Learning
Yaadhaanum Naataamaal Ooraamaal Ennoruvan / Saandhunaiyung Kallaadha Vaaru
Classical English couplet — “The learned make each land their own, in every city find a home;Who, till they die; learn nought, along what weary ways they roam”
What it says in plain words
“Learning helps you feel at home wherever you go. Why spend your whole life without continuing to learn?”
The classical Tamil reading
கற்றவனுக்கு தன் நாடும் ஊரும் போல வேறு எதுவாயினும் நாடாகும், ஊராகும் ஆகையால் ஒருவன் சாகும் வரையில் கல்லாமல் காலங்கழிப்பது ஏன்.
An expanded Tamil interpretation
கற்றோர்க்கு எல்லா நாடுகளிலும் எல்லா ஊர்களிலும் சிறப்பு என்கிறபோது, ஒருவன் சாகும் வரையில் கற்காமல் காலம் கழிப்பது ஏனோ?
The ethical and philosophical heart
Learning helps us understand people and places beyond our hometown. What we learn can help us earn respect in new places. In this way, learning makes the world feel like home. This is a reason to keep learning throughout our lives.
In personal life, work and society
- Personal
- You learn local words to talk with neighbors after moving.
- Workplace
- You learn new skills to work with a team in another city.
- Family
- You learn about a new town together before your family moves.
- Society
- A library offers language classes that help newcomers connect with local people.
How to apply this today
- Decision-making
- Before moving somewhere new, learn about daily life there.
- Integrity
- Be honest about what you do not know, and keep learning.
- Communication
- Learn words that help you speak with people from other places.
- Leadership
- Give people time to learn skills they can use in new settings.
- Governance
- Keep libraries and learning programs open to people of every age.
For leaders and teams
Help others keep learning throughout life, not just for today's tasks. Their knowledge can help them find their place wherever they go.
Something to sit with
“What could you learn today to feel more at home among unfamiliar people?”