Polity (பொருட்பால்) — Friendship (நட்பியல்) — Evil Friendship (தீ நட்பு)

Kural 811:
பருகுவார் போலினும் பண்பிலார் கேண்மை
பெருகலிற் குன்றல் இனிது.
parukuvaar poalinum paNpilaar kaeNmai
perukaliR kundral inidhu
English couplet:
Though evil men should all-absorbing friendship show,
Their love had better die away than grow.
Explanation: The decrease of friendship with those who look as if they would eat you up (through excess of love) while they are really destitute of goodness is far better than its increase.

Kural 812:
உறின்நட்டு அறினொருஉம் ஒப்பிலார் கேண்மை
பெறினும் இழப்பினும் என்.
uRinnhattu aRinoruum oppilaar kaeNmai
peRinum izhappinum en
English couplet:
What though you gain or lose friendship of men of alien heart,
Who when you thrive are friends, and when you fail depart?.
Explanation: Of what avail is it to get or lose the friendship of those who love when there is gain and leave when there is none ? .

Kural 813:
உறுவது சீர்தூக்கும் நட்பும் பெறுவது
கொள்வாரும் கள்வரும் நேர்.
uRuvadhu seerdhookkum natpum peRuvadhu
koLvaarum kaLvarum naer
English couplet:
These are alike: the friends who ponder friendship's gain
Those who accept whate'er you give, and all the plundering train.
Explanation: Friendship who calculate the profits (of their friendship), prostitutes who are bent on obtaining their gains, and thieves are (all) of the same character.

Kural 814:
அமரகத்து ஆற்றறுக்கும் கல்லாமா அன்னார்
தமரின் தனிமை தலை.
amarakaththu aatraRukkum kallaamaa annaar
thamarin thanimai thalai
English couplet:
A steed untrained will leave you in the tug of war;
Than friends like that to dwell alone is better far.
Explanation: Solitude is more to be desired than the society of those who resemble the untrained horses which throw down (their riders) in the fields of battle.

Kural 815:
செய்தேமஞ் சாராச் சிறியவர் புன்கேண்மை
எய்தலின் எய்தாமை நன்று.
seydhaemanhj saaraach chiRiyavar pun-kaeNmai
eydhalin eydhaamai nandru
English couplet:
'Tis better not to gain than gain the friendship profitless
Of men of little minds, who succour fails when dangers press.
Explanation: It is far better to avoid that to contract the evil friendship of the base who cannot protect (their friends) even when appointed to do so.

Kural 816:
பேதை பெருங்கெழீஇ நட்பின் அறிவுடையார்
ஏதின்மை கோடி உறும்.
paedhai perungezheei natpin aRivutaiyaar
Edhinmai koati uRum
English couplet:
Better ten million times incur the wise man's hate,
Than form with foolish men a friendship intimate.
Explanation: The hatred of the wise is ten-million times more profitable than the excessive intimacy of the fool.

Kural 817:
நகைவகைய ராகிய நட்பின் பகைவரால்
பத்தடுத்த கோடி உறும்.
nakaivakaiya raakiya natpin pakaivaraal
paththatuththa koadi uRum
English couplet:
From foes ten million fold a greater good you gain,
Than friendship yields that's formed with laughers vain.
Explanation: What comes from enemies is a hundred million times more profitable than what comes from the friendship of those who cause only laughter.

Kural 818:
ஒல்லும் கருமம் உடற்று பவர்கேண்மை
சொல்லாடார் சோர விடல்.
ollum karumam udatru pavarkaeNmai
sollaataar soara vidal
English couplet:
Those men who make a grievous toil of what they do
On your behalf, their friendship silently eschew.
Explanation: Gradually abandon without revealing (beforehand) the friendship of those who pretend inability to carry out what they (really) could do.

Kural 819:
கனவினும் இன்னாது மன்னோ வினைவேறு
சொல்வேறு பட்டார் தொடர்பு.
kanavinum innaadhu mannoa vinaivaeRu
solvaeRu pattaar thodarpu
English couplet:
E'en in a dream the intercourse is bitterness
With men whose deeds are other than their words profess.
Explanation: The friendship of those whose actions do not agree with their words will distress (one) even in (one's) dreams.

Kural 820:
எனைத்தும் குறுகுதல் ஓம்பல் மனைக்கெழீஇ
மன்றில் பழிப்பார் தொடர்பு.
enaiththum kuRukudhal Ompal manaikkezheei
mandril pazhippaar thodarpu
English couplet:
In anywise maintain not intercourse with those,
Who in the house are friends, in hall are slandering foes.
Explanation: Avoid even the least approach to a contraction of friendship with those who would love you in private but ridicule you in public.