The phrase most famous attributed to Rabbi Janiná ben Dosá —preserved in Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers, 3:9-10)— is the following:

Famous quote

"Every one whose fear of sin precedes his wisdom, his wisdom will endure; but the one whose wisdom precedes his fear of sin, his wisdom will not endure."
— Pirkei Avot 3:9

Meaning

With this maxim, Rabbi Janiná ben Dosá taught that the knowledge —for-deep sea— loses all value if it is not rooted in the moral integrity and spiritual humility.
For him, the fear of sin (yir'at ḥet) it was not fear of punitive damages, but awareness reverent of the divine presence that guide human actions.

(1) the Identity, time and environment

• Tanná s. I d. C. Contemporary-disciple (or disciple-colleague) of Rabban Yoḥanán ben Zakkai; lived in the Lower Galilee (Arav/Arraba, near Sepphoris). The tradition, the site of his tomb.
• Your prestige in the sources does not come from similar technique but of personal holiness and power of prayer (ba'al tefillá), with a distinct profile of ḥasid/ascetic.

2) primary Sources (that actually say the texts)

(a) Maximum in Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers)

• "Who gets the fear of sin ahead of his wisdom, his wisdom endures; and he who puts his wisdom ahead of the fear of sin, his wisdom endures". (Avot, hold 3; the numbering varies between 3:9-11).
• "He used to say: who has more works that wisdom, his wisdom endures.; and those who have more wisdom than works, his wisdom endures". (same section).

b) Stories agádicos (Talmud)

• Effectiveness of your prayer for the sick: cure of the son of Rabban Gamliel and the son of Yoḥanán ben Zakkai; criterion of “if my prayer is flowing into my mouth, I know that was accepted”. (Berachot 34b).
• Miracle of vinegar that burns: "The who said the oil to burn you can tell vinegar to burn" (Ta'anit 25a).
• Poverty and provision miraculous: oven full of bread” seen by a neighbor in the house of his wife; narrative of scarcity sustained by the Providence (Ta'anit 25a).
• The goats and bears: public challenge that ends with goats bringing bears in their horns, as a proof of innocence of the flock (Ta'anit 25a/b).

3) Profile theological-ethical (what is taught in his sayings)

• The primacy of mercy over the intellect: the correct order is yir'at ḥet → ḥojmá; without ethical foundations, the knowledge of “not sustained.” Reading classics (Bartenura, Maharal) insist that the study without practice is beginning to fade.
• Emphasis on the works: the wisdom itself in the behavior (“ma asim merubim”). This line reappears in comments, medieval and modern Avot.

4) traditional Image: ḥasid galileo and “maker of miracles”

• The Jewish Encyclopedia and Encyclopedia.com present it as pious and caster, best remembered for their conduct and prayers for fatwas; typical of the old ḥasidim of the Second Temple.
• In the modern historiography appears as an example of mercy charismatic galilee s. I (parallel —non— dependent of other charismatic of the region).

5) Historiography and criticism of sources (how to read these texts)

• Layers literarythe stories of Ta'anit and Berachot fixed a memory hagiográfica; academic studies discussed the literary construction his figure in the Babylonian Talmud (e.g., “The making of Ḥanina ben Dosa”). Conclusion normal, even if there are beautification, image of a pietist galileo real underlying.
• Gender: the stories are agádicas/teaching (non-chronic). Looking to instill confidence, humility and devotion, more than register “miracles” in the sense of historiography. (See the introductions and analysis rabbinic of Avot cap 3).

6) recurring Themes in his dossier talmudic

• Poverty dignified and providence (Ta'anit 25a).
• Devotion uninterrupted in the prayer (to ignore the physical danger; variants with the bite of the snake/lizard).
• The charism of the intercessor: even the wise elders recognize their “access” special to the divine mercy (adagio of the “servant of the king” vs. “the minister”).

7) Timeline minimum and localization

• Active life: half of the s. I d. C. (the period of transition to Yavne).
• Areas: Arav/Arraba (Lower Galilee), with connections to Sepphoris and study circles linked to Yoḥanán ben Zakkai.

8) current Relevance (reads and uses)

• The ethics of leadership: prioritize character over curriculum —“works > wisdom”— it is clear criteria for teaching positions, rabbinical or public.
• Pedagogy: its couple maximum (fear-wisdom / works-wisdom) offers a rubric to evaluate moral formation vs. cognitive in jewish education contemporánea (mashal of “roots and branches” in the comments of Avot).