The secret of the Torah scholar’s powerful positive influence on others is not his great knowledge, but his outstanding behavior and the example he sets. When Torah learning leads a person to love of God, integrity, righteousness, and control over his desires and drives, he becomes a role model for others.

It is not his vast knowledge that causes one to be recognized as a Torah scholar. His vast knowledge is also not that which draws others to Torah. It is rather his way of life that attests to his knowledge, and the personal example he sets in how he lives his life that draws others’ hearts and souls to Torah. For if his [own] learning did not lead him to love of God, how could he influence others in this? If he is not ready to offer up his drives and desires on God’s altar, if his lifestyle and actions are not in synchrony with his knowledge, who will accept such a Torah – that he himself abandons in his own life? (Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, BeMa’agalei Shana, part 4, p. 48)

The righteous know how to direct all their desires to God, who then reciprocates by directing His will toward them.

How fortunate are the righteous, who know how to direct their will to the lofty and holy King. All of their yearnings are not focused on this world, with its worthless desire. Instead, they know and try to direct their will and cling [to God] on high, in order to draw their Master’s will to them, from above to below. (Zohar 2:134b)

Further reading: For more on educating through setting an example, see p. 188.

The righteous have goals and intentions for all of their actions, even when, superficially, they seem to be involved in mundane activities. It is therefore meaningless for simple people to try to emulate the external aspects of how the righteous act.

When a simple person sees good and pious people involved in day-to-day matters, similar to the way we observe that our forefathers [Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob] were mostly involved in agriculture and livestock…he says to himself, “I’ll do the same.” Woe to people who see but do not realize what they see, for they only see the superficial aspect of things but do not appreciate their inner content. For the righteous do what they do with good and proper intentions, whereas others [do the same activities] but for meaningless purposes. (Rabbeinu Nisim Gerondi, Derashot HaRan, Derush 7)

God’s will is all-pervasive in creation, and the righteous are constantly seeking out what is the will of God.

The tzadik (righteous person) is always seeking out and searching to reveal God’s will, may He be blessed. For the divine will is everywhere in creation, both in a general way – that God willed to create the entire world – and in all of the details of creation. In each and every detail God’s will, may He be blessed, is present…. The tzadik constantly searches for and seeks out all of these [manifestations of] divine will. [He strives] to grasp and know the divine will, may He be blessed, in every thing. For instance: [He asks himself,] “Why is it God’s will that the lion should have so much might and strength?” (Rabbi Naĥman of Breslov, Likutei Moharan 17)