Tuesday, August 26, 2025

505. An Honest Officer?

“This is the culture of our office. What difference will it make, if only you and I are honest?” asked Senthil.

“It may not make any difference. But doesn’t doing our work honestly make us feel good?” replied Balaji.

“Yes, but look at the situation. On the one hand, the public puts pressure on us, trying to bribe us and demanding that we act in their favour and on the other, our higher officials are unhappy with us, considering us as obstacles in their path to make money by misusing their powers. And our colleagues consider us foolish and mock at us!”

“Well, at least you have me and I have you for comforting each other!”

“Today, a new officer is taking charge. Let us see how he is going to be!” said Senthil.

When Thanikachalam, the new officer, assumed charge, he called all the employees to his cabin.

“Listen carefully. I am very strict when it comes to work. I will not tolerate even a small irregularity. Keep this in mind and be sincere and honest in your work.” He began this way and gave a short speech stressing the importance of honesty, service-mindedness, and dedication in one’s duty.

When the two returned to their desks, Senthil told Balaji, “At last! An honest officer has come. At least for us, working under him will be a satisfying experience, I think.”

“You can’t judge him just by what he says. Let us see how he actually behaves” said Balaji, smiling.

“It appears that having seen so many corrupt officers, you find it hard to believe that any officer can be honest!” said Senthil.

Balaji just smiled without replying.

A few days later, when they were speaking in private, Senthil whispered to Balaji, “Your skepticism has proved to be right. Mr. Thanikachalam is not an honest person, as I believed him to be."

“How did you come to this conlcusion?” asked Balaji.

“A businessman named Manickam had made an application for approval of his plan. I told him that his plan won't be approved since it was not in conformity to the rules. He told me, ‘Just send the file to your officer, I will handle it.’ I told him, ‘This officer is an honest man; he won’t agree to this.’ He threw a derisive smile at me.

“I sent the file with my note that approval could not be given as per the rules. A week had passed. The file didn’t come back. This morning, Manickam called me and said, laughing, ‘I have taken care of your officer. He has given me the approval I asked for.’ Later, the file was sent back to me by the officer, overruling my objection and giving approval, justifying his decision with some dubious reasoning!”

Balaji smiled without saying anything.

“How did you suspect him right from the beginning? Did you already know about him?” asked Senthil.

“No. I didn’t know him. But I believe that we should judge a person not by what he says, but by what he does. Many dishonest people loudly proclaim themselves to be honest—rather too loudly! “The morning Mr. Thanikachalam joined our office, I saw him at the temple. At that time, I didn’t know who he was. A small crowd was waiting in line before the temple was opened. He went and stood in the middle of the line. When people at the back objected, he said he had been standing in the line earlier, but went back to fetch his purse from his scooter parked outside. I knew that it was a lie. The line was short and I had been standing in the line for quite some time. He had not been in the line earlier. I wondered why he should lie for te sake of jumping ahead in a line that was quite small. When he went inside the sanctum sanctorum, he shoved aside even some elderly devotees to take his place in the front. Later, when I saw him in our office, I remembered how he had behaved in the temple. Judging him by his conduct at the temple, I thought he was not likely to be an honest man. And the way he kept insisting that he was very honest only made my suspicion stronger!” said Balaji.

Thirukkural
Section 2
Materialism
Chapter 51
Assess Before Accepting

Verse 505 (in Tamil):
perumaikkum Enaich chiRumaikkum thaththam
karumamE kattaLaik kal

Meaning:
The touchstone for greatness or unworthiness of a person is one’s own deeds.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'pudhiya adhikAri' by the same author.)
Verse 506 (Soon)
Verse 504

Monday, August 25, 2025

504. The Selection Process

“The interview is over. Whom are we going to select?” asked Sundaram, the Personnel Manager.

“This is a promotion interview for a Department Manager. That manager will be working under you. So, your opinion is the most important,” said Raju, the General Manager, looking at Selvam, the Divisional Manager.

Before Selvam could reply, Sundaram interjected, saying, “We have already shortlisted two people, right? We only need to choose one of them. What is your choice?”

‘Isn’t this the same question the GM had just asked me? And now, just to show off your authority as the Personnel Manager, you are repeating it to me!’ thought Selvam irritably. He turned to Raju and said, “Sir, between Ram and Neelakantan, my choice is Neelakantan!”

