The Chapter on Fools

AN 3.1 Perils Bhayasutta

So I have heard.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, "Mendicants!"

"Venerable sir," they replied. The Buddha said this:

"Whatever dangers there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. Whatever perils there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. Whatever hazards there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. It's like a fire that spreads from a hut made of reeds or grass, and burns down even a bungalow, plastered inside and out, draft-free, with doors fastened and windows shuttered. In the same way, whatever dangers there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. Whatever perils there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute. Whatever hazards there are, all come from the foolish, not from the astute.

So, the fool is dangerous, but the astute person is safe. The fool is perilous, but the astute person is not. The fool is hazardous, but the astute person is not. There's no danger, peril, or hazard that comes from the astute.

So you should train like this: 'We will reject the three things by which a fool is known, and we will undertake and follow the three things by which an astute person is known.' That's how you should train."

AN 3.2 Characteristics Lakkhaṇasutta

"A fool is characterized by their deeds, and an astute person is characterized by their deeds, for wisdom is made beautiful when it is evident. A fool is known by three things. What three? Bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.

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

An astute person is known by three things. What three? Good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.

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

So you should train like this: 'We will reject the three things by which a fool is known, and we will undertake and follow the three things by which an astute person is known.' That's how you should train."

AN 3.3 Thinking Cintīsutta

"There are these three characteristics, signs, and manifestations of a fool. What three? A fool thinks poorly, speaks poorly, and acts poorly. If a fool didn't think poorly, speak poorly, and act poorly, then how would the astute know of them: 'This fellow is a fool, an untrue person'? But since a fool does think poorly, speak poorly, and act poorly, then the astute do know of them: 'This fellow is a fool, an untrue person'. These are the three characteristics, signs, and manifestations of a fool.

There are these three characteristics, signs, and manifestations of an astute person. What three? An astute person thinks well, speaks well, and acts well. If an astute person didn't think well, speak well, and act well, then how would the astute know of them: 'This fellow is astute, a true person'? But since an astute person does think well, speak well, and act well, then the astute do know of them: 'This fellow is astute, a true person'. These are the three characteristics, signs, and manifestations of an astute person. So you should train ..."

AN 3.4 Mistakes Accayasutta

"A fool is known by three things. What three? 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.

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

An astute person is known by three things. What three? 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.

These are the three things by which an astute person is known. So you should train ..."

AN 3.5 Irrational Ayonisosutta

"A fool is known by three things. What three? 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.

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

An astute person is known by three things. What three? 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.

These are the three things by which an astute person is known. So you should train ..."

AN 3.6 Unskillful Akusalasutta

"A fool is known by three things. What three? Unskillful deeds by way of body, speech, and mind.

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

An astute person is known by three things. What three? Skillful deeds by way of body, speech, and mind.

These are the three things by which an astute person is known. So you should train ..."

AN 3.7 Blameworthy Sāvajjasutta

"A fool is known by three things. What three? Blameworthy deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. ... An astute person is known by blameless deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. ..."

AN 3.8 Hurtful Sabyābajjhasutta

"A fool is known by three things. What three? Hurtful deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. ... An astute person is known by kind deeds by way of body, speech, and mind. These are the three things by which an astute person is known.

So you should train like this: 'We will reject 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.' That's how you should train."

AN 3.9 Broken Khatasutta

"When a foolish, incompetent, untrue person has three qualities they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they create much wickedness. What three? Bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.

When a foolish, incompetent untrue person has these three qualities they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they create much wickedness.

When an astute, competent true person has three qualities they keep themselves intact and unscathed. They don't deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they create much merit. What three? Good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.

When an astute, competent true person has these three qualities they keep themselves intact and unscathed. They don't deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they create much merit."

AN 3.10 Stains Malasutta

"Anyone who has three qualities, and has not given up three stains, is cast down to hell. What three? They're unethical, and haven't given up the stain of immorality. They're jealous, and haven't given up the stain of jealousy. They're stingy, and haven't given up the stain of stinginess.

Anyone who has these three qualities, and has not given up these three stains, is cast down to hell.

Anyone who has three qualities, and has given up three stains, is raised up to heaven. What three? They're ethical, and have given up the stain of immorality. They're not jealous, and have given up the stain of jealousy. They're not stingy, and have given up the stain of stinginess.

Anyone who has these three qualities, and has given up these three stains, is raised up to heaven."