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

AN 3.5 Irrational

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo. Katamehi tīhi? Ayoniso pañhaṁ kattā hoti, ayoniso pañhaṁ vissajjetā hoti, parassa kho pana yoniso pañhaṁ vissajjitaṁ parimaṇḍalehi padabyañjanehi siliṭṭhehi upagatehi nābbhanumoditā hoti.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo.

Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo. Katamehi tīhi? Yoniso pañhaṁ kattā hoti, yoniso pañhaṁ vissajjetā hoti, parassa kho pana yoniso pañhaṁ vissajjitaṁ parimaṇḍalehi padabyañjanehi siliṭṭhehi upagatehi abbhanumoditā hoti.

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

Pañcamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo.

“A fool is known by three things.

Katamehi tīhi?

What three?

Ayoniso pañhaṁ kattā hoti, ayoniso pañhaṁ vissajjetā hoti, parassa kho pana yoniso pañhaṁ vissajjitaṁ parimaṇḍalehi padabyañjanehi siliṭṭhehi upagatehi nābbhanumoditā hoti.

They ask a question irrationally. They answer a question irrationally. And when someone else answers a question rationally—with well-rounded, coherent, and relevant words and phrases—they disagree with it.

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?

Yoniso pañhaṁ kattā hoti, yoniso pañhaṁ vissajjetā hoti, parassa kho pana yoniso pañhaṁ vissajjitaṁ parimaṇḍalehi padabyañjanehi siliṭṭhehi upagatehi abbhanumoditā hoti.

They ask a question rationally. They answer a question rationally. And when someone else answers a question rationally—with well-rounded, coherent, and relevant words and phrases—they agree with it.

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 …”

Pañcamaṁ.

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