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AAatril pottalum alandhu podu

Even when throwing in the river, measure what you throw
Think before you spend your resources (or) Be just before you are generous.
Aazham paarkamal kaalai vidadhe

Don't step in the river without knowing its depth.

Look before you leap.
Aazhaakku arisi, moozhaakkup paanai, mudhaliyar varugira veeraappap paarum
, ,
Half an ounce of rice, a quarter ounce pot. But look at the false pride of the m
udhaliyar.
Ainthil Valayaathathu Aimbathil Valayaathu

What won't bend at five will not bend at fifty (literal)

You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Agathin Azhagu Mugathil Theriyum

The beauty of the soul is shown in the face (literal)

Face is the index of the mind.
Arai koththarisi anna dhaanam. Vidiya vidiya maela thaalam.
. .
Half a pot of rice is given as charity. But the announcing drumming is done all
night.
Aadath thireyathaval medaii konal enralaam

She who cannot dance says the stage is imperfect (literal)

A bad workman blames his tools.
Adi mel adi vaithal ammium nagarum

If you keep hitting it, even the ammi will move. (Ammi is a large grind stone us
ually not moved from its position) (literal)
Try and try till you succeed.
Arukka maattaadhaan kayyil 58 aruvaalam
58
The one who does not know to cut has 58 sickles in his hand. (literal, sarcastic
)
The man is more important than the tools.
Aakkap porthuavanukku aarap porukkavillai'

He could wait for the food to be cooked, but couldn't wait for it cool down (lit
eral)
You waited this much, wait just a bit more.
Aarellaam paalaaip ponaalum naai nakkiththaan kudikkum

Even if a river flows with milk, a dog can take in only one lick at a time (lite
ral)
What one learns is limited by ones capacity to take in (understand).
Aarina kanji pazhankanji
[edit] CCiru nunalum than vayal kedum

Even the tiny frog is spoilt by its mouth (literal) - because its noise invites
snakes.
Know when to keep quiet.
[edit] Eerumbu oorak kallum theyum

Even ants can wear out a rock (literal)

Persistence never fails
Ettuch churaikkai kuttukku uthavathu

A picture of a vegetable can't be used in a koottu ('koottu' is a sort of stew m

ade with vegetables and lentils) (literal)
Bookish knowledge is no match for real experience.
[edit] Iinnaa seithaarai oruththal avar naana nannayam seithu vidal
( )
Make a wrong doer feel shy, by doing him a favour. (Source: Thirukkural)
If others harm you, do good unto them, so that they are shamed into realizing th
eir mistakes.
izhavukku vanthaval thaliaruppala?
?
A lady who came for a condolence wouldn't cut off her thali (literal) - thali si
gnifies marital bond, and it is cut off only when the husband dies. A lady atten
ding a funeral can't become a widow herself.
The problems of a person cannot be shifted to others.
[edit] KkudigAran pEchchu vidinjA pOchu

A drunkard's words are gone by the next dawn.

kAkkaikum than kunju pon kunju

Even a crow thinks its child is golden.

kadugu ciruththAlum kAram kuraiyAthu

Thee mustard might be small, but that doesn't remove its spicyness (literal)
Don't measure the worth of a person by their size/shape
kAtrulla pOthe thUtrikkol

Make hay while the sun shines.

kattradhu kai maN aLavu, kallAthathu ulagaLavu
, ( )
What is learnt is a handful of sand, while what is unknown is the size of the wo
rld. (Source: Avvaiyar)
Kattikkodotha chaappaadum chollikkodutha vaarthaiyum pala naaal thaangathu

Packed food and words of wisdom from others don't last more than a few days.
Self-reliance lasts longer than depending on others.
kUzhukkum Asai mIsaikkum Asai
You can't drink thick porridge if you want to keep your mustache clean.
kuppura vizhundhAlum mIsaiyil man ottavillai
.
I fell flat on my face, but there is no dust on my mustache (literal)
Saving face after an insult.
gAna mayilAdak kaNdirundha vAn kozhi, thaanum adhuvAgap pAvithu than pollach chi
Ragai virithu AdumAm

A turkey, seeing a peacock, imagined itself as one and started dancing opening i
ts horrible feathers (literal)
One should know one's position and not try to copy others blindly.
[edit] MMayirai katti malayai izhu - vanthal malai ponal mayir
. .
Pull a mountain by tying a hair to it. If you succeed you will get a mountain, i
f you lose you will lose a hair (literal).
There is no harm in trying, especially if it is a low-hanging fruit.
Maamiyaar udaithaal mann kudam. Marumagal udaithaal pon kudam
.
If the mother-in-law breaks it, it is a mud pot. If the daughter-in-law breaks i
t, it is a golden pot.
Mullai Mullal thaan edukka vendum

A thorn can only be removed with another thorn (literal)

Fight fire with fire; Diamond cuts Diamond.
Moorthy chinnathaanalum keerthi periyathu

The idol may be small, its fame is big.

