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

AN 3.8 Hurtful

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo. Katamehi tīhi? Sabyābajjhena kāyakammena, sabyābajjhena vacīkammena, sabyābajjhena manokammena …pe… abyābajjhena kāyakammena, abyābajjhena vacīkammena, abyābajjhena manokammena. Imehi, kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘yehi tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo te tayo dhamme abhinivajjetvā, yehi tīhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo te tayo dhamme samādāya vattissāmā’ti. Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo.

“A fool is known by three things.

Katamehi tīhi?

What three?

Sabyābajjhena kāyakammena, sabyābajjhena vacīkammena, sabyābajjhena manokammena …pe… abyābajjhena kāyakammena, abyābajjhena vacīkammena, abyābajjhena manokammena.

Hurtful deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. … An astute person is known by kind deeds by way of body, speech, and mind.

Imehi, kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo.

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

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:

So you should train like this:

‘yehi tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo te tayo dhamme abhinivajjetvā, yehi tīhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo te tayo dhamme samādāya vattissāmā’ti.

‘We will shun the three qualities by which a fool is known, and we will undertake and follow the three qualities by which an astute person is known.’

Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

That’s how you should train.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

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