns great merit, and in a short space of time he has gone forth from darkness to light, and he has gained reward and merit for all of the commandments and all of the chastisements, inasmuch as he has resolved to receive them upon himself. And happy is he who receives this upon himself, for he has won merit in a brief moment. And thus did our Sages, of blessed memory, say "And the children of Israel went and did." Now had they already done this (i.e., prepared the Passover)? Surely, they did not do so until the fourteenth day of the month! But when they took it upon themselves to do it, Scripture ascribes it to them as though they had already done it" (Mechilta on Exodus 12:28). And thus did our Sages say, "All whose deeds are greater than his wisdom, his wisdom will endure" (Aboth 3:12). As it is said, "We will do and we will hear!" (Ex. 24:7).

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