an.4.110 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Vipers

“Mendicants, there are these four kinds of viper.
What four?
One whose venom is fast-acting but not lethal,
one whose venom is lethal but not fast-acting,
one whose venom is both fast-acting and lethal, and
one whose venom is neither fast-acting nor lethal.
These are the four kinds of viper.
In the same way, these four people similar to vipers are found in the world.
What four?
One whose venom is fast-acting but not lethal,
one whose venom is lethal but not fast-acting,
one whose venom is both fast-acting and lethal, and
one whose venom is neither fast-acting nor lethal.
And how is a person’s venom fast-acting but not lethal?
It’s when a person is often angry,
but their anger doesn’t linger long.
That’s how a person’s venom is fast-acting but not lethal.
That person is like a viper whose venom is fast-acting but not lethal.

And how is a person’s venom lethal but not fast-acting?
It’s when a person is not often angry,
but their anger lingers for a long time.



And how is a person’s venom both fast-acting and lethal?
It’s when a person is often angry,
and their anger lingers for a long time.



And how is a person’s venom neither fast-acting nor lethal?
It’s when a person is not often angry,
and their anger doesn’t linger long.



These four people similar to vipers are found in the world.”