Torah 100 · תורה ק׳

All the tzaddikim in each generation are holy and have God with them. Why then do we see that while some tzaddikim are very good-natured and well-liked by everyone, there is a true tzaddik who by temperament and nature is not amiable with people, and who sometimes even displays <much> anger and irritability?

Now, it is known that the tzaddikim derive all their righteousness from the light of the Torah. She is <his> guide, and he gets his righteousness from her. When a tzaddik has attained great illumination from the Torah’s light, and his <good> deeds are <exactly> on a par <with> his perception of Torah, then his righteousness and Torah are in amicable accord <with each other>. He therefore gets along with people.

But when a tzaddik’s perception of the Torah’s wisdom greatly surpasses his deeds, the Torah <boils> inside him—<that is, the great>, holy fire of the Torah <burns inside him>. Thus, it is impossible for him to get along with others and be involved with people, similar to the aforementioned tzaddik.

This is as our Sages, of blessed memory, taught: When a young rabbinical student becomes heated, it is the Torah that is causing him to become heated (Taanit 4a). This is because his Torah has increased greatly, as explained above.