ULLam Udamai Udamai; PoruLudamai nilladhu neengi vidum - Thirukkural
Strength of Character is the only true wealth; Material wealth does not abide and vanishes - Loose Translation
The problem with Tiru and, indeed, with most poets is that their words quite often mean too many things. I mean, like take this 'ULLam' for example. Literally, it means 'mind'(or heart, but let us not get into that now). So, this particular Kural may just be taken to mean that if you are a mindless vegetable, then your wealth will vanish like the morning mist. Quite true, yes, but, if you need an adviser to tell you this, it probably is already too late for you. Being mindless, you'd have lost your wealth anyway before you get the advice.
So, this 'ULLam' actually translates to qualities of the mind and not merely its existence. Like, say, 'Have a heart' does not mean that the person is urging you to get that blood-pump installed in your chest OR offering you the next delicacy in your dinner. Likewise, this thing actually means qualities like determination and enthusiasm and not merely the fact that you have a mind.
Though, I am not too sure about the whole of it. I mean, yes, what he says seems quite true - that you CAN lose material wealth, most especially if you do not have strength of character. (There, see, THAT is the best translation in this context). THEN, you end up dissipating your wealth, you find yourself incapable of handling and triumphing over adversity. Conversely, if you have the strength of character, you find the motivation and courage to rise above adversity; you have the determination to work your way through to your desired goal, making the most of whatever physical and intellectual resources you can deploy; and you have the self-belief to be undaunted by what may seem like insurmountable obstacles. In short, determined self-belief can trump talent, especially when the person with talent is plagued by self-doubt.
So, what was I not sure of? I mean, well, Tiru says that strength of character will not dissipate like material wealth. Now THAT is something I am not too confident about. Yeah, we all have fables about undaunted heroes who keep plowing on and on, despite the worst of obstacles, but, factually, strength of character can also erode over a long period of tribulation.
But, then, I suppose Tiru was applying 'ceteris paribus' but, not knowing all the latest management jargon, he just did not say so. Meaning that, given the SAME set of obstacles, material wealth could dissipate while strength of character stays and helps build more wealth.
In other words, strength of character is much less likely to dissipate than material wealth. (Of course, Tiru HAD to say it in absolute terms. I mean, the moment one says 'relatively stronger' etc etc, the listener loses interest. Humanity just LOVES absolute truths and treats all relative truths as useless). AND it helps both safeguard your existing wealth as well as build more wealth; or, in times of adversity, create wealth all over again even if you have lost what you earlier had.
Now if only someone would tell me where to shop for this strength of character...