Chapter 98: Greatness
Kural 971
The aspiration for glorious achievement is the light of life.
Disgrace is the dark thought that says, "I can live without it."
Kural 972
All men who live are alike at birth.
Diverse actions define their distinction and distinctiveness.
Kural 973
Lowly men are never high, even when elevated.
High souls are never low, even when downtrodden.
Kural 974
Like chastity in a woman, greatness is guarded
by being true to one's own self.
Kural 975
A man possessing greatness possesses the power
to effectively perform uncommonly difficult deeds.
Kural 976
"We will befriend great men and become like them."
Such thoughts seldom intrude upon small minds.
Kural 977
When small-minded men do achieve some distinction,
it only serves to augment their arrogance.
Kural 978
Greatness is always humbly self-effacing,
while pettiness adorns itself with words of praise.
Kural 979
Greatness abides in the absence of arrogance.
Smallness proudly parades its fulsome haughtiness.
Kural 980
Greatness conceals by silence the weaknesses of others.
Pettiness promptly proclaims such things to all.