SELF-KNOWLEDGE · DHAMMAPADA 100
Turning Inward Honestly
Even though a speech be a thousand (of words), but made up of senseless words, one word of sense is better, which if a man hears, he becomes quiet.
Dhammapada 100 · Chapter 8, The Thousands · trans. F. Max Müller · Read the full text at Project Gutenberg
Reflection
The verse begins, “Even though a speech be a thousand (of words), but made up of senseless words, one….” In its chapter, this image points toward quality of understanding rather than quantity of words. It treats speech as an action with consequences, asking for truth and care before a reaction becomes language. Because this is a historic English translation, test the teaching in experience rather than treating its wording as a demand for belief.
Practice prompt
Where could honest self-observation replace self-criticism today?