Sayings 151 to 200

151. Through no amount of effort can a naturally wicked man be turned into an honest one. However long you boil water, it is impossible to make it burn like fire.

152. If there is reason, it is proper to be angry, and there is also a cure for this anger. But who knows how to appease one grown angry without a cause?

153. When one's virtues fail, ill-will arises. When legitimate descent is absent, a bastard is born. When wealth has been depleted, many desires arise. When life is spent, the symptoms of death appear.

154. If one has not committed any wicked action, the gods cannot lay blame. Can a spring be blocked by heaping earth on it, when it has not previously gone dry?

155. Even great minds can be led astray if guided in an appealing manner. Those who do not follow the Dharma adopt the practices of false teachers.

156. When a man becomes too famous for his riches, he is destroyed by his wealth. It is common that rich men are assaulted, but beggars pass through without harm.

157. If a man becomes renowned for his strength and skill, he merely proposes his own destruction. Many of those who have been slain in battle have been the strong and skillful.

158. Wealth, wit, and strength will come to you if you practice virtuous deeds; but, these actions absent, wealth and strength will become your ruin.

159. A wise man, whenever he acts, must consider the moral effects. Among a hundred persons, it is rare to find even one of accomplished moral merits.

160. When a broken tank is filled with water, it certainly will leak on every side. Weak men who grow rich seldom leave an inheritance.

161. Seldom a man has both wealth and children. One who has both is frequently destroyed. When one is happy in every respect, he is often carried off by early death.

162. A person who is prosperous in every respect is one who has acquired merit. A man who acts wisely increases his virtue, which alone results in prosperity.

163. He who thinks thus, "I will deceive him," actually deceives himself. If a person has lied even once, although later he speaks the truth, he will be doubted.

164. He who does not examine what is good and bad, and injures his neighbor in a fit of anger, shall grieve like the swallow who loses his companion.

165. Apply yourself both now and in the next life. Without effort, you cannot be prosperous. Though the land be good, you cannot have an abundant crop without cultivation.

166. An intelligent man must give due consideration even to small matters. If he succeeds, what could be better? And, if he fails, it is good to have acted prudently.

167. The minds of men are very different, and it is hard to satisfy the wishes of all. But he who is accomplished in all good qualities comes closest to fulfilling all desires.

168. Increase your wisdom, even in your declined age. In the next life, it will be useful to you. Without such wisdom, even your alms will be of no avail.

169. Either keep company with those who are accomplished in knowledge or converse with ordinary men. You may carry a bottle with you easily, whether it is full or empty.

170. Of what use is a man who has acquired little knowledge? Who would carry a water-pot on his head when it is but half-filled?

171. He that understands well the difference between an excellent and low man knows how to act. This is the great foundation of prosperity.

172. Holding a firm resolution for perfection, a lowly man may become great. If a parrot is well instructed, he can learn to distinguish value.

173. Men of few abilities may succeed if they depend on the great. A drop of water is a small thing; united with a lake it never dries.

174. Though a man is not intelligent, he may prudently consult the wise. The hand cannot kill an enemy, unless it takes a weapon in firm grasp.

175. Even a dangerous enemy can be made into an ally if the proper means are known. A large quantity of poison harms the body, but the right mixture of even poison works towards health.

176. Accept humbly the food and money offered to you for your learning. Listen to others and leave behind pride. You may take the fruit from the top of a tree, but if you reach farther, you will fall.

177. As long as you have not sufficient strength, bear patiently with your enemy. When you are strong enough, then do what seems to be best.

178. Treat with due respect and reward liberally those around you. It is said that with sacrifices and offerings one receives fully from the gods as well as other beings.

179. When done correctly, a prince may tax his subjects without oppressing them. A sal-tree becomes dry if too much fragrant juice issues from it.

180. Carefully conceal the manner of your actions; often it is a weakness to plainly show intentions. Had the thief's eyes not been found devising, would a rope have been tied around his neck?

181. Of what use are food and goods which have been rejected by others? What wise man would touch such dirty things as are eaten by dogs and swine?

182. We should never use expressions which might hurt even an enemy. They immediately will return to us like an echo from a rock.

183. If you wish to injure an enemy, make yourself perfect in all good qualities. Thus, your enemy will be mortified, and your yourself shall improve in virtue.

184. Only a fool is kind-hearted to an enemy, after being treated harshly by him. He who wishes to cure his body of cancer, must have the malignant portion removed with a knife.

185. Though our allies are angry with us, we should not desert them. Though an enemy treats us with kindness, we should not embrace his cause. Though a crow hurts another crow, they do not side with an owl.

186. A wise man, in great or small matters, must act with due consideration. Whether attacking a hare or an elephant, the lion has no time for indecision.

187. By residing with excellent men, we may profit thereby, like birds of Sumeru who shine like gold.

188. If you depend on a great but envious man, you never shall obtain renown. See how the moon declines after coming too near the sun.

189. Who can associate with a man who keeps no friendship? Though a rainbow is beautiful, only a fool would mistake it for a jewel.

190. What we do not like for ourselves, we should never do for others. When we are injured by others, we should reflect what we think of ourselves.

191. If one does to others what is agreeable to oneself, others, in the same manner, will return the kindness.

192. Weak-minded men think that everything they say is wrong. Those who think thus and speak little are very much suspected by others.

193. He is continually happy who has the opportunity of depending on the excellent, of consulting the learned, and of conversing with the good-natured.

194. Speak only at the proper place and time, after having given due consideration. If you utter elegant sayings too often, even they lose their value.

195. The defects of a learned man are seldom taken as imperfections. Those who confess such defects are often faulty men.

196. If it has a wise friend for a companion, a beast can accomplish useful actions. Even if he has no wealth or servants, how much more could be done by a man?

197. We should not join with an enemy who has fought long against us, even though he wants our friendship. If fire meets with hot water, will it not be extinguished?

198. We may rely upon an enemy if he is good-natured, righteous, and honest. I have heard that, by resorting to a good-tempered enemy for protection, one has been defended by him to life's end.

199. Though you be well acquainted with the subject, do everything with due consideration. He that neglects this shall dearly pay for his indiscretion.

200. If you resort to an enemy for protection, show him every respect and reverence. The raven, by depending on a rat, according to the Puranas, was saved.

 

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