The Thirukkural (parts of...)

Possessing Love

Verse 71 Can any lock keep love confined within, When the loving heart's small tears escape and confess it?
Verse 72 The unloving belong only to themselves, But the loving belong to others to their very bones.
Verse 73 They say it is to know union with love That the soul takes union with the body.
Verse 74 Love makes a man affectionate toward all, And affection affords the priceless treasure of friendship.
Verse 75 They say love's greatness is this: it yields to good families Worldly happiness here and heavenly bliss there.
Verse 76 The ignorant declare love only draws us towards virtue, Forgetting love is friend to all immersed in vice.
Verse 77 As the blazing sun dries up a boneless worm, So does virtue scorch a loveless being.
Verse 78 Without love in the heart, Life is like a sapless tree in a barren desert.
Verse 79 What good is a body perfect in outer ways, If inwardly it is impaired by lack of love?
Verse 80 With love enshrined in the heart, one lives. Without it, the body is mere just bone encased in skin.

Friendship

Verse 781 What is as difficult to secure as friendship? And what greater security is there against foes?
Verse 782 Among wise men, freindship waxes like the crescent moon; Among fools it wanes as surely as the full moon must.
Verse 783 The bonds that good men share, like good bound books, Reveal new enjoyments at each new encounter.
Verse 784 The object of friendship is not merrymaking But a stern rebuking when friends go astray.
Verse 785 It is not constant meeting and companionship But mutual sensibilities that confer the alliance of friendship.
Verse 786 Friendship is not seen on a friendly face, But felt deep within a friendly heart.
Verse 787 To divert a man from wrong, direct him toward the right And share his sorrow in misfortune is friendship.
Verse 788 As swiftly as the hand moves to seize a slipping garment, Friendship acts to assuage a friend's distress.
Verse 789 Where does Friendship hold her court? It is where friends May find constant support in every possible circumstance.
Verse 790 To boast, "He means so much to me and I to him," Merely belittles a friendship.