The Buddha describes the four kinds of persons found in the world - those with little learning who are not accomplished by that learning, those with little learning who are accomplished by that learning, those with much learning who are not accomplished by that learning, and those with much learning who are accomplished by that learning.
Appassuta sutta - Little Learned
"There are these four kinds of persons found existing in the world. Which four?
One with little learning who is not accomplished by that learning, One with little learning who is accomplished by that learning, One with much learning who is not accomplished by that learning, One with much learning who is accomplished by that learning.
And how, bhikkhus, is a person with little learning not accomplished by that learning? Here, bhikkhus, some person has little learning — of discourses, mixed prose and verse, expositions, verses, inspired utterances, sayings, birth stories, marvelous accounts, and analytical texts. He, not understanding the meaning of that little learning, not understanding the dhamma, does not practice according to the dhamma. Thus, bhikkhus, a person with little learning is not accomplished by that learning.
And how, bhikkhus, is a person with little learning accomplished by that learning? Here, bhikkhus, some person has little learning — of discourses, mixed prose and verse, expositions, verses, inspired utterances, sayings, birth stories, marvelous accounts, and analytical texts. He, understanding the meaning of that little learning, understanding the dhamma, practices according to the dhamma. Thus, bhikkhus, a person with little learning is accomplished by that learning.
And how, bhikkhus, is a person with much learning not accomplished by that learning? Here, bhikkhus, some person has much learning — of discourses, mixed prose and verse, expositions, verses, inspired utterances, sayings, birth stories, marvelous accounts, and analytical texts. He, not understanding the meaning of that much learning, not understanding the dhamma, does not practice according to the dhamma. Thus, bhikkhus, a person with much learning is not accomplished by that learning.
And how, bhikkhus, is a person with much learning accomplished by that learning? Here, bhikkhus, some person has much learning — of discourses, mixed prose and verse, expositions, verses, inspired utterances, sayings, birth stories, marvelous accounts, and analytical texts. He, understanding the meaning of that much learning, understanding the dhamma, practices according to the dhamma. Thus, bhikkhus, a person with much learning is accomplished by that learning.
These, bhikkhus, are the four kinds of persons found existing in the world.
Verse
If one has little learning and is not composed in moral conduct, He is criticized for both — his virtue and his learning.
If one has little learning but is well-composed in moral conduct, He is praised for his virtue, and his learning flourishes.
If one has much learning but is not composed in moral conduct, He is criticized for his virtue, and his learning does not flourish.
If one has much learning and is well-composed in moral conduct, He is praised for both — his virtue and his learning.
A well-learned one who knows the dhamma by heart, A wise disciple of the Buddha, Like a golden ornament, who could criticize him? The deities praise him, and he is praised even by Brahmā."