“Neelakantan? His profile is not that impressive, is it?” said Sundaram.

Suppressing his urge to hit back Sundaram with the retort ‘Then how did you even agree to have him shortlisted?’ Selvam said, “You are looking at the profile. I am looking at the person.”

“Correct. You are the one who interacts with both of them directly, right? That is why I said your opinion matters,” said Raju. “But before finalizing the selection, let us list out the strengths and weaknesses of both the candidates.”

For the next few minutes, the three of them together listed the strengths and weaknesses of Ram and Neelakantan.

“Now that we have listed both their strengths and weaknesses, if we assign positive marks for strengths and negative marks for weaknesses, who do you think ends up with a higher score?” asked Raju, looking at Selvam.

“Certainly, Ram has a better score. Based on my personal interactions with both the candidates, initially I thought Neelakantan was the obvious choice. But, when we look at it through this approach you suggested, it is clear that Ram is the better candidate” admitted Selvam.

“Very good! So shall we, the three of us, unanimously finalize Ram as our selection?” asked Raju.

The other two silently nodded in agreement.

After Selvam had left the room, Sundaram turned to Raju and said, “Sir, Selvam was biased! I think he had decided even before conducting the interview that Neelakantan should be chosen. Only when we compared both candidates’ strengths and weaknesses as per your suggestion, did he change his mind.”

“True, having a bias may be Selvam's weakness. But he also has many strengths. First, he admitted that he had a bias. Second, he has a sense of fairness. Even after forming an opinion, he is willing to listen to others, consider the validity of their reasoning, and change his decision, if he finds their reasoning is justified. So, on balance, the positive qualities of Selvam outweigh his flaws. Can’t you see that?” said Raju.

Sundaram nodded his head, agreeing with his General Manager.

Thirukkural
Section 2
Materialism
Chapter 51
Assess Before Accepting
Verse 504 (in Tamil):
guNam nAdik kuRRamum nAdi avaRRuL
migai nAdi mikka koLal

Meaning:
Examine the good and bad in a person and judge his character according to what predominates in his composition. 

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'thErvuk kuzhu' by the same author.)

1127. The Secret Hidden by Shreenidhi

“You look different today,” Yuva told Shreenidhi, tilting her head as though trying to view her friend’s face from a different angle.

“Different? Not at all,” Shreenidhi replied, with a mild attempt at denial. “You may feel that way because you haven’t seen me for some time, having been away for a while.”

Yuva raised an eyebrow. “I was gone just a week. What great change could have happened within this short period?” She turned toward the other friends standing there and asked them, with a smile, “Haven’t you girls noticed a change in Shreenidhi's appearance?”

Vanitha, one of the friends, laughed. “How could we not? We did notice a change in Shreenidhi's looks and asked her about it, but she denied that there was any change at all. But, we have not been able to spot what the change is. And you, Yuva, you being her closest friend, can't detect what the change is, you really are a slow one!”

Yuva studied her friend closely. “Of course, I have deciphered what the change is. Shreenidhi’s eyes used to be always rimmed with kohl—dark, sharp and beautiful. That was giving her a special look. And now, it is gone.”

Yuva's voice softened, as she addressed Srinidhi. “I have watched you put on the kohl… so carefully, as if you were drawing a border around your eyes. I have always admired it. Even when the kohl smudged, even when it stung, you still wouldn’t give it up. Why stop now?”

Shreenidhi dropped her gaze. “There is no reason. I thought why I should suffer eye irritation for the sake of making my eyes look bright?”

“Don’t lie to me,” Yuva told Shrinidhi, her voice firm, but affectionate. “I know the truth. Shall I tell them?” pointing her forefinger at their friends standing there.

Shreenidhi shook her head quickly, pleading silently.

Yuva laughed and turned to the other girls. “Shreenidhi's family members follow a tradition. In the month of Margazhi*, they fast and sing Thiruppavai**. In one verse of Thiruppavai, Andal says: ‘Let us go without kohl.’ So none of the women in her household wear kohl during that month. Shreenidhi hid this from us, fearing that we might make fun of her for following an orthodox practice."

She winked at Shreenidhi. “Isn’t that right?”

Shreenidhi said nothing, but her silence was a sign of admission.

“That’s it? What a boring secret!” the girls laughed, drifting away one by one.

