உயிரால் உருகுவார்போல் நடிக்கும், உள்ளத்துள் நல்ல பண்பு இல்லாதவரின் நட்பு வளர்வதைவிடக் குறைவது நல்லது.

நல்ல பண்பு இல்லாதவர்கள் அன்பு வெள்ளத்தில் நம்மை மூழ்கடிப்பதுபோல் தோன்றினாலும் அவர்களது நட்பை, மேலும் வளர்த்துக் கொள்ளாமல் குறைத்துக் கொள்வதே நல்லது

அன்பு மிகுதியால் பருகுவார் போல் தோன்றினாலும் நற்பண்பு இல்லாதவரின் நட்பு, வளர்ந்து பெருகுவதை விடத் தேய்ந்து குறைவது நல்லது.

The decrease of friendship with those who look as if they would eat you up (through excess of love) while they are really destitute of goodness is far better than its increase

This verse from the Thirukkural emphasizes the importance of having good character over superficial affection. The verse uses a metaphor to describe people who appear to overflow with love and affection towards us, as if they would consume us with their love. However, the verse warns that if these people lack genuine goodness or virtue in their character, then their affection is not worth much. The verse advises that it is better to lessen our connections with such individuals rather than increase them, even if they seem to overflow with love. This is because, without good character, their excessive affection may not be genuine or beneficial in the long run. The verse implies that true friendship is based on virtue and genuine goodness, not merely on outward displays of affection. So, the moral of the Kural is that it is better to distance ourselves from those who lack good character, no matter how affectionate they appear, because a relationship without virtue is less beneficial than its absence.