Tirukkural-On Virtue-Pleasing Speech Or Courtesy-Kural 100

'using harsh words instead of kind ones, is like going in
for raw fruits, when ripe ones are available.

When sweet words are available, picking up unpleasant speech is like preferring raw fruits when ripe fruits are there to choose from.

This is a different method adopted by Valluvar, of emphasizing the point made out in the previous Kural, and designed to carry conviction.

Apparswamigal has used the same expression as follows:

Kaniyiruppak kaaikavarndha kalvanae

( Appar : Aaarur 1 )