Thiruvalluvar Quotes

“All life will press palms together in prayerful adoration
of those who refuse to slaughter or savour meat.”

“Although an act of help done timely, might be small in nature, it is truly larger than the world itself.”

“Among the wealthy, compassionate men claim the richest wealth, For material wealth is possessed by even contemptible men. Find and follow the good path and be ruled by compassion. For if the various ways are examined, compassion will prove the means to liberation.”

“Anger kills both laughter and joy;
What greater foe is there than anger?”

“As the quality of water changes with the nature of the soil; So will a man's reason vary with the quality of his friends.”

“Consider a man’s good qualities, and consider his faults; and judge his character by that which is more.”

“Even if someone does something that brings bad to you, do something good for them and make them feel shy for what they have done to you.”

“Even more than the time when she gave birth, a mother feels her greatest joy when she hears others refer to her son as a wise learned one.”

“Even the ignorant may appear very worthy,
If they keep silent before the learned.”

“Foolish people inflict pain upon them self which is worse than what an enemy can bring upon.”

“Forsake not the friendship of those who have been your staff in adversity, Forget not be benevolence of the blameless.”

“From whomsoever one hears anything, it is wisdom to understand the true import of it.”

“How can kindliness rule that man
Who eateth other flesh to increase his own?”

“If men must beg to live,
May the Creator also go wandering and perish.”

“If people scrutinize their own faults as they do the faults of others, mankind will be freed of all evil.”

“In sandy soil, when deep you delve, you reach the springs below; The more you learn, the freer streams of wisdom flow.”

“It is the prowess of scholars that meetings bring delight and departures leave memories.”

“Just as the earth that bears the man who tills and digs it, to bear those who speak ill of them, is a quality of the highest respect.”

“Just as the hand rushes involuntarily to protect one's honor in case of accidental state of undress, so does a friend come to his friend's aid without being asked.”

“Just as the hand that strikes the ground cannot fail,
So is the ruin certain of him who cherishes anger.”

“Not every light is a true light;
To the wise the light of truth is light itself.”

“Real kindness seeks no return.”

“Reasoning with a drunkard is like
Going under water with a torch to seek for a drowning man.”

“The crow does not hide its prey, but calls for others to share it;
So wealth will be with those of a like disposition.”

“The folly of follies is watching another’s joy or gain.
And, comparing it with one’s own, feel self-pitying pain.”

“The gruel that children's little hands have stirred, is sweeter than nectar.”

“The ignorant are like useless, brackish soil;
They exist and that is all.”

“The learned are said to have seeing eyes;
The unlearned have only two sores on their faces.”

“The lotus' stem is as long as the depth of water,
So men's height is just as great as their inner strength.”

“The strong minded will not faint, even when all is lost; the elephant stands firm, even when wounded by a shower of arrows.”