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Do not keep company with a fool for as we can see he is a two-legged beast. Like an unseen thorn he pierces the heart with his sharp words.
Chanakya
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Avoid associating with foolish people, as their words can cause emotional pain.

This quote by Chanakya emphasizes the importance of choosing companions wisely. Associating with foolish individuals can lead to unnecessary suffering due to their unwise or hurtful words, similar to how a thorn can inflict pain without being visible. It serves as a reminder that our relationships significantly influence our emotional well-being and that being around unwise people can bring about harm in subtle yet profound ways.

Themes

CompanionshipWisdomFoolishnessPainRelationships

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech about personal growth, one might say, 'As Chanakya wisely noted, do not keep company with a fool.'

More from Chanakya

Once you start a working on something, don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest.
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Let not a single day pass without your learning a verse, half a verse, or a fourth of it, or even one letter of it; nor without attending to charity, study and other pious activity.
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The life of an uneducated man is as useless as the tail of a dog which neither covers its rear end, nor protects it from the bites of insects.
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The serpent, the king, the tiger, the stinging wasp, the small child, the dog owned by other people, and the fool: these seven ought not to be awakened from sleep.
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Whoever imposes severe punishment becomes repulsive to the people; while he who awards mild punishment becomes contemptible. But whoever imposes punishment as deserved becomes respectable.
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One whose knowledge is confined to books and whose wealth is in the possession of others, can use neither his knowledge nor wealth when the need for them arises.
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