Ignorance - The Essentials of a State - WEALTH - Tirukkural

841
Want of knowledge, 'mid all wants the sorest want we deem;
Want of other things the world will not as want esteem.
The want of wisdom is the greatest of all wants; but that of wealth the world will not regard as such.

842
The gift of foolish man, with willing heart bestowed, is nought,
But blessing by receiver's penance bought.
(The cause of) a fool cheerfully giving (something) is nothing else but the receiver's merit (in a former birth).

843
With keener anguish foolish men their own hearts wring,
Than aught that even malice of their foes can bring.
The suffering that fools inflict upon themselves is hardly possible even to foes.

844
What is stupidity? The arrogance that cries,
'Behold, we claim the glory of the wise.'
What is called want of wisdom is the vanity which says, "We are wise".

845
If men what they have never learned assume to know,
Upon their real learning's power a doubt 'twill throw.
Fools pretending to know what has not been read (by them) will rouse suspicion even as to what they have thoroughly mastered.

846
Fools are they who their nakedness conceal,
And yet their faults unveiled reveal.
Even to cover one's nakedness would be folly, if (one's) faults were not covered (by forsaking them).

847
From out his soul who lets the mystic teachings die,
Entails upon himself abiding misery.
The fool who neglects precious counsel does, of his own accord, a great injury to himself.

848
Advised, he heeds not; of himself knows nothing wise;
This man's whole life is all one plague until he dies.
The fool will not perform (his duties) even when advised nor ascertain them himself; such a soul is a burden (to the earth) till it departs (from the body).

849
That man is blind to eyes that will not see who knowledge shows;-
The blind man still in his blind fashion knows.
One who would teach a fool will (simply) betray his folly; and the fool would (still) think himself "wise in his own conceit".

850
Who what the world affirms as false proclaim,
O'er all the earth receive a demon's name.
He who denies the existence of what the world believes in will be regarded as a demon on earth.