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Kural 279
கூடா ஒழுக்கம்
Imposture
கணைகொடிது யாழ்கோடு செவ்விதுஆங் கன்ன
வினைபடு பாலால் கொளல்.
Kanaikotidhu Yaazhkotu Sevvidhuaang Kanna / Vinaipatu Paalaal Kolal
English
Know men by acts and not by forms Strait arrow kills, bent lute but charms
— Cruel is the arrow straight, the crooked lute is sweet,Judge by their deeds the many forms of men you meet
As, in its use, the arrow is crooked, and the curved lute is straight, so by their deeds, (and not by their appearance) let (the uprightness or crookedness of) men be estimated