法句经（Sujato 英译）第 5 品 · 5. The Fool · DHP 60–75

Minor CollectionMinor CollectionSayings of the Dhamma 60–75Sayings of the Dhamma 60–755. The Fool5. The Fool

Long is the night for the wakeful;Long is the night for the wakeful;long is the league for the weary;long is the league for the weary;long transmigrate the foolslong transmigrate the fools

who don’t understand the true teaching.who don’t understand the true teaching.If while wandering you find no partnerIf while wandering you find no partnerequal or better than yourself,equal or better than yourself,

then firmly resolve to wander alone—then firmly resolve to wander alone—there’s no fellowship with fools.there’s no fellowship with fools.“Sons are mine, wealth is mine”—“Sons are mine, wealth is mine”—

thus the fool frets.thus the fool frets.For even your self is not your own,For even your self is not your own,let alone your sons or wealth.let alone your sons or wealth.

The fool who thinks they’re a foolThe fool who thinks they’re a foolis wise at least to that extent.is wise at least to that extent.But the true fool is said to be oneBut the true fool is said to be one

who imagines that they are wise.who imagines that they are wise.Though a fool attends to the wiseThough a fool attends to the wiseeven for the rest of their life,even for the rest of their life,

they still don’t understand the teaching,they still don’t understand the teaching,like a spoon the taste of the soup.like a spoon the taste of the soup.If a clever person attends to the wiseIf a clever person attends to the wise

even just for an hour or so,even just for an hour or so,they swiftly understand the teaching,they swiftly understand the teaching,like a tongue the taste of the soup.like a tongue the taste of the soup.

Fools and simpletons behaveFools and simpletons behavelike their own worst enemies,like their own worst enemies,doing wicked deedsdoing wicked deeds

that ripen as bitter fruit.that ripen as bitter fruit.It’s not good to do a deedIt’s not good to do a deedthat plagues you later on,that plagues you later on,

for which you weep and wail,for which you weep and wail,as its effect stays with you.as its effect stays with you.It is good to do a deedIt is good to do a deed

that doesn’t plague you later on,that doesn’t plague you later on,that gladdens and cheers,that gladdens and cheers,as its effect stays with you.as its effect stays with you.

The fool imagines that evil is sweet,The fool imagines that evil is sweet,so long as it has not yet ripened.so long as it has not yet ripened.But as soon as that evil ripens,But as soon as that evil ripens,

they fall into suffering.they fall into suffering.Month after month a fool may eatMonth after month a fool may eatfood from a grass-blade’s tip;food from a grass-blade’s tip;

but they’ll never be worth a sixteenth partbut they’ll never be worth a sixteenth partof one who has appraised the teaching.of one who has appraised the teaching.For a wicked deed that has been doneFor a wicked deed that has been done

does not curdle quickly like milk.does not curdle quickly like milk.Smoldering, it follows the fool,Smoldering, it follows the fool,like a fire smothered over with ash.like a fire smothered over with ash.

Whatever fame a fool may get,Whatever fame a fool may get,it only gives rise to harm.it only gives rise to harm.Whatever good features they have it ruins,Whatever good features they have it ruins,

and blows their head into bits.and blows their head into bits.They’d seek the esteem that they lack,They’d seek the esteem that they lack,and status among the mendicants;and status among the mendicants;

authority over monasteries,authority over monasteries,and honor among other families.and honor among other families.“Let both layfolk and renunciants think“Let both layfolk and renunciants think

the work was done by me alone.the work was done by me alone.In anything at all that’s to be done,In anything at all that’s to be done,let them fall under my sway alone.”let them fall under my sway alone.”

So thinks the fool,So thinks the fool,their greed and pride only growing.their greed and pride only growing.For the means to profit and the path to quenchingFor the means to profit and the path to quenching

are two quite different things.are two quite different things.A mendicant disciple of the Buddha,A mendicant disciple of the Buddha,understanding what this really means,understanding what this really means,

would never delight in honors,would never delight in honors,but rather would foster seclusion.but rather would foster seclusion.