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Part I: On Virtue

Section I: Prologue

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Chapter 82: Harmful Friendship

Verse 816
A knowledgeable scholar is seated on the floor at his desk. He is looking sternly at and correcting his young prodigy, who hangs his head in shame for some shortcomings. Still the youth values the teacher’s friendship more than those outside the compound who are indolent and foolish.

TAKA Presents the Tirukural

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Weaver's Wisdom

Verse 811

Though unscrupulous men may seem to consume you in friendship,
their companionship grows more delightful as it declines.

Verse 812

What does it matter if one gains or loses the friendship
of manipulators who befriend to gain and otherwise forsake?

Verse 813

Prostitutes, thieves and people who make friends
to make money are all alike.

Verse 814

Some men are like an untrained horse that throws its rider
on the battlefield. Loneliness is better than their friendship.

Verse 815

Better to give up than to gain the friendship of inferior men
who stay away when they should stay and help.

Verse 816

The enmity of the wise is ten million times
better than intimate friendship with fools.

Verse 817

An enemy's rancor is a hundred million times more worthwhile
than companionship with fellows who always clown around.

Verse 818

If friends feign inability to discharge reasonable tasks,
remain silent and gradually give up their friendship.

Verse 819

The fellowship of men whose acts
belie their spoken words is bitter, even in dreams.

Verse 820

There are men who will cherish you in private but censure you
in public--avoid their every befriending approach.