Pearls of Wisdom from Thirukkural

One who has realized by himself his soul's Self will be worshiped by all other souls.

As the intense fire of the furnace refines gold to brilliance, so does the burning suffering of austerity purify the soul to resplendence.

It is the nature of asceticism to patiently endure hardship and to not harm living creatures.

So potent is the power acquired through disciplined self-denial that those who attain it may even delay the moment of death.

Thirukkural