எந்தக் கருத்தை எவர் சொன்னாலும், அக்கருத்தின் உண்மையைக் காண்பது அறிவு.

எந்தவொரு பொருள்குறித்து எவர் எதைச் சொன்னாலும், அதை அப்படியே நம்பி ஏற்றுக் கொள்ளாமல் உண்மை எது என்பதை ஆராய்ந்து தெளிவதுதான் அறிவுடைமையாகும்

எப்பொருளை யார் யார் இடம் கேட்டாலும் (கேட்டவாறே கொள்ளாமல்) அப் பொருளின் மெய்யானப் பொருளைக் காண்பதே அறிவாகும்.

To discern the truth in every thing, by whomsoever spoken, is wisdom

The verse 423 of Thiru Kural essentially emphasizes the value of discernment, which is the ability to judge well. The verse suggests that true wisdom lies not in blindly accepting or believing whatever is said by whoever said it, but in discerning the truth in it. In other words, regardless of the source or the person conveying a piece of information, one should not just accept it at face value. Instead, the information should be scrutinized, analyzed, and understood well to identify its real truth or essence. This process of seeking the ultimate truth in every piece of information is considered the real mark of wisdom according to this verse. This verse underlines a universal truth that applies to every field, be it philosophy, science, or daily life. It encourages critical thinking, questioning, and deep understanding, which are all essential aspects of wisdom. In a broader sense, it also encourages us to not judge a message by its messenger but to focus instead on the content and its validity. The wisdom here is to separate the wheat from the chaff, the truth from the falsehood, regardless of where or who it comes from. This is an essential skill to navigate the world filled with a myriad of information and perspectives.