THE KURAL
956. Behold the men who are anxious to keep pure the honourable traditions of their family: they will never take to deceit nor descend to ignoble deeds.
957. The fault of a man of noble family will show conspicuously even as the spot in the body of the moon.
958. If rudeness of speech showeth itself in a man coming of a good family, people would even suspect the legitimacy of his descent.
959. The nature of a soil is known by the seedling that groweth therein: even so is the family of a man known by the words that come out of his mouth.
960. If thou desire virtue, thou must cultivate the sense of shame: and if thou want to honour thy family, thou must be respectful unto all.
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