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மிகைநாடி மிக்க கொளல் #504
One should carefully examine a person’s virtues (qualities) and faults (defects), and then judge them based on whichever is predominant (shows up more often).
In other words, among all their traits — good or bad — which one tends to lead their actions and define their overall nature.
This kural advises thoughtful evaluation of both the positive and negative qualities before forming an opinion, emphasizing a balanced and wise approach to understanding character.
💡 Example
Let’s say a person has both kindness and anger.
- If kindness shows up most of the time, even when they’re angry, we say kindness is predominant.
- If anger controls their reactions, overshadowing their good intentions, then anger is predominant.
So, you don’t judge by occasional mistakes or moments of goodness, but by which quality dominates their pattern of behavior.
Wisdom in relationships is seeing the whole story, not just a scene.