Thirukural-(Risk)Assessment of Relative Strength-Kural 476

The person, who climbs a tree up to the thin end of its high branch,
And still attempts to go farther, will perish by a sure fall.

The idea here is that even a man of enterprise should appreciate the limit, to which he can utilize the resources at his disposal. Going beyond that limit will surely mean inviting disaster.

This comparison is projected by the poet to warn the prince and others not to extend their resources beyond their utmost capacity. Optimum utilisation is one thing and utilisation beyond bounds is another.

Assessment of Relative strength

Thiruvalluvar in assessment of relative strength, advises the importance of assessing the relative strength of others as well as one's own before making a decision.

Thirukural

Thirukural is an ethical treatise belonging to Tamil classical literature, written by Thiruvalluvar. In Kural 476, Valluvar warns one of assessment of his own relative strength while aiming to go higher and higher up the tree of success. Ramanandha Adigalar Foundation with the English translation of Thirukural has made it available for a larger reading mass.