Sri Vidura`s definion of great souls and fools in Mahabharata

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Sri Vidura:

"A great soul is one who is beyond the influence of material dualities. Such

an elevated person does not become flattered upon receiving honor, nor does

he become angry when insulted. He discards desires for immediate by

flickering gratification of the bodily and mental urges, and instead, acts

for obtaining eternal benefit. He listens very patiently and attentively,

and he can understand a matter very quickly. He does not discuss the affairs

of others unless someone requests him to give personal advice. He never

strives for the unattainable, and he does not grieve for that which have

been lost. Even when there is a calamity, he does not become bewildered by

sorrow. Whatever he starts, he diligently carries to through to completion,

and he never allows his valuable time to be wasted in idleness or frivolity.

He is not a faultfinder, but he is always anxious to praise the good

qualities of others. These are the charachteristics of a person who actually

became elevated in knowledge due to following the path of virtue."

 

"O King, I shall now descripe to you the fool, who is just the opposite of

the wise man. A fool does not hesitate to employ unfair means to achieve his

goals, and his mind is always filled with desires for sensual gratification.

He takes a long time to accomplish a thing that could be quickly done, and

he treats those who are actually well wishers as if they were enemies, while

giving inimical person a royal treatment. He who divulges his schemes, who

is always full of doubts, and who trusts an unforthy person, is a fool. He

who comes to a place uninvited and then talks excessively without being

asked to do so, is a great fool. He who blames others when he himself is at

fault, and he who is miserly and selfish, is also a fool. Who could be more

heartless than a wealthy person who dresses nicely and eats fine food, but

does not provide such things for his debendends?"

 

 

...."When a fool tries to injure a wise man by using harsh speech, he takes

upon himself the results of the derided person`s sinful reactions. If a

forest is cut down, the trees may once again grow back, but a heart that is

wounded harsh words never recovers. Arrows can be extracted from the body,

but the dagger of harsh words, once plunged deep into heart, can never be

removed. The arrow-like harsh words that can issue forth from one`s mouth

should therefore never be discharged by a learned person."

 

(Mahabharata Udyoga-parva)