Thirukkural-On Virtue-Control Of Temper-Kural 301

Only the man who controls his temper, where it can hurt, is in fact controlling it,
Where his anger cannot have sway, such an exercise is futile either way.

This is a practical lesson in effective and purposeful control of temper. The poet's meaning in this couplet has been conveyed by posing an expressive question, ' Where his anger cannot mean anything, what matters if he guards against it or not?'. It should be particularly guarded where it can hurt. Apparently Valluvar had in in the poor weak man who could be badly hurt by a bully's anger. The use of the two phrases 'Sellidam' and 'Allidam' to counter-balance the area where anger hurts as against that where it cannot hurt, makes for the beauty of this verse. Valluvar has used the terms 'Meliyaar' & 'Valiyaar.' In similar contexts elsewhere also.

Compare – Kural 250.