# LXXII: Judging of the Audience explained — The Kural

> Chapter companion for The Kural by Thiruvalluvar.

## What happens

This chapter emphasizes the importance of tailoring one's speech to the audience, advising speakers to study the nature and mood of their listeners before speaking. It contrasts the virtue of addressing the wise with the futility of speaking to fools, using metaphors such as watering living plants versus spilling ambrosia on filthy ground.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Harmony and Ethics

The chapter advises speakers to judge their audience and speak appropriately, promoting respectful and effective communication that maintains social harmony.

### Virtue and Righteousness

Self-control in deferring to elders and the failure before the wise being akin to falling from righteousness highlight the ethical dimension of speech.

## Key lines

> O ye that know how to weigh your words! study well your audience and suit your speech to it.

Those who are skilled in speech should carefully observe their listeners and adapt their words accordingly.

_This opening couplet sets the central theme of audience awareness._

> A discourse spoken before the unworthy is like unto ambrosia spilled on filthy ground.

Speaking wisdom to those who cannot appreciate it is as wasteful as pouring nectar onto dirt.

_A vivid metaphor underscoring the futility of addressing an unworthy audience._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kural_se/chapters/lxxii-judging-of-the-audience
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kural_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kural_se/chapters