Tirukkural-On Virtue-Good Reputation-Kural 236

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If one is born at all he should be born to glory;Otherwise, it were better that he were not born.

This is a Kural, which is always quoted by biographers of great men, who have made their presence felt gloriously on earth. In all other cases it is better if they were not born at all – a very severe yardstick. The idea, I suppose, is to take it as a rhetorical exhortation to strive for excellence or greatness in one"s own field.

In Kambaramayanam there are lines which convey the same idea in a context that relates to 'Vibeedanan".

Marandhum nan pugalalaal vaalvu vaendalan

(Kamba-Vibeedanan18)