Thirukkural 844 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
வெண்மை எனப்படுவ தியாதெனின் ஒண்மை
உடையம்யாம் என்னும் செருக்கு.
Transliteration
Venmai Enappatuva Thiyaadhenin Onmai
Utaiyamyaam Ennum Serukku
Modern English
“Ignorance is not merely lacking knowledge; it is the arrogance of claiming to be wise.”
Modern Interpretation
Ignorance is not merely lacking knowledge; it is the arrogance of claiming to be wise. Someone who refuses to ask questions because they must look smartest is showing that very ignorance.
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Tamil pronunciation
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Modern Plain English
Ignorance is not merely lacking knowledge; it is the arrogance of claiming to be wise.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
Stupidity is vanity That cries \"We have sagacity\"
G.U. Pope Translation
What is stupidity? The arrogance that cries,'Behold, we claim the glory of the wise.'
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
What is called want of wisdom is the vanity which says, "We are wise"
Tamil commentary
அறிவின்மை என்று சொல்லப்படுவது என்ன என்று கேட்டால், அது தம்மைத் தாமே நல அறிவு உடையவரென்று என்னும் மயக்கமே ஆகும்.
Chapter 85
More from Ignorance
புல்லறிவாண்மை
Want of wisdom is want of wants Want of aught else the world nev'r counts
Kural 842When fool bestows with glee a gift It comes but by getter's merit
Kural 843The self-torments of fools exceed Ev'n tortures of their foes indeed
Kural 844Stupidity is vanity That cries \"We have sagacity\"
Kural 845Feigning knowledge that one has not Leads to doubt ev'n that he has got
Kural 846Fools their nakedness conceal And yet their glaring faults reveal
Kural 847The fool that slights sacred counsels Upon himself great harm entails
Kural 848He listens not nor himself knows Plague is his life until it goes
Kural 849Sans Self-sight in vain one opens Sight To the blind who bet their sight as right
Kural 850To people's \"Yes\" who proffer \"No\" Deemed as ghouls on earth they go