Maxim # 14: கண்டொன்று சொல்லேல் -- Never twist facts.

ஆத்திச்சூடி # 14: கண்டொன்று சொல்லேல் (kuhn-du-on-Ru sol-lEl)

Translation: Never twist facts.

Intended Translation: Never indulge in calumniation.

Rumination: The term "கண்டொன்று" has to be split into two as "கண்டு" and "ஒன்று," meaning things that "you see" and that "contrary to what you see" respectively. "சொல்லேல்" refers to "never speak." Literally, this maxim exhorts one to refrain from committing calumniation and detraction. Hypothetically there must not be any difficulty in speaking exactly what one has seen. Yet, the malice, bias, and self-deception inherent in any human mind decorates, exaggerates, and caparisons factoids as facts. These are days when nations "sex-up" their Intel reports to rush to war. Individuals too often cross the line of Rubicon from simple gossip to systematic character-assassination. It is all possible because of an inherent capability of human mind to be contended with itself about diametrically opposite notions at any given time. And only my favorite George Orwell can talk about it in such a way that it will forever get etched in your minds. And so, do not forget to read George Orwell's In Front of Your Nose.

Quotes: The point is that we are all capable of believing things which we know to be untrue, and then, when we are finally proved wrong, impudently twisting the facts so as to show that we were right. -- George Orwell, 1946.