Courtesy and Consideration
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uṟuppottaṉ makkaḷop paṉṟāl veṟuttakka / paṇpotta loppatā moppu.
“Men are not one because their members seem alike to outward view; / Similitude of kindred quality makes likeness true.”
“Men are likened to each other not by the cut of their personal appearance, but by the similarity of their manners.”
Resemblance in bodily features is not true human likeness; resemblance in noble character is the only true likeness.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
உறுப்பு ஒத்தல் மக்கள் ஒப்பு அன்று= செறியத்தகாத உடம்பால் ஒத்தல் ஒருவனுக்கு நன்மக்களோடு ஒப்பாகாமையின் அது பொருந்துவது அன்று; ஒப்பதாம் ஒப்பு வெறுத்தக்க பண்பு ஒத்தல்= இனிப் பொருந்துவதாய ஒப்பாவது, செறியத்தக்க பண்பால் ஒத்தல்.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
Merely resembling others in bodily limbs does not make a person truly human; true and fitting likeness lies in sharing the noble virtues that bind human hearts together.