[101] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus." "Venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:
"Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of clouds (valāhaka). What four? One that thunders but does not rain; one that rains but does not thunder; one that neither thunders nor rains; one that both thunders and rains. These, bhikkhus, are the four kinds of clouds.
"Even so, bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of persons comparable to clouds existing and found in the world. What four? One who thunders but does not rain; one who rains but does not thunder; one who neither thunders nor rains; one who both thunders and rains.
"And how, bhikkhus, is a person one who thunders but does not rain? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person is a speaker but not a doer. Thus, bhikkhus, a person is one who thunders but does not rain. Just as that cloud, bhikkhus, thunders but does not rain, so, bhikkhus, I say this person is comparable to it.
"And how, bhikkhus, is a person one who rains but does not thunder? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person is a doer but not a speaker. Thus, bhikkhus, a person is one who rains but does not thunder. Just as that cloud, bhikkhus, rains but does not thunder, so, bhikkhus, I say this person is comparable to it.
"And how, bhikkhus, is a person one who neither thunders nor rains? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person is neither a speaker nor a doer. Thus, bhikkhus, a person is one who neither thunders nor rains. Just as that cloud, bhikkhus, neither thunders nor rains, so, bhikkhus, I say this person is comparable to it.
"And how, bhikkhus, is a person one who both thunders and rains? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person is both a speaker and a doer. Thus, bhikkhus, a person is one who both thunders and rains. Just as that cloud, bhikkhus, both thunders and rains, so, bhikkhus, I say this person is comparable to it.
"These, bhikkhus, are the four kinds of persons comparable to clouds existing and found in the world."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.