நூல்களைக் கற்றும் அவற்றின் பயனை அறிந்தும், நல்லவர் கூடிய அவையைக் கண்டு பயந்து அங்கே செல்லாதவர், படிக்காதவரைவிடக் கீழானவர் என்று சொல்லுவர்.

ஆன்றோர் நிறைந்த அவையில் பேசுவதற்கு அஞ்சுகின்றவர்கள், எத்தனை நூல்களைக் கற்றிருந்த போதிலும், அவர்கள் கல்லாதவர்களாவிட இழிவானவர்களாகவே கருதப்படுவார்கள்

நூல்களைக் கற்றிந்த போதிலும் நல்ல அறிஞரின் அவைக்கு அஞ்சுகின்றவர், கல்லாதவரை விடக் கடைப்பட்டவர் என்று கூறுவர்.

They who, though they have learned and understood, are yet afraid of the assembly of the good, are said to be inferior (even) to the illiterate

Kural 729 is a verse that emphasizes the importance of courage in the face of knowledge. The verse states that those who have acquired knowledge but are fearful to share or debate it in the assembly of the wise are deemed to be lesser than those who are uneducated. The verse suggests that knowledge is not merely about its acquisition but also about its application and the confidence with which it is communicated. The assembly of the wise or the good here refers to a gathering of knowledgeable and morally upright individuals. This could be a forum for intellectual discourse or debate. The fear referred to here is not just about the physical fear of speaking in public, but also about the fear of scrutiny, of being wrong, or of being criticized. The verse implies that those who have knowledge but lack the courage to assert it are not making full use of their learning. Such individuals, despite their education, are considered inferior to those who are uneducated. This is because the uneducated have the potential to learn and grow, while those with knowledge who do not utilize it are stagnating. In essence, this verse underscores the idea that knowledge gains its true value when it is shared and discussed openly, and that requires courage. Hence, courage and fearlessness in the face of intellectual discourse are as important as the acquisition of knowledge itself.