பழமொழிகள்

Tan kaiye thanakku udhavi

Your own effort is the truest help you will ever get.

Kinatru thavalai

A frog that has only lived in a well believes the well is the whole world - describes someone whose narrow experience limits their view.

Kudam niraindhaal osai illai, kudam kuraindhaal osai adhigam

A full pot makes no sound even when carried; a half-empty one sloshes loudly - those who truly know stay quiet, while shallow knowledge talks the loudest.

Aatril oru meen paayndhaal aazham theriyumaa?

Watching one fish leap in a river tells you nothing about how deep it is - a single instance is no basis for judging the whole truth.

Kinatrai thondith thanneer kudi

To drink water, you must first dig the well - effort always comes before reward.

Naai vaalai nimirththa mudiyaadhu

However hard you try, a dog's curled tail won't stay straight - some ingrained natures simply cannot be changed by effort alone.

Aanai varum pinnae, mani osai varum munnae

The bell around an elephant's neck is heard well before the elephant itself arrives - warning signs always precede big events, for those paying attention.

Viralaik kodutthaal manikkattaip pidippaan

Give some people a finger and they'll grab your wrist - describes those who take far more than what was ever offered.

Peraasai peru nashtam

Excessive greed, in the end, brings only great loss.

Nalla maattukku oru soodu, nalla manidhanukku oru vaarthai

A good ox needs branding only once; a good person needs telling only once - the wise don't need to be told twice.

Otrumaiyae balam

Being united is true strength; standing alone makes you easy to break.

Porumaiyin palan inidhu

Whatever you patiently work toward, the reward is always sweeter for the wait.

Kan irundhum kurudu

Having eyes yet choosing not to see - describes someone who knows the truth but refuses to acknowledge it.

Pillaiyaar suzhi mudhalil

Just as a Tamil learner draws Pillaiyar's symbol before writing the first letter, any undertaking deserves a proper, thoughtful start.

Neruppai vilaiyaadinaal sudum

Play with fire, and it will burn you - reckless disregard for danger always has a price.

Vaayai thirandhaal vambu

Speak without thinking, and you invite trouble - words are best measured before they leave your mouth.

Nalladhu seidhaal nalladhu varum, theeyadhu seidhaal theeyadhu varum

The nature of what you sow decides the nature of what returns to you.

Kurangu kaiyil poomaalai

A garland handed to a monkey is only ever torn apart - give something valuable to someone who can't appreciate it, and it will be wasted.

Naakku suttaalum kaayam aarum, vaarthai suttaal aaraadhu

A burn from fire heals with time; a wound from cruel words often doesn't heal so easily.

Kaakkai karaindhaal virundhu varum

A crow's caw was traditionally read as a sign that a guest was on the way - old folk wisdom around noticing small, everyday omens.

Irumbai irumbae arukkum

Only iron can cut iron - meeting a hard challenge takes strength that matches it.

Thengaai udaiththaal thaan ennai kidaikkum

Only by breaking the coconut and pressing its flesh do you get oil - there's no meaningful result without real effort behind it.

Aadu puliyaanaalum aadu thaan

Even dressed in a tiger's skin, a goat is still a goat - pretence can never truly hide one's real nature.

Aazhamaana thanneer amaidhiyaaga odum

Deep water flows calmly and silently; it's the shallow stream that rushes past with the loudest noise - true depth of character rarely needs to announce itself.

Mazhai peidhaal thaan payir vilaiyum

A crop only grows if the rain comes - nothing flourishes without the right conditions and support behind it.

Thenee illaamal then illai

Without the bee, there is no honey - behind every good thing you enjoy lies someone's unseen labour.

Naai kuraiththaalum nilavukku onrum aagaadhu

No matter how much a dog barks, the moon doesn't dim - petty criticism can never diminish something truly great.

Aadik kudhirai erinaalum irangath theriya vendum

However high you climb, you must also know how to come back down - knowing when to stop is a skill of its own.