Proverbs 11:12
“One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.”
What does Proverbs 11:12 mean?
Despising someone, even silently in your heart, reveals a lack of wisdom because it clouds your judgment and hardens you toward them. The verse contrasts this with someone of real understanding, who chooses restraint and quiet rather than tearing others down with words or contempt. It's saying that wisdom doesn't just show up in what we say, but in what we *don't* say, and in the basic respect we extend to people around us. When you find yourself looking down on someone, that's often a signal to pause and ask what you might be missing about them or about yourself.