When the courtyard fell quiet, Yuva leaned closer to her friend and asked her, her voice no longer playful, but searching. “Now tell me the real reason. I don’t believe it is just tradition. There is a man behind your change. Who is he?”

Shreenidhi’s lips trembled into a shy smile. “Ashwin.”

“Oh!” Yuva smiled. “Not a bad choice. But wait—did he say you don’t look good with kohl? If so, that means he has no taste!”

“No,” Shreenidhi replied quickly. “He never said that. He even asked me why I had stopped applying kohl. I gave him an evasive reply.”

“Then why, Shree? Why give up what you love?”

Shreenidhi hesitated, then whispered, almost embarrassed, “Because Ashwin lives in my eyes now. Always. Even when I close my eyes, his image remains inside, as if carved into the darkness. And when I draw the kohl, I fear its blackness will wash him away or blur the image I hold so close. I stopped… because I was afraid to lose him, even if it was only an image.”

For a moment, Yuva was silent. Then she smiled, her fingers brushing her friend’s cheek with the tenderness of sisterhood.

“You are mad, Shree,” she whispered. “Mad with love. And there is no cure for such craziness.”

Thirukkural
Section 3
Love
Chapter 113
In Praise of Love

Verse 1127 (in Tamil):
kaN uLLAr kAdhal avarAgak kaNNum
ezhudhEm karappAkku aRindhu.

Meaning:
My beloved resides within my eyes. I never paint them lest he vanishes for that brief time.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'kaNNukku mai azhagu' by the same author.)
Verse 1128 (Soon)
Verse 1126

503. The Scholar’s Oversight

That year's annual festival of the town’s Literary Association was unlike that of any other year. 

The announcement “Ilakkiya Kadal (Ocean of Literature)” Sundaralingam would be delivering the special address"  made a sense of excitement surge through the town

To Tamil literary enthusiasts, Sundaralingam was no ordinary scholar. His very name carried the weight of reverence. People whispered with pride, “In our time, no one has studied Tamil literature as profoundly as he has.” 

Sundaralingam had delved into countless works—from the great epics to obscure manuscripts known only to a few. Not only did he grasp their layered meanings, but he could also summon thousands of verses from memory, his voice ringing with the power of poetry.

On the day of the festival, the hall overflowed. Members of the Association filled the front rows, while townsfolk crowded every corner of the hall. So great was the anticipation that many were forced to stand at the back, straining to catch a glimpse of the man they called the Ocean of Literature.

When Sundaralingam rose to speak, the hall fell silent. His words carried both scholarship and warmth, weaving knowledge with charm.

“Let me test your memories,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “If I ask you ‘Which epic contains the line—Like a man in debt, the King of Lanka was disturbed?’ what answer will you give?”

A chorus of voices rang out: “Kamba Ramayanam!”

Sundaralingam laughed heartily. “That, my friends, is the mistake so many of us make! This line is not in the Kamba Ramayanam. Generations have repeated it so often that the error has taken root like a stubborn weed. Some attribute this line to Arunachala Kavirayar. But that too is incorrect. The truth is—it comes from Thanipadal Thirattu, an anthology of anonymous verses. And the correct line is: ‘Like a heart in debt, the King of Lanka was disturbed.’

“Such are the misconceptions that creep into our tradition, passed down until they are mistaken for truth.”

The audience leaned forward, enthralled.

Sundaralingam paused, his voice softening. “Before I conclude, let me recite a hymn about Hanuman, from Kamba Ramayanam. It goes like this—

Born of the wind,
He crossed the sea,
He soared through the sky,
He beheld Sita, daughter of the earth,
And set fire to Lanka.
He, who embodies the five elements, will protect us.

“This verse,” Sundaralingam explained, “links Hanuman’s deeds to the five elements—wind, water, sky, earth, and fire. Such is the grandeur of our literary tradition.”

Applause thundered through the hall. The scholar’s words had touched both the minds and spirits of the audience, as it were.

That evening, the members of the Literary Association hosted a dinner in honor of Sundaralingam in a hotel. After the dinner was over, one after another, admirers came to his side, showering him with praise, before leaving the venue.

At last, when the gathering had thinned, a young man approached Sundaralingam hesitatingly. His voice was low, sounding unsure.

“Sir… your speech was wonderful. But… I have a doubt.”

“Go on, my boy,” Sundaralingam encouraged him, smiling benignly.