Don't judge the worth of a person by their size.
Size does not matter.
Minnuvathellam ponnu alla.

All that glitters is not gold.

Malayai kelli eliyai pidiththaanaam

(He) uprooted a mountain to catch a mouse (literal)

(He) wastes a lot of effort to do simple jobs
Muyarchi udayar igalchi adayar.

There is no downward journey for those who keep trying.

[edit] NNirai Kudam Neer Thalumbaadhu kurai kudam Koothadum
.
Fully filled pot (a knowlegeable person) is silent. Empty vessels (idiots) make
the most noise.
Nizhalin arumai veiyilil thaan theriyum

Only when in the sun do you miss the shade.

Naai vitra kaasu kurakkaadhu
The money from selling a dog doesn't bark (literal)
All money looks the same (no matter what was sold) (also known as the Money-laun
derer's Manifesto)
Naai vaalai nimirtha mudiyathu

A dog's tail can't be straightened (literal)

It is difficult to change one's nature (similar to 'a leopard can't change its s
pots').
Naai vedam pottal kuraiththuthaan aagavendum

When (you) dress up as a dog, be prepared to bark (literal)

If you take on a role, be prepared to do whatever the role demands (think before
you decide).
Nondi kuthiraikku sarukkunathu sakkam.
.
For a lame horse, slippery is an excuse
A person not willing to do work will complain about anything.
[edit] PPaambin kaal paambariyum

Only a snake will know the tracks left by another snake. (literal)
The persons involved in similar activities know each other better than others do
.
Puli Pasitthalum Pullai Thinnadhu

Even if the tiger is hungry,it wont eat grass. (literal)

A person never loses his nature no matter how hard-pressed.
Poruththaar Boomi Aazhvaar

The patient will rule the world.

Petra pillai illaatiyum vacha pillai thani ootrum.
.
Even if your children are not helping you, the coconut that you planted will tak
e care of your old age.
pudichAlum puliam kombA pudichitAr

He has gotten hold of the tamarind branch.

He has taken a strong position (in the activity he is engaged in).
pAlukkum kAval pUnaikkum thOzhan
,
Guardian of milk, as well as friend of the cat (literal)
Beware of those that get a commission from both parties.
[edit] SsAdhi irundozhiya vERillai, ittAr periyOr idAdhAr izhigulathOr (Source:
Avvaiyar)
, .
There are only two castes in this world: ones that give, and ones that don't.
There are only two types of people in this world: those that share, and those th
at don't.
sundaikkAi kAl paNam sumaikkUli mukkAl paNam

A quarter for the berry, three quarters for the delivery (literal)
[edit] TThani Maram Thopu aagadhu
A single tree makes not an orchard (literal)
Unity is strength.
Thannirai kooda salladail allalam, athu panikati agum varai poruthal
, .
Even water can be held in a sieve, if you wait till it turns to ice.
Theeyinal sutta punn ullaarum aaraathe naavinaal sutta vadu
( )
The wounds of fire would vanish with time but the wounds caused by words never (
Source: Thiruk-kural)
Theedhum nandrum pirar thara vaara

Good or bad, it doesn't come from others. You are responsible for what you get/f
ace.
[edit] VOoru mechum, ulveedu patni
,
Famous person in the village but a poor family that can't feed itself.
Fame does not automatically fetch one money.
Verumkai enbathu moodathanam,un viralgal pathum mooladhanam.

Saying 'empty hands' is foolishness. The fingers ten are the investment. (litera
l)
Your effort is what all you have got.
Veetai kattipaar,kalyanathai senjuppar
, .
Try building a home, try organizing a wedding (literal)
If you think daily life is painful, try building a home or organizing a wedding.
These activities involve bringing a lot of people together and can never be don
e in a day, and hence expose a person to the complexities of project and people
management.
Vidhiyai madhiyaal vellalaam

Even fate can be won over with brains (literal)

Don't assume that fate is final. With intelligence, even fate can be changed.
Vekkankettapayal virunthukku ponanam, kooda ooru chokkan kuthavaikkaponanam
, .
A shameless person went for a party and another useless fellow accompanied (lite
ral)
Never be in the company of bad person.
Vettaruvaalukku viraiyala, kachala.
.
A pickaxe will never suffer from cold or fever.
A family-less person will not have to face troubles.
vilakkamAtrukkup pattuk kunjalam

A silk tassle for a broom (literal)

An unfitting ornament or an attempt to show something lowly as commendable by su
perficial decoration.
vitharakaLLi viRagu odikkap pOnALAm, kathAzhai muLLu kothOdu kuthittAm"
(?) , .
A deceit woman went for collection of fire wood when a bunch of agave spines pri
cked her (literal)
A person who is not interested in work will blame the nature of work.
[edit] YYaanaikkum Adi Sarukkum

Even elephants do slip.

Even the mighty slip at times.