“Mendicants, a fine royal thoroughbred with four factors is worthy of a king, fit to serve a king, and reckoned a factor of kingship. What four? Integrity, speed, patience, and gentleness. A fine royal thoroughbred with these four factors is worthy of a king. …

In the same way, a mendicant with four qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world. What four? Integrity, speed, patience, and gentleness. A mendicant with these four qualities … is the supreme field of merit for the world.”

Numbered Discourses 4.113 12. With Kesi The Goad

“Mendicants, these four fine thoroughbreds are found in the world. What four? One fine thoroughbred is moved to act when it sees the shadow of the goad, thinking: ‘What task will the horse trainer have me do today? How should I respond?’ Some fine thoroughbreds are like that. This is the first fine thoroughbred found in the world.