לא ניתנה אל שיקול הדעתNot Given to Reasoning

lo nittenah el shikkul ha-da'atIn Gamatria ↗

A premise built on a question falls when it is answered.

The fourth premise gives beginners eight cautions. Know Scripture, Mishnah, Gemara and the laws first, or be like the stargazer who falls into the pit at his feet. Learn only from a pious teacher, study for Heaven's sake and not for pride, and avoid gloom. The eighth caution is the sharpest: invent no new premise. This wisdom was not given to reasoning. A sage may say only what he heard from his teacher, back to Moses at Sinai, as the Zohar says, 'I did not hear it, so I will not say it.' Vital warned that reasoning here is a grave danger. A premise built on a difficulty falls the moment the difficulty is answered. But one fluent in the received premises may use them to explain the Zohar without fear.

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