Thirukkural – 451
Noble men fear the mean horde;
Ignoble though, embrace it as their own.
சிற்றின மஞ்சும் பெருமை சிறுமைதான்
சுற்றமாச் சூழ்ந்து விடும்.
Noble men are afraid of associating with nasty and mean people. But the ignoble ones feel at home with the mean and embrace them as their own.
Old Tamil Poetry 