WISDOM · DHAMMAPADA 63

A Deeper Kind of Knowing

The fool who knows his foolishness, is wise at least so far. But a fool who thinks himself wise, he is called a fool indeed.

Dhammapada 63 · Chapter 5, The Fool · trans. F. Max Müller · Read the full text at Project Gutenberg

Reflection

The verse begins, “The fool who knows his foolishness, is wise at least so far.” In its chapter, this image points toward humility about what we know. The emphasis is agency without isolation: begin with the part of the situation your own conduct can actually change. Because this is a historic English translation, test the teaching in experience rather than treating its wording as a demand for belief.

Practice prompt

Ask: is this true, useful, and timely?