Thirukkural-On Wealth-Avoidance Of Faults-Kural-439

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Never indulge in self-praise; nor should you go in
For activities that produce no good results.

Indulging in glorification of oneself is the known trait of the small man. The greatness of the truly wise personages will be spoken by all others, who know them or encounter them. One does not need to blow one"s own trumpet if one is really a worthy man.

As regards the second part of the Kural, a person is judged normally by his own acts. And if the person"s actions are seen habitually to be productive of no good results, and produce only ill-effects, he will not be considered a good or wise man.

If a prince of the realm is prone to self-glorification and to activities that do not spell any good to himself and to his people, he cannot hope to be considered a good king ever.