Thirukkural-On Wealth-On Ignorance-Kural-410

There is as much difference between the learned and the ignorant,
As between human beings and beasts.

There is little difference between human beings, without even the rudiments of education, and the beasts of prey, that roam about in the wilderness.

If today the quality of life is so very low in the country, it is because more than half the population do not possess the minimum level of education, to be called even literate. In such a context, the bulk of them will be more like animals.

K.V. Jaganathan in his Research edition of Thirukural cites a parallel from Kambaramayanam.

“Nindru theethendru iyaltheri nalarivu
Indri vaalvathandro vilangin iyal
Ninra naneri neeyariyaa neri
Onru minmaiyin vaaimai unarthumaal"

Kambaramayanam, Vaali, 111)