The Kural or the Maxims of Tiruvalluvar/Chapter 40
CHAPTER 40
LEARNING
391. Acquire thoroughly the knowledge that is worth acquiring and after acquiring it walk thou in accordance therewith.
392. Two are the eyes of living kind : the one is called Numbers, and the other, Letters.
393. The learned alone can be said to possess eyes : the unlettered have but two sores in their head.
394. The scholar bringeth joy with him wherever he cometh : but when he departeth he leaveth regrets behind.
395. Though thou hast to humble thyself before the teacher even as a beggar before a man of wealth thou yet acquirest learning : it is those that refuse to learn that are the lowest among men.
396. Knowledge is like unto a sand-spring: the more thou diggest and drawest thereat, the more excellent is the flow thereof.
397. Everywhere is his home to the learned man, and everywhere his native land : why then doth a man neglect instruction up to his dying day?
398. The learning that a man hath acquired in one birth will exalt him; even in all his succeeding incarnations.
399. The learned man seeth that the learning that delighteth him delighteth also all that listen to him: and he loveth instruction all the more on that account.
400. An imperishable and flawless treasure is learning to a man : other wealth is as nothing before it.