“The verse you recited about Hanuman—I heard that scholars don’t accept it as Kamban’s work…”

“How do you know that?” asked Sundaralingam, a little startled.

“When I was in school, my teacher told us so. He said devotees would find this verse pleasing to  hear, but it was not written by Kamban. The verse doesn't have the refined poetic structure characteristic of Kamban's poetry. I myself don’t have much knowledge about literature, though” said the young man, sounding apologetic about contradicting the scholar.

Sundaralingam’s smile faded. He looked at the youth with a flicker of surprise. Before he could say anything, the Association’s secretary arrived. “Shall we leave, sir?” he asked.

Sundaralingam began to move but turned to look at the young man, his expression unreadable. Without a word, he walked away.

Later that night, alone in his study, he reached for his treasured copy of the Kamba Ramayanam. With trembling hands, he searched page after page, verse after verse.

At last, the truth lay before him.

The young man had been right.

Sundaralingam closed the book slowly, his heart feeling heavy. He sat in silence, the weight of his discovery pressing upon him.

“How could I—who have studied so deeply—have overlooked this?” he whispered to himself.

The Ocean of Literature, for the first time in years, felt like tasting the salt of doubt.

Thirukkural
Section 2
Materialism
Chapter 51
Assess Before Accepting

Verse 503 (in Tamil):
ariya kaRRu AsaRRAr kaNNum theriyumkAl
inmai aridhE vrLiRu

Meaning:
Even a person who is known to be erudite and faultless,
if assessed well, will rarely be free of flaws and ignorance.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'ilakkiyach choRpozhivu' by the same author.)

Sunday, August 24, 2025

120. The Old Bureau

When we sold our ancestral home in the village, most of the small household items were given away—some for free and some for throwaway prices. But three large wooden pieces remained: a bureau, a reclining chair, and a heavy table.

We brothers divided them among ourselves. My share was the bureau. The other two pieces were quickly sold by my brothers to a newly rich villager for a handsome sum. He also wanted my bureau, but I refused.

I brought the bureau to my (rented) house in Chennai. I say “brought it” casually, but bringing it was no easy task. The bureau was very heavy, and I had to employ several men to lift it onto a bullock cart, transport it 10 kilometers to the town, and unload it at the office of the goods transport firm

Even at the office of the transport firm, unloading the bureau required many hands. At first, the employees of the firm said it won't be possible to send the bureau by lorry. It took some pleading from me before I could make them accept the bureau for shipment. 

When I heard the freight they demanded, I was shocked—I even considered abandoning the bureau there and quietly slipping away. But, with no other option, I paid the exorbitant charges demanded by them and arranged to have it sent by lorry.

When the bureau finally reached Chennai, the trouble of moving it from the transport office to my house was no less. The transport company and the labourers virtually robbed me, extorting a heavy amount from me, yet behaved as though they were doing me a favor! I had to beg each one of them at every step of moving the bureau from the transport office to my home.

“Good heavens, sir! What sort of bureau is this? It is so heavy!” was the common remark I kept hearing.

Apprehensive that the bureau might get damaged if it slipped from the hands of the labourers due to their inadvertent handling, I kept begging them, “Please, lift it carefully and slowly!”

No sooner had the bureau reached my house than my landlord, sweating like a hawk swooping down, rushed in: “What’s this, sir? Where did you bring this from? The floor may crack—be careful!” he said expressing his anxiety.

I swallowed the retort that rose in my mind—Floors may crack under iron bureaus, not under wooden ones. Doesn’t your wooden head know this?—and replied politely, “Don’t worry, sir. I’ll take care.”

At last, the bureau stood inside my home. 

When my wife heard what the transport had cost, she nearly fainted. “For that money, we could have bought four new Godrej bureaus!” she said.

Over the next fifteen years, as we shifted our residence three times, moving the bureau each time cost a small fortune.

Now, after we had bought our own house, I couldn’t take the bureau along. My family (everyone except me) unanimously decided that there was no place for the wooden bureau in our new home.

“You have already spent enough on this bureau. Sell it and be done with it,” said my wife.

So, with no other choice, I decided to sell it.

I browsed the newspaper classifieds and was surprised to see so many buyers for old goods. I thought I would be clever—show the bureau to five or six dealers and sell it to the one who offered the most.

But no one was ready to offer a decent amount for my bureau.

