3.
The Discourse on the Good Person
73.
"Monks, a bad person should be known as possessed of four qualities.
With which four?
Here, monks, a bad person, whatever disrepute there is of another, he manifests it even when not asked, what then to say when asked!
But when asked, brought to the question, without omitting, taking hold of it, he becomes one who speaks the disrepute of another completely and in detail.
This should be known, monks: 'This person is a bad person.'
"Furthermore, monks, a bad person, whatever praise there is of another, he does not manifest it even when asked, what then to say when not asked! But when asked, brought to the question, having omitted, having held back, he becomes one who speaks the praise of another incompletely and without detail. This should be known, monks: 'This person is a bad person.'
"Furthermore, monks, a bad person, whatever disrepute there is of oneself, he does not manifest it even when asked, what then to say when not asked! But when asked, brought to the question, having omitted, having held back, he becomes one who speaks the disrepute of oneself incompletely and without detail. This should be known, monks: 'This person is a bad person.'
"Furthermore, monks, a bad person, whatever praise there is of oneself, he manifests it even when not asked, what then to say when asked! But when asked, brought to the question, without omitting, taking hold of it, he becomes one who speaks the praise of oneself completely and in detail. This should be known, monks: 'This person is a bad person.' Monks, a bad person should be known as possessed of these four qualities.
"Monks, a good person should be known as possessed of four qualities. With which four? Here, monks, a good person, whatever disrepute there is of another, he does not manifest it even when asked, what then to say when not asked! But when asked, brought to the question, having omitted, having held back, he becomes one who speaks the disrepute of another incompletely and without detail. This should be known, monks: 'This person is a good person.'
"Furthermore, monks, a good person, whatever praise there is of another, he manifests it even when not asked, what then to say when asked! But when asked, brought to the question, without omitting, taking hold of it, he becomes one who speaks the praise of another completely and in detail. This should be known, monks: 'This person is a good person.'
"Furthermore, monks, a good person, whatever disrepute there is of oneself, he manifests it even when not asked, what then to say when asked! But when asked, brought to the question, without omitting, taking hold of it, he becomes one who speaks the disrepute of oneself completely and in detail. This should be known, monks: 'This person is a good person.'
"Furthermore, monks, a good person, whatever praise there is of oneself, he does not manifest it even when asked, what then to say when not asked! But when asked, brought to the question, having omitted, having held back, he becomes one who speaks the praise of oneself incompletely and without detail. This should be known, monks: 'This person is a good person.' Monks, a good person should be known as possessed of these four qualities.
"Just as, monks, a young wife, on whatever night or day she is brought, at that very moment strong shame and moral fear is present in her towards her mother-in-law, father-in-law, and husband, and even towards the slaves, workmen and servants. She, at a later time, through living together and through intimacy, speaks thus to her mother-in-law, father-in-law, and husband - 'Go away, what do you know!' So too, monks, here a certain monk, on whatever night or day he has gone forth from home into homelessness, at that very moment strong shame and moral fear is present in him towards monks, nuns, male lay followers, and female lay followers, and even towards monastery attendants and novices. He, at a later time, through living together and through intimacy, speaks thus to his teacher and preceptor - 'Go away, what do you know!' Therefore, monks, you should train thus - 'We will dwell with a mind like a newly arrived young wife.' Thus indeed, monks, should you train." The third.