The Kural or the Maxims of Tiruvalluvar/Chapter 51
CHAPTER 51
TESTING OF MEN FOR CONFIDENCE
501. Love of the right, gold, pleasure, and fear of life, these four are the tests of a man: give thy confidence therefore to men that satisfy all these tests.[1]
502. Behold the man who is born of a good family, who is free from faults and who dreadeth disgrace : he is the man for thee.
503. Even men of rare learning and of pure hearts will not be found, when thou dost test them, to be absolutely exempt from all ignorance.
504. Weigh a man's good and weigh his evil : whichever is more, take that to be his nature.
505. Dost thou want to find out whether a man is noble or little-minded ? Know that conduct is the touchstone of character.
506. Beware of trusting men that have no kindred : for their hearts will be without attachment and they will be callous to shame.
507. If thou choose a fool for thy confidential adviser because that thou lovest him, he will lead thee to endless follies.
508. Behold the man that trusteth another without trying him : he createth endless evils even unto his posterity.
509. Trust not a man without trying him : and after trying your men, give each of them the work for which he is fit.
510. To trust a man whom thou hast not tried and to suspect a man whom thou hast found worthy lead alike to endless ills.
- ↑ See Kauṭilya's Arthashâstra, Part I Ch. 10 for those tests or upadhâs.