The Kural or the Maxims of Tiruvalluvar/Chapter 96
SECTION iii
MISCELLANEOUS
CHAPTER 96
RESPECTABILITY OF BIRTH
951. Rectitude and a sense of shame come by nature only to men who are born of a good family.
952. Men of family fall not from three things, namely, correct conduct, truth, and a sense of shame.
953. Four are the attributes of the true gentleman: a smiling face, a liberal hand, sweetness of speech, and condescension.
954. Men of family would not tarnish their name even for the sake of tens of millions.
955. Behold the men of ancient family : they give not up their liberality even when their means of munificence are diminished.
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.
