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an.3.5 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Carelessly

“Bhikkhus, one who possesses three qualities should be known as a fool. What three? (1) He formulates a question carelessly; (2) he replies to a question carelessly; (3) when another person replies to a question carefully, with well-rounded and coherent words and phrases, he does not approve of it. One who possesses these three qualities should be known as a fool.

“One who possesses three qualities should be known as a wise person. What three? (1) He formulates a question carefully; (2) he replies to a question carefully; (3) when another person replies to a question carefully, with well-rounded and coherent words and phrases, he approves of it. One who possesses these three qualities should be known as a wise person.

“Therefore … It is in this way that you should train yourselves.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh


Improper

So you should train …”
“A fool is known by three things.
What three?
They ask a question improperly. They answer a question improperly. And when someone else answers a question properly—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 properly. They answer a question properly. And when someone else answers a question properly—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.