I have a question about a verb 'mislead'.
Hi~

I'm wondering if the verb mislead can be used without object.

I saw the sentence below.

Many proverbs contain germs of truth, and some are indeed profound, but they aren't reliable sources of knowledge and can be misleading.

I think instead of misleading, misled fits more.

What would you say?

I need helps of native speakers~~

Question

I have a question about a verb 'mislead'.
Hi~

I'm wondering if the verb mislead can be used without object.

I saw the sentence below.

Many proverbs contain germs of truth, and some are indeed profound, but they aren't reliable sources of knowledge and can be misleading.

I think instead of misleading, misled  fits  more.

What would you say?

I need helps of native speakers~~

Answer

You can use it as an adjective by saying that something is "misleading."  You can also use the past participle in the passive voice such as "I have been mislead." Both of these seem not to have a D.O. but the first isn't a verb and the second has an implied indirect object that is not specified.  I can't think of a sentence off the top of my head using "to mislead" as a verb in the present tense without an object.

Answer

Misleading is correct in this sentence. Germs should be changed to 'gems'.

You could say 
"Many proverbs contain gems of truth, and some are indeed profound, but they aren't reliable sources of knowledge and can be misleading."

Or...

"Many proverbs contain gems of truth, and some are indeed profound, but they aren't reliable sources of knowledge and one can be misled by them."

Answer

Hi Hyomin, 
It has to be misleading. If you were to say "people are mislead by proverbs," that would work. But the statement is saying that the proverbs are misleading others. 
Hope that helps:-)

Answer

No, "misleading" is the only correct possibility.  Please revise the grammar for Passive Voice.