Polity (பொருட்பால்) — Civil (குடியியல்) — Honour (மானம்)

Kural 961:
இன்றி அமையாச் சிறப்பின ஆயினும்
குன்ற வருப விடல்.
indri amaiyaach chiRappina aayinum
kundra varupa vidal
English couplet:
Though linked to splendours man no otherwise may gain,
Reject each act that may thine honour's clearness stain.
Explanation: Actions that would degrade (one's) family should not be done; though they may be so important that not doing them would end in death.

Kural 962:
சீரினும் சீரல்ல செய்யாரே சீரொடு
பேராண்மை வேண்டு பவர்.
seerinum seeralla seyyaarae seerodu
paeraaNmai vaendu pavar
English couplet:
Who seek with glory to combine honour's untarnished fame,
Do no inglorious deeds, though men accord them glory's name.
Explanation: Those who desire (to maintain their) honour, will surely do nothing dishonourable, even for the sake of fame.

Kural 963:
பெருக்கத்து வேண்டும் பணிதல் சிறிய
சுருக்கத்து வேண்டும் உயர்வு.
perukkaththu vaendum paNidhal siRiya
surukkaththu vaendum uyarvu
English couplet:
Bow down thy soul, with increase blest, in happy hour;
Lift up thy heart, when stript of all by fortune's power.
Explanation: In great prosperity humility is becoming; dignity, in great adversity.

Kural 964:
தலையின் இழிந்த மயிரனையர் மாந்தர்
நிலையின் இழிந்தக் கடை.
thalaiyin izhindha mayiranaiyar maandhar
nilaiyin izhindhak kadai
English couplet:
Like hairs from off the head that fall to earth,
When fall'n from high estate are men of noble birth.
Explanation: They who have fallen from their (high) position are like the hair which has fallen from the head.

Kural 965:
குன்றின் அனையாரும் குன்றுவர் குன்றுவ
குன்றி அனைய செயின்.
kundrin anaiyaarum kundruvar kundruva
kundri anaiya seyin
English couplet:
If meanness, slight as 'abrus' grain, by men be wrought,
Though like a hill their high estate, they sink to nought.
Explanation: Even those who are exalted like a hill will be thought low, if they commit deeds that are debasing.

Kural 966:
புகழ்இன்றால் புத்தேள்நாட்டு உய்யாதால் என்மற்று
இகழ்வார்பின் சென்று நிலை.
pukazh-indraal puththaeNnhaattu uyyaadhaal enmatru
ikazhvaarpin sendru nilai
English couplet:
It yields no praise, nor to the land of Gods throws wide the gate:
Why follow men who scorn, and at their bidding wait?.
Explanation: Of what good is it (for the high-born) to go and stand in vain before those who revile him ? it only brings him loss of honour and exclusion from heaven.

Kural 967:
ஒட்டார்பின் சென்றொருவன் வாழ்தலின் அந்நிலையே
கெட்டான் எனப்படுதல் நன்று.
ottaarpin sendroruvan vaazhdhalin anhnhilaiyae
kettaan enappatudhal nandru
English couplet:
Better 'twere said, 'He's perished!' than to gain
The means to live, following in foeman's train.
Explanation: It is better for a man to be said of him that he died in his usual state than that he eked out his life by following those who disgraced him.

Kural 968:
மருந்தோமற்று ஊன்ஓம்பும் வாழ்க்கை பெருந்தகைமை
பீடழிய வந்த இடத்து.
marundhoamatru oon-Ompum vaazhkkai perundhakaimai
peetazhiya vandha idaththu
English couplet:
When high estate has lost its pride of honour meet,
Is life, that nurses this poor flesh, as nectar sweet?.
Explanation: For the high-born to keep their body in life when their honour is gone will certainly not prove a remedy against death.

Kural 969:
மயிர்நீப்பின் வாழாக் கவரிமா அன்னார்
உயிர்நீப்பர் மானம் வரின்.
mayirnheeppin vaazhaak kavarimaa annaar
uyirnheeppar maanam varin
English couplet:
Like the wild ox that, of its tuft bereft, will pine away,
Are those who, of their honour shorn, will quit the light of day.
Explanation: Those who give up (their) life when (their) honour is at stake are like the yark which kills itself at the loss of (even one of) its hairs.

Kural 970:
இளிவரின் வாழாத மானம் உடையார்
ஒளிதொழுது ஏத்தும் உலகு.
iLivarin vaazhaadha maanam udaiyaar
oLidhozhudhu Eththum ulagu
English couplet:
Who, when dishonour comes, refuse to live, their honoured memory
Will live in worship and applause of all the world for aye!.
Explanation: The world will (always) praise and adore the fame of the honourable who would rather die than suffer indignity.