Chapter 100: Possession of Courtesy
Kural 991
They say if a man is easily accessible to everyone,
the virtue of courtesy will be easily accessible to him.
Kural 992
Loving kindness and birth in a good family--
these two are said to confer on one a gracious manner.
Kural 993
Resemblance among humans is not that their bodies look alike.
Real similarities come from similar traits of courtesy.
Kural 994
The world commends the civility of those
who combine fruitful effort and kindly benevolence.
Kural 995
Disparaging words are painful even when uttered in jest.
Hence, knowers of human nature are courteous even to enemies.
Kural 996
The world exists because civilized men exist.
Without them, it would collapse into mere dust.
Kural 997
Though their minds are as sharp as a wood rasp,
men without human decency are as wooden as a tree.
Kural 998
It is disgraceful to be discourteous towards others,
even to unfriendly fellows who treat you unjustly.
Kural 999
To those who cannot smile in joy, this wide world
lies engulfed in darkness, even in broad daylight.
Kural 1000
Great wealth amassed by men who lack sweet courtesy
is like good milk turned sour in an unclean vessel.