Tirukkural (tr. G. U. Pope, 1886)

The book opens with

Only a spotless mind counts as virtue; everything else is empty show

Their wordsSpotless be thou in mind! This only merits virtue's name; All else, mere pomp of idle sound, no real worth can claim.

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8 korrents from this book ↓

Thiruvalluvar did not write this page.

Every claim below was made in this book, quoted word for word and numbered in the order the piece makes them, so you can read it there rather than take our word for it. The book prints chapter headings its extracted text does not preserve, so the claims below are in the book's order but not grouped. The sentence above each quote is our reading of the claim, not their wording. Each quote was checked against a stored copy of the page at build time; where the two differ, the quote is the fact.

Our reading
Only a spotless mind counts as virtue; everything else is empty show

Their wordsSpotless be thou in mind! This only merits virtue's name; All else, mere pomp of idle sound, no real worth can claim.
Our reading
People without love keep everything for themselves, while loving people belong wholly to others

Their wordsThe loveless to themselves belong alone; The loving men are others' to the very bone.
Our reading
Using harsh words when kind ones are at hand is like choosing unripe fruit over ripe

Their wordsWhen pleasant words are easy, bitter words to use, Is, leaving sweet ripe fruit, the sour unripe to choose.
Our reading
The way to punish wrongdoers is to shame them with kindness and let the wrong pass

Their wordsTo punish wrong, with kindly benefits the doers ply; Thus shame their souls; but pass the ill unheeded by.
Our reading
Sharing food with those in need and protecting every living thing is the chief of all teachings

Their wordsLet those that need partake your meal; guard every-thing that lives; This the chief and sum of lore that hoarded wisdom gives.
Our reading
The more one learns, the more freely wisdom flows, as digging deeper in sand reaches water

Their wordsIn sandy soil, when deep you delve, you reach the springs below; The more you learn, the freer streams of wisdom flow.
Our reading
Wisdom is discerning what is true in whatever one learns, from whoever says it

Their wordsThough things diverse from divers sages' lips we learn, 'Tis wisdom's part in each the true thing to discern.
Our reading
As water takes on the nature of the soil it flows through, a person's wisdom takes on the company they keep

Their wordsThe waters' virtues change with soil through which they flow; As man's companionship so will his wisdom show.

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The other pieces are the ones whose claims are worded most like this one's. That measures language, not agreement: they may argue the opposite.