Sayings 101 to 150

101. One who lacks energy and is lazy shall decay though he is robust and strong. Though an elephant has much strength, he is treated by his small driver as a slave.

102. Even great men can be overpowered if their arrogance becomes too great. Though the white tortoise is small, he can destroy a large crocodile.

103. The great have no need to be arrogant, and the arrogance of the lowly is futile. A true gem wants no recommendation, but a false jewel goes unwanted, though it be highly praised.

104. Men are often injured by men similar to themselves. At the rising of the sun, the stars and moon disappear.

105. Retain those who are helpful, though they may be enemies. Reject those who hurt you, though they may be relatives. Buy, at whatever the price, a jewel brought from the sea. Drive out, by good medicine, the disease in your inward parts.

106. When a man gains wealth within, he shows it with pride without. When the clouds are full of water, they move and rumble with thunder.

107. It is rare to find one who is perfect, but it is rare also to find one who has no good qualities. A wise man will attend to one who leans more to virtue than to vice.

108. It may be doubtful, at first, whether a person is an enemy or friend. Meat, if not properly digested, becomes poison; but poison, if used rightly, may turn medicinal.

109. To be one's own master is counted as happiness. To be in the power of others is held to be misery. Common property is the cause of quarrels. Promises are the cause of being bound.

110. You may inwardly possess good qualities, but if dressed improperly you will be looked down upon by others. Though the bat is a prudent animal, since he has no feathers, he is rejected by all birds.

111. A foolish man is pleasing when he speaks but little. A king is dignified when he maintains seclusion. Imposing spectacles are impressive if viewed at a distance. A rare jewel always brings a great price.

112. Great affection is often the cause of violent animosity. The quarrels of men often arise from too great a familiarity.

113. It may happen sometimes that a long debate becomes the cause of a longer friendship. Commonly, those who dispute with one another at last agree.

114. Though an avaricious man possesses wealth, an envious man possesses another's goods, and an ill-minded man possesses his learning, none of these can produce lasting pleasure.

115. Covetous men delight in wealth; ambitious men are pleased when they hear their own praise; foolish men rejoice at finding a fool; virtuous men rejoice at hearing the truth.

116. The qualifications of a wicked man, the imperfect learning of a mighty speaker, and the kindness of a bad master are seldom useful to others.

117. If a man is wealthy, his voice is easily heard. A poor man, though he speaks the truth, is not listened to. A common piece of wood, brought from a distant mountain, will bring a high price.

118. Much talking is the cause of danger. Silence is the means of avoiding misfortune. The talkative parrot is shut up in a cage. Other birds, without speech, fly freely about.

119. When a man sincerely endeavors to be useful to an enemy in every respect, and when the enemy also yields to him without pretension, these show great character.

120. Of what avail is a weak man's anger? What need is there for a strong man's wrath? So there is no need for anger, except to mortify oneself.

121. With gifts, you may gather your enemies about you. When giving nothing, even your own family will leave. When the cow's milk becomes dry, the calf grows meager and wanders in sorrow.

122. A master who always treats his servants kindly may easily find those who work hard. At lakes where many lotuses blossom the geese gather together without being called.

123. When one employs riches, when one is gentle and learned, when one protects the lower class of people, these three make others happy and are useful to oneself.

124. By depending on the great, the small may rise high. The little plant ascending the tall tree has climbed to the top.

125. Though a talented man has his defect, they that delight in learning support him. Though the atmosphere is obscured by rain, beings are made glad by it.

126. Rich men are numerous among the ignorant. Valiant ones abide alone with wild beasts. Elegant sayings proceed from the learned. But a Saint is rare in this world.

127. Every man is celebrated for the thing in which he excels, the sage as a learned person, the hero as a valiant man.

128. What is respected by the great is condemned by the lowly. The precious crown of the gods is devoured by the ogre.

129. Knowledge existing only in books, mantras not committed to memory, and those things which a forgetful man has learned often deceive us in a time of necessity.

130. Offering sweet scents to dogs and pigs, a light to the blind, meat to those with indigestion, or instructions to the foolish, these actions are senseless.

131. A talented man and good gold, a brave soldier and a fine horse, a skillful physician and a beautiful ornament are everywhere esteemed.

132. If one is intelligent and applies himself well, what can he not accomplish? Even small bands of people, I have heard, have defeated whole armies.

133. Though hills and rivers, elephants and horses, sunshine and storms, and men and women are the same according to their classes, they can be distinguished by being great or lowly.

134. The chief wealth consists in charity, the greatest happiness is tranquillity of mind; experience is the most beautiful ornament, the man without desires is the best companion.

135. No person exists that does not sometimes desire wealth. What person is there who is always happy? Pleasure and sorrow are always changing, like summer and winter.

136. If a slave behaves with great pride, if the actions of an ascetic are fruitless, if a ruler does not act according to moral law, all three have taken a misguided course.

137. To act indiscreetly, to have rancor against many, to quarrel with the powerful, to be passionate for women, to cleave to what is bad, these five are the causes of quick destruction.

138. When one is poor and yet desires fine garments, when one lives on charity and yet behaves haughtily, when one is ignorant of scriptures, and yet wishes to dispute, these three make one a laughing-stock among men.

139. Sovereigns suffer more injury from their own people than from enemies. By what other animals is the corpse devoured, except by worms in his own body?

140. When a Master does evil to himself, who can defend him against it? When the sun lights the sky in the daytime, there is no way to see the stars.

141. Some malicious men, though they derive no direct benefit, like to do wrong to others. Though a venomous serpent feeds on the air, when he sees others, he kills them.

142. Though we believe our lust to cause happiness, it is actually the root of sorrow. He that sees happiness in drinking wine imagines that only mad men are happy.

143. Men wish to live long, but when they grow old, are afraid of old age. To be afraid of old age and to wish for long life is the poor logic of a foolish man.

144. One who has a wise teacher but will not learn from him how to develop good qualities, either is occupied by demons, or is suffering the ill consequences of his former actions.

145. One who has wealth but does not enjoy it, or give it charitably to others, is either a very sick man or an accomplished miser.

146. One who knows what virtue is but does not practice it, of what use is his religion? If a fine crop is harvested, do not even the wild beasts rejoice?

147. One who suffers from the ill consequences of his past bad actions, though he has riches, cannot enjoy them. Though the crow is hungry, if a snare has been laid, how can he be satisfied?

148. If you believe a man to be rich who can neither enjoy his wealth nor bestow it charitably on others, it is like considering a man rich who fancies a mountain to be solid gold.

149. Though there be many learned men who know and proclaim what virtuous action is, there are very few in this world who would practice it, having thus understood.

150. Though a man has a youthful appearance, without good qualities he is not handsome. Though a peacock's feathers are beautiful, are they appropriate dress for a man?

 

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