Tirukkural-On Virtue-Pleasing Speech Or Courtesy-Kural 93

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Gift becomes a virtue when it is given spontaneously,
With cheerful countenance and kind words.

The essence of the virtue of giving comprises of a kindly look, pleasing words and sincere heart, but it is not a question of stage-acting. All this should be prompted by a spontaneity and genuine consideration for the feelings of the affected man, and calculated to give him relief. Only then it will achieve the purpose for which it is intended. Otherwise it will just hurt like Johnson's silver, as against Goldsmith's boiled potato. Kind hearts are certainly more valuable than coronets, as felicitously stated by Tennyson.

That is why Valluvar himself said in another context, with reference to the extremely sensitive nature of guests in Kural 90.

Moapakk kulaiyum anichcham muhanthirindhu
Noakkak kulaiyum virundhu

The opposite picture of a hostess, face blossoming like a lotus at the sight of a guest has been painted by Kambar in the following lines.

Virundhu kanndullam
kalingu mangaiyar mugamaenap polindhana kamalam