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Numbered Discourses · AN 3.5

  • Numbered Discourses 3.5Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.5
  • 1. Fools1. Bālavagga

IrrationalAyonisosutta

“A fool is known by three things.“Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo. What three?Katamehi tīhi? 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.Ayoniso pañhaṁ kattā hoti, ayoniso pañhaṁ vissajjetā hoti, parassa kho pana yoniso pañhaṁ vissajjitaṁ parimaṇḍalehi padabyañjanehi siliṭṭhehi upagatehi nābbhanumoditā hoti.

These are the three things by which a fool is known.Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bālo veditabbo.

An astute person is known by three things.Tīhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo. What three?Katamehi tīhi? 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.Yoniso pañhaṁ kattā hoti, yoniso pañhaṁ vissajjetā hoti, parassa kho pana yoniso pañhaṁ vissajjitaṁ parimaṇḍalehi padabyañjanehi siliṭṭhehi upagatehi abbhanumoditā hoti.

These are the three things by which an astute person is known.Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato paṇḍito veditabbo. So you should train …”Tasmātiha …pe….

Similar passages elsewhere

Found by meaning, not by citation: the passages in other texts whose wording sits closest to a passage here.

  1. AN 3.4 Mistakes 0.84near 0.1Numbered Discourses 3.4 1. Fools Mistakes “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…
  2. AN 3.6 Unskillful 0.79near 0.1Numbered Discourses 3.6 1. Fools Unskillful “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…
  3. AN 3.7 Blameworthy 0.74near 0.1Numbered Discourses 3.7 1. Fools Blameworthy “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 mi…
  4. AN 3.3 Thinking 0.73near 0.1Numbered Discourses 3.3 1. Fools Thinking “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, spea…
  5. AN 3.2 Characteristics 0.70near 0.1Numbered Discourses 3.2 1. Fools Characteristics “A fool is characterized by their deeds, and an astute person is characterized by their deeds, for wisdom shines in its traces. A fool is known by three things. What three…