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← Aṅguttara Nikāya

Faithless

AN 4.202 · Assaddhasutta

Ripe pears and soft green leaves on an old orchard tree.

“Mendicants, I will teach you an untrue person and an even more untrue person, a true person and an even truer person.

And what is an untrue person? It’s someone who is faithless, shameless, imprudent, with little learning, lazy, unmindful, and witless. This is called an untrue person.

And what is an even more untrue person? It’s someone who is faithless, shameless, imprudent, with little learning, lazy, unmindful, and witless. And they encourage others in these same qualities. This is called an even more untrue person.

And what is a true person? It’s someone who is faithful, conscientious, prudent, learned, energetic, mindful, and wise. This is called a true person.

And what is an even truer person? It’s someone who is personally accomplished in faith, conscience, prudence, learning, energy, mindfulness, and wisdom. And they encourage others in these same qualities. This is called an even truer person.”

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Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0

This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.