The Buddha contrasts the fool and the astute person, each known by three qualities of conduct and response.

AN 3.4 Mistakes

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo. Katamehi tīhi? Accayaṁ accayato na passati, accayaṁ accayato disvā yathādhammaṁ nappaṭikaroti, parassa kho pana accayaṁ desentassa yathādhammaṁ nappaṭiggaṇhāti.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo.

Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo. Katamehi tīhi? Accayaṁ accayato passati, accayaṁ accayato disvā yathādhammaṁ paṭikaroti, parassa kho pana accayaṁ desentassa yathādhammaṁ paṭiggaṇhāti.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo. Tasmātiha …pe….

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo.

“A fool is known by three things.

Katamehi tīhi?

What three?

Accayaṁ accayato na passati, accayaṁ accayato disvā yathādhammaṁ nappaṭikaroti, parassa kho pana accayaṁ desentassa yathādhammaṁ nappaṭiggaṇhāti.

They don’t recognize when they’ve made a mistake. When they do recognize it they don’t deal with it properly. And when someone else confesses a mistake to them, they don’t accept it properly.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo.

These are the three things by which a fool is known.

Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo.

An astute person is known by three things.

Katamehi tīhi?

What three?

Accayaṁ accayato passati, accayaṁ accayato disvā yathādhammaṁ paṭikaroti, parassa kho pana accayaṁ desentassa yathādhammaṁ paṭiggaṇhāti.

They recognize when they’ve made a mistake. When they recognize it they deal with it properly. And when someone else confesses a mistake to them, they accept it properly.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo.

These are the three things by which an astute person is known.

Tasmātiha …pe….

So you should train …”

Catutthaṁ.

Qualities:

Immaturity

Immaturity

A childish lack of discernment that fails to see the results of actions clearly. It delights in surface pleasure and ignores consequence. Immaturity leads to poor choices and association with unwise companions.

Also known as: lacking in discernment, lacking in good sense, child-like in understanding, lack of wisdom, lack of experience, foolishness
Pāli: bāla
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026