“This won’t sell, sir! No one will buy it even for using it as firewood. If you want, I’ll take it away on my cart and dump it somewhere. You won’t get any price,” said one.

Another offered a sum lower than what he would have offered for old newspapers.

After several such disappointments, a man named Janarthanan arrived.

He carefully opened the bureau, examined each part, and said, “Looks like a very old bureau indeed! How much are you expecting?”

“Will you give me five thousand rupees?” I asked, hesitantly.

He laughed. “Sir, I’m a trader. I expect a fair price for what I sell, and I believe others too should get fair value for their goods.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, puzzled.

“Sir, there are collectors who will pay good money for antiques like this. If I buy this bureau from you for five thousand rupees and sell it to them for a huge profit, I would only be cheating you. Instead, let me give you the contact numbers of a few antique dealers I know. Call them. They will come, inspect the bureau, and quote their price. Check with a few, and sell it to whoever offers you the best deal.”

“And what do you think it might fetch?” I asked, astonished.

“I can’t say exactly,” he replied. “But it will surely go for more than one lakh rupees.” 

Thirukkural
Section 1
The Path of Virtue
Chapter 12
Neutrality
Verse 120 (In Tamil)
vANigam seyvArkku vANigam pENip
piRavum thama pOl seyin.

Meaning:
If businessmen treat goods of other people as they would their own, that will be considered fair business.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'mara bIrO' by the same author)
Verse 121 (Soon)
Verse 119

502. Project Manager

"I have been running this industrial unit for the past many years. But what I am now taking up is my dream project. This project was conceived by me a few years back. But the time for implementing the project has come only now. And I have got a good engineer like you to bring my idea into fruition" said Paranthaman, the Managing Director of the firm.

"Yes, sir. We will plan well and execute the project in a good way" said Giri, who had just taken charge as the Project Engineer.

Paranthaman turned to the young man standing politely near him and told him, "Shankar! Bring the project file and give it to Mr. Giri."

Shankar went out of the room and returned after a couple of minutes with a thick file. He handed over the file to Giri.

Giri quickly browsed through the file and said, "Ok, sir. I will read the file thoroughly and then discuss the modalities of implementation with you." After a minute's hesitation, he added, "There are a lot of technical details in the file. It will take me a few days to read through the file completely."

"Take your time" said Paranthaman.

After a week, Giri came to meet Paranthaman, carrying the project file and a notebook in which he had apparently noted the points to be discussed.

"Have you gone through the file thoroughly?" asked Paranthaman..

"Yes, sir. You have already collected all the details and even prepared a brief project report. I need to discuss a few points with you" said Giri.

"Definitely. That is why I have asked Shankar to join us" said Paranthaman. 

Just at that time, Shankar entered the cabin, as if acting on a cue

Even as Giri was wondering 'Why do we need this person in this discussion?' Paranthaman asked Shankar to take his seat. Shankar sat next to Giri.

As if answering the question that arose in Giri's mind, Paranthaman said, "Mr. Giri! You are the technical head of this project. But Shankar will be the person in charge of the project. I have not given him any designation. If you want, you can call him the Project Manager. He will represent me. I have given him the authority to take all decisions regarding the project. He may consult me, if he feels the need. That is his discretion. You have to get all your decisions cleared by him. Is it clear?"

Not knowing what to say, Giri nodded his head in agreement.

"You should know about Shankar. His father worked for me. He was honest and trustworthy. After his demise, I asked Shankar to join my firm. He accepted my offer and joined my firm. He may look like an ordinary person. He is not highly educated. But having closely observed him for the past five years, I know about his dedication and integrity, his meticulous care and attention to see that no wrongdoing occurs even due to inadvertence and the sense of fear he has for even the slightest damage to his good name that may be caused by any mistake. So, I have decided that he will be the right person to play the lead role in the implementation of this project and given him the responsibility. I am sure that you will find working with Shankar a pleasant experience. Now, tell me the points you want to discuss" said Paranthaman.

Giri smiled at Shankar and began to discuss the points he had noted in his notebook.

Thirukkural
Section 2
Materialism
Chapter 51
Assess Before Accepting

Verse 502 (in Tamil):
kudip piRandhu kuRRaththin nIngi vaduppaRiyum
nANudaiyAn suttE theLivu

Meaning:
Place your trust only in a person of good lineage, who is free from vices and has a fear of shame and infamy.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'project manager' by the same author.)

Saturday, August 23, 2025

501. Entrapped Rats!

Sir! There is only one more month before I retire. But, you have not yet indicated the date to interview the candidates for selecting the new CEO" said Varadarajan.

"Fix the interviews on 16th" said Govind, the Chairman of the company.

"Shall I ask all the six shortlisted candidates to attend the interview on 16th?"

"I have eliminated four of the six candidates shortlisted by us earlier. Ask only Sundar and Kanakasabhai to come for the interview."

Varadarajan looked at Govind, perplexed.

"I am sorry, Varadarajan. Since you were retiring, I thought I need not involve you in the elimination process" said Govind, apologetically.

"Sir! You are the one to take a decision. But, after shortlisting the six candidates, we have gathered all the background information about them! So, may I know why you eliminated four of them?" asked Varadarajan, politely.

"We have collected the information about them, alright. But I wanted to verify a few things. So, I conducted some tests for all the six candidates, through a friend of mine. I can even say that I set traps for them! Four of the candidates got entrapped. So, I eliminated them. I thought of sharing the details with you later."

Govind then elaborated what he did.

"As you know, given the reputation of our company, many people were interested in becoming the CEO of our company. Though we have many competent executives in our company, we decided to recruit someone from outside, since we wanted to recruit a person with some specialized skills required for this position. You have been a very valuable asset to our company. I won't be able to find another person like you. Since you were keen on not continuing in this position after you had reached the age of seventy, we had to scout for a person to substitute you."

Govind paused.

Varadarajan knew that Govind's praise for him was sincere. However, he thought that the Chairman praising him at that time was for assuaging his feelings, since the Chairman had taken steps to test the shortlisted candidates, without taking Varadarajan into confidence.

"No one can know better than you what kind of pressures the CEO will receive from our suppliers, competitors, service providers, government officials etc. To withstand all these pressures, the CEO should have certain basic attributes. The service records of the candidates won't show whether they have such attributes. That is why I thought of testing the candidates in three areas."

"What are those three areas?"

"Following a righteous path, resisting the lure of money and not falling prey to honeytraps. I know that you would have encountered challenges in these areas many times during your tenure. But, for you, a person who has adopted ethics and morality as a way of life, those challenges would have been no challenges at all. You would have overcome such challenges very easily."

Knowing that what Govind said was true, Varadarajan nodded his head silently. 

Govind continued.

"First, I had messages delivered to the candidates in a subtle way that they could get the job by influencing me through some intermediaries. Secondly, I had a huge sum of money offered to them to do something in violation of the rules and norms of the companies where they are now working. Thirdly, I had honey traps set for them to lure them and get some sensitive information about their companies. Two people were caught in one trap. One person was entrapped in two traps and another in all the three traps. Only two people didn't get caught in any of the three traps" said Govind.

Varadarajan remained silent.

"I know that you won't accept the methods I have adopted. That was another reason why I didn't involve you in this process" said Govind.

"How are you going to select one person out of the two candidates left?" asked Varadarajan.

"We are going to make the selection. We both will interview the candidates. The next CEO will be a person chosen by you" said Govind.

After interviewing the two candidates, Govind and Varadarajan unanimously selected Kanakasabhai as the next CEO.

"Sir! I want to ask you one thing. You asked both the candidates, 'You may receive threats to your life, while doing this job. Are you prepared to face such threats?' Sundar became visibly scared by your question. But, Kanakasabhai said, 'While doing a job, one should be prepared for all eventualities.' So, Kanakasbhai became the obvious choice for the position. But, I have not encountered any threat to my life during my tenure. May I know why you asked this question?" asked Varadarajan.        

"A person holding a high position needs to be courageous. Not being afraid of threats to one's life is the height of courage. That is why I asked this question" said Govind. "You are person with a high level of courage. You may not be aware of it, but I have noticed your showing the necessary courage on several occasions" he added.

Thirukkural
Section 2
Materialism
Chapter 51
Assess Before Accepting

Verse 501 (in Tamil):
aRam poruL inbam uyir achcham nAngin
thiRan therindhu thERappdum

Meaning:
Assess the attitude of a person on these four aspects before choosing him: righteousness, greed (for money), lust and fear for life.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'poRiyil sikkiya eligaL' by the same author.)