Dhammapada 228

There has never been, never will be, and is not now a person entirely blamed or entirely praised

There has never been, never will be, and is not now a person entirely blamed or entirely praised.

Translated from the Pāli by Banya

In plain words

There has never been, is not now, and will never be a person who receives only blame or only praise. One way to apply this: avoid treating a single judgment as the whole account of someone.

Key words

ekantaṁ

entirely, exclusively — Qualifies blame or praise as absolute.

The story behind the verse

The story of the lay follower Atula (Atulaupāsakavatthu)

Atula and his companions visit monks to hear teaching. Revata's silence displeases them, Sāriputta's detailed teaching seems too long, and Ānanda's shorter teaching seems insufficient. They bring their complaints to the Buddha. He explains that people blame the silent, the talkative, and even those who speak moderately.

Retold by Banya from the traditional commentary, after E. W. Burlingame, Buddhist Legends (1921).

Explanation by Banya. Traditional readings vary.