Numbered Discourses 4.83

1. Confirmed

Where Criticism Takes You

“Mendicants, someone with four qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

What four?

Without examining or scrutinizing, they praise those deserving of criticism,

and they criticize those deserving of praise.

They arouse faith in things that are dubious, and they don’t arouse faith in things that are inspiring.

Someone with these four qualities is placed in hell as if delivered there.

Someone with four qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.

What four?

After examining and scrutinizing, they criticize those deserving of criticism,

and they praise those deserving of praise.

They don’t arouse faith in things that are dubious,

and they do arouse faith in things that are inspiring.

Someone with these four qualities is placed in heaven as if delivered there.”