71.1 Reading One’s Mind
Question:
How to read what another
person has in his mind?
Answer:
As a crystal
reflects things around it, one’s face
reveals what one
has in one’s mind. (Couplet – 706)
அடுத்தது காட்டும் பளிங்குபோல் நெஞ்சம்
கடுத்தது காட்டும் முகம். (குறள் – 706)
Explanation:
Unless another person tells us what he
has in his mind, it is difficult for us to read accurately what he has in his
mind. But as the proverb “Face is the index of the mind.” says, it is possible
to guess what the other person is thinking. Some feelings like anger,
happiness, confusion, wonder, and fear are easily identifiable from one’s face.
If the other person is a close associate, then it is much easier to guess what he
has in his mind. For example, a spouse can invariably guess what their partner
has in mind. Of all the other parts of a person’s body, it is the face that
reveals what he has in his mind. In Couplet 706, Valluvar compares this feature
of the face to a crystal that reflects anything that is in front of it.
The Couplet 706 is in the context
of someone moving with a king or a powerful superior. It is always advantageous
for a subordinate to understand the mood of his superiors so that he can judge
the right time to say important things to them.
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