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Thiruvalluvar Quotes (0-)
Author, Poet
About Thiruvalluvar
Thiruvalluvar was a Tamil poet-saint known as the author of the Tirukkural (βSacred Coupletsβ), considered a masterpiece of human thought, compared in India and abroad to the Bible, John Milton's Paradise Lost, and the works of Plato. Thiruvalluvar is thought to have lived sometime between the 3rd century BC and the 1st century BC.
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βWhatever things a man gives up,
By those he cannot suffer pain.β
By those he cannot suffer pain.β
βIf men must beg to live,
May the Creator also go wandering and perish.β
May the Creator also go wandering and perish.β
βThe ignorant are like useless, brackish soil;
They exist and that is all.β
They exist and that is all.β
βHow can kindliness rule that man
Who eateth other flesh to increase his own?β
Who eateth other flesh to increase his own?β
βWhen no food is given to the ear,
Then let a little be given to the stomach.β
Then let a little be given to the stomach.β
βThe gruel that childrenβs little hands have stirred
Is sweeter than nectar.β
Is sweeter than nectar.β
βTo turn away a guest is poorest poverty;
To bear with fools is mightiest might.β
To bear with fools is mightiest might.β
βEven the ignorant may appear very worthy,
If they keep silent before the learned.β
If they keep silent before the learned.β
βWhen you are about to badger the weak,
Then imagine yourself before a more powerful man.β
Then imagine yourself before a more powerful man.β
βThe learned are said to have seeing eyes;
The unlearned have only two sores on their faces.β
The unlearned have only two sores on their faces.β
βReasoning with a drunkard is like
Going under water with a torch to seek for a drowning man.β
Going under water with a torch to seek for a drowning man.β
βHow can he practice true compassion
Who eats the flesh of an animal to fatten his own flesh?β
Who eats the flesh of an animal to fatten his own flesh?β
βThe wound thatβs made by fire will heal,
But the wound thatβs made by tongue will never heal.β
But the wound thatβs made by tongue will never heal.β
βJust as the hand that strikes the ground cannot fail,
So is the ruin certain of him who cherishes anger.β
So is the ruin certain of him who cherishes anger.β
βThe crow does not hide its prey, but calls for others to share it;
So wealth will be with those of a like disposition.β
So wealth will be with those of a like disposition.β
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Thiruvalluvar on Charity 3 quotes
βTo give to the needy alone is charity. All the rest is investment for a return.β
About Thiruvalluvar
Thiruvalluvar was a Tamil poet-saint known as the author of the Tirukkural (βSacred Coupletsβ), considered a masterpiece of human thought, compared in India and abroad to the Bible, John Milton's Paradise Lost, and the works of Plato. Thiruvalluvar is thought to have lived sometime between the 3rd century BC and the 1st century BC.