Detectives
Otrotrith Thandha Porulaiyum Matrumor / Otrinaal Otrik Kolal
Classical English couplet — “Spying by spies, the things they tellTo test by other spies is well”
What it says in plain words
“Do not accept a report as true just because one person brings it. Ask another person to check it, then compare their findings.”
The classical Tamil reading
ஓர் ஒற்றன் மறைந்து கேட்டுத் தெரிவித்தச் செய்தியையும் மற்றோர் ஒற்றனால் கேட்டு வரச் செய்து ஒப்புமை கண்டபின் உண்மை என்றுக் கொள்ள வேண்டும்.
An expanded Tamil interpretation
ஓர் உளவாளி, தனது திறமையினால் அறிந்து சொல்லும் செய்தியைக் கூட மற்றோர் உளவாளி வாயிலாகவும் அறிந்து வரச் செய்து, இரு செய்திகளையும் ஒப்பிட்டுப் பார்த்த பிறகே அது, உண்மையா அல்லவா என்ற முடிவுக்கு வரவேண்டும்
The ethical and philosophical heart
Even a skilled person’s report needs a second check. Before deciding what is true, compare two separately gathered reports. This helps you spot mistakes before they shape your choices. At home or work, checking first can prevent unfair blame.
In personal life, work and society
- Personal
- Before believing a claim about a friend's actions, ask someone else who was there.
- Workplace
- Ask another teammate to check a reported stock shortage before ordering more.
- Family
- Before blaming a child for broken glass, ask another witness what happened.
- Society
- Check a report about unsafe drinking water with another testing service.
How to apply this today
- Decision-making
- Compare one person's report with another person's separate check before deciding.
- Integrity
- Check even a trusted person's report before treating it as fact.
- Communication
- Before passing along a report, ask another person to check it.
- Leadership
- Ask someone else to check a complaint before taking action.
- Governance
- Have a second inspector check reported problems before making public decisions.
For leaders and teams
A fair leader should check before accepting a report. Ask another person to investigate, then compare what both found.
Something to sit with
“What report in your life today would benefit from a second person's check?”