Moral teachings in Hindu religion are from Nitidvishashtika text.
Learning, Vedic study, penances, prosperity, fame and splendor – all these in one who is devoid of good character are like the bath of an elephant (an elephant throws dust on his body after bathing).
He is an eloquent speaker who speaks with brevity, but whose speech is sweet. One who speaks a lot but speaks with little sense is nothing but a prattler.
As a fire is extinguished only by water, similarly, the anger caused by harsh speech can be pacified only by the words of wisdom spoken by the virtuous.
Pilgrimages to holy places for ablutions, gazing at the hot blazing sun as a penance, standing in water in winter – all these cannot take a man to heaven if he were devoid of good character.
Of what use are garlands and perfumes to the man, the fragrance of whose noble qualities has permeated all the directions?
Although born in a family of Brahmins, a man who is proud, hypocritical, harmful to others, evil-tongued, boastful and slanderous is but a lowly man.
The following virtues are inborn and natural in noble persons – appreciation of merits of others, concealing one’s own merits and not publicizing them for fame