Tuesday, January 18, 2005

Maxim # 5: உடையது விளம்பேல் -- Never reveal your possessions.

ஆத்திச்சூடி # 5: டையது விளம்பேல் (uda-yathu vilam-bEl)

Translation: Never reveal your possessions.

Intended Translation: Never wash your dirty laundry in public.


Rumination:
The term, "உடையது," literally refers to "your possessions." However, the intended meaning is that it is better to be tightlipped about one's inner personal secrets and issues. Many people derive a false sense of comfort, peace, and closure by imprudently sharing every intimate detail of their life in the open, even when uncalled for. Little do they realize that they have created a Frankenstein out of their own folly. Western societies do have a better notion of privacy and private space and individuals tend to respect that. The term "விளம்பேல்," literally translates to, "be tightlipped." The English idiom of "do not wash your dirty laundry in public," correlates to this Auvaiyar's maxim. Useless talk costs lives, they say. This is the spirit behind this maxim.

Quote: Talk of the Devil and he is bound to appear. -- Old Saying.

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