Recognition of the Signs
Edhilaar Polap Podhunokku Nokkudhal / Kaadhalaar Kanne Ula
Classical English couplet — “The look indifferent, that would its love disguise,Is only read aright by lovers' eyes”
What it says in plain words
“Lovers may look at each other like strangers in public. Their ordinary looks can hide the love they feel inside.”
The classical Tamil reading
புறத்தே அயலார்போல் அன்பில்லாத பொது நோக்கம் கொண்டு பார்த்தல், அகத்தே காதல் கொண்டவரிடம் உள்ள இயல்பாகும்.
An expanded Tamil interpretation
காதலர்களுக்கு ஓர் இயல்பு உண்டு; அதாவது, அவர்கள் பொது இடத்தில் ஒருவரையொருவர் அந்நியரைப் பார்ப்பதுபோலப் பார்த்துக்கொள்வர்
The ethical and philosophical heart
The couplet describes lovers keeping their feelings private in public. They may share an ordinary look without showing their love. It reminds us that a plain look can hide love. What people show does not always reveal what they feel. Still, a look alone cannot tell us someone loves us.
In personal life, work and society
- Personal
- You exchange an ordinary glance with your partner while keeping your affection private.
- Workplace
- Two partners working together greet each other as they greet other coworkers.
- Family
- At a family gathering, a couple avoids showing their affection openly.
- Society
- On a crowded bus, two lovers look at each other as if they were strangers.
How to apply this today
- Decision-making
- Avoid deciding how someone feels from one public glance.
- Integrity
- Respect someone's choice to keep their love private.
- Communication
- Ask gently rather than guessing what an ordinary look means.
- Leadership
- Give people room to keep their personal feelings private.
- Governance
- Respect people's privacy rather than treating public behavior as proof of private feelings.
For leaders and teams
Remember that public looks do not reveal everything. Let people choose which personal feelings they share with others.
Something to sit with
“When might you have mistaken someone's quiet manner for a lack of care?”