Polity (பொருட்பால்) — Friendship (நட்பியல்) — Ignorance (புல்லறிவாண்மை)

Kural 841:
அறிவின்மை இன்மையுள் இன்மை பிறிதின்மை
இன்மையா வையா துலகு.
aRivinmai inmaiyuL inmai piRidhinmai
inmaiyaa vaiyaa thulaku
English couplet:
Want of knowledge, 'mid all wants the sorest want we deem;
Want of other things the world will not as want esteem.
Explanation: The want of wisdom is the greatest of all wants; but that of wealth the world will not regard as such.

Kural 842:
அறிவிலான் நெஞ்சுவந்து ஈதல் பிறிதியாதும்
இல்லை பெறுவான் தவம்.
aRivilaan nenjuvandhu eedhal piRidhiyaadhum
illai peRuvaan thavam
English couplet:
The gift of foolish man, with willing heart bestowed, is nought,
But blessing by receiver's penance bought.
Explanation: (The cause of) a fool cheerfully giving (something) is nothing else but the receiver's merit (in a former birth).

Kural 843:
அறிவிலார் தாந்தம்மைப் பீழிக்கும் பீழை
செறுவார்க்கும் செய்தல் அரிது.
aRivilaar thaandhammaip peezhikkum peezhai
seRuvaarkkum seydhal aridhu
English couplet:
With keener anguish foolish men their own hearts wring,
Than aught that even malice of their foes can bring.
Explanation: The suffering that fools inflict upon themselves is hardly possible even to foes.

Kural 844:
வெண்மை எனப்படுவ தியாதெனின் ஒண்மை
உடையம்யாம் என்னும் செருக்கு.
veNmai enappatuva thiyaadhenin oNmai
udaiyamyaam ennum serukku
English couplet:
What is stupidity? The arrogance that cries,
'Behold, we claim the glory of the wise.'
Explanation: What is called want of wisdom is the vanity which says, "We are wise".

Kural 845:
கல்லாத மேற்கொண் டொழுகல் கசடற
வல்லதூஉம் ஐயம் தரும்.
kallaadha maeRkoN tozhukal kasadaRa
valladhooum aiyam tharum
English couplet:
If men what they have never learned assume to know,
Upon their real learning's power a doubt 'twill throw.
Explanation: Fools pretending to know what has not been read (by them) will rouse suspicion even as to what they have thoroughly mastered.

Kural 846:
அற்றம் மறைத்தலோ புல்லறிவு தம்வயின்
குற்றம் மறையா வழி.
atram maRaiththaloa pullaRivu thamvayin
kutram maRaiyaa vazhi
English couplet:
Fools are they who their nakedness conceal,
And yet their faults unveiled reveal.
Explanation: Even to cover one's nakedness would be folly, if (one's) faults were not covered (by forsaking them).

Kural 847:
அருமறை சோரும் அறிவிலான் செய்யும்
பெருமிறை தானே தனக்கு.
arumaRai soarum aRivilaan seyyum
perumiRai thaanae thanakku
English couplet:
From out his soul who lets the mystic teachings die,
Entails upon himself abiding misery.
Explanation: The fool who neglects precious counsel does, of his own accord, a great injury to himself.

Kural 848:
ஏவவும் செய்கலான் தான்தேறான் அவ்வுயிர்
போஒம் அளவுமோர் நோய்.
Evavum seykalaan thaan-dhaeRaan avvuyir
poaom aLavumoar noai
English couplet:
Advised, he heeds not; of himself knows nothing wise;
This man's whole life is all one plague until he dies.
Explanation: The fool will not perform (his duties) even when advised nor ascertain them himself; such a soul is a burden (to the earth) till it departs (from the body).

Kural 849:
காணாதான் காட்டுவான் தான்காணான் காணாதான்
கண்டானாம் தான்கண்ட வாறு.
kaaNaadhaan kaattuvaan thaan-kaaNaan kaaNaadhaan
kaNtaanaam thaan-kaNda vaaRu
English couplet:
That man is blind to eyes that will not see who knowledge shows;-
The blind man still in his blind fashion knows.
Explanation: One who would teach a fool will (simply) betray his folly; and the fool would (still) think himself "wise in his own conceit".

Kural 850:
உலகத்தார் உண்டென்பது இல்லென்பான் வையத்து
அலகையா வைக்கப் படும்.
ulakaththaar uNtenpadhu illenpaan vaiyaththu
alakaiyaa vaikkap padum
English couplet:
Who what the world affirms as false proclaim,
O'er all the earth receive a demon's name.
Explanation: He who denies the existence of what the world believes in will be regarded as a demon on earth.