”Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, Seeing he hath no heart to it?“
Proverbs 17:16
To re-state this verse:
Why would a fool trade anything to get wisdom, he would not use it if he had it.
One meaning looks like this.
The fool is arrogantly convinced they do not need wisdom and therefore would have no use for it even if he had it.
Another way to look at the passage.
Even if the cost of acquiring wisdom was small to the fool they would not pay for they have no need of the wisdom.
We see wisdom is not valuable to the fool as they have no need of nor use for it. It is interesting to notice there is no prediction, effect or affect to follow the statement. In other words, this is a stand alone statement that is intended to be used as an identifier or qualifying statement rather than an admonition.
The Foolish have no use for wisdom as they believe they do not need it. Their arrogance and misguided self evaluation leave them feeling they would be de-valuing themself to find the humility needed to employ wisdom.