Rabbi Chanina and Rabbi Chiya Debate
Rabbi Chanina boasts he could restore a forgotten Torah by his reasoning; Rabbi Chiya answers that he ensures it is never forgotten, and Rebbe praises his deeds.
פ״ה
From the article
When Rebbe Chanina and Rebbe Chiya were debating a matter of Torah, Rebbe Chanina said to Rebbe Chiya: “Do you think you can debate with me? Heaven forbid, if the Jewish people forgot the Torah, I could restore it with my powers of analysis and intellectual acumen.” Rebbe Chiya responded to Rebbe Chanina: “Do you think you can debate with me? You cannot compare yourself to me, as I am acting to ensure that the Jewish people will not forget the Torah in the first place.”
Rebbe commented, “How great are the deeds of Rebbe Chiya!”