TIOL-DDT 1147 · Monday, 6 July 2009 · story 5 of 5

PC's Thirukkural Quotes

1996 Budget Speech: 2000 years ago, Saint Tiruvalluvar laid down the golden rule for the King's Ministers: To be able to increase wealth, to lay it up and guard, And also well to distribute it, marks a royal lord.

1997 Budget Speech: What will we do without our critics? As Saint Tiruvalluvar said Behold the King who reposeth not on those who can rebuke him/He will perish even when he hath no enemies.

2005 Budget Speech: Saint Tiruvalluvar said: Health, wealth, produce, the happiness that is the result, and security - These five, the learned say, are the ornaments of a polity.

2006 Budget Speech: I also have severe fiscal constraints. When faced with a dilemma, I usually turn to my favourite poet-philosopher, Saint Tiruvalluva. Writing over 2,000 years ago, he said: The world is his who does his job With compassion.

2007 Budget Speech: Saint Tiruvalluvar watches over us and warns:- If ploughmen keep their hands folded, even sages claiming renunciation cannot find salvation.

2008 Budget Speech: As always, I turned to my muse, Saint Tiruvalluvar, for guidance and reassurance. 2,000 years ago he set the benchmark for good governance in the following immortal words: Generous grants, compassion, righteous rule and succour to the downtrodden are the hallmarks of good governance.