Tirukforbearance,thirukkural-On Virtue-Forbearance-forbearance,thirukkural 158

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Pride leads a man to do wrong; but this could be overcome By the greater pride of one's own forbearance.

On this Rajaji would comment that 'your forbearance will prove your greater worth and disillusion his pride'. According to Valluvar, forbearance is not a negative virtue. It is a positive approach, as a result of which the proud man is humbled. This precept is in accordance with the rationalist moral approach of Marcus Cato and Marcus Aurelius as well as Seneca.

'Only a great soul can be superior to the injury'-(Cato)

'The best revenge is not to copy him that has wronged you'.

(Marcus Aurelius, Book VI-6)

'Unkindness must be treated with kindness'-
(Seneca, Bk.27-III)

The kind of attitude of mind that will practise forbearance has been referred to in Natrinai thus:

Theemai kandoar thirandhum periyoar
Thaamarindhunarka yenpa maadho

(Natrinai-116-1.2)

The relevant passages in the Bible are as follows:

'Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of humble spirit with the lowly than to divide the spirit with the proud'.

(Proverbs 17: 18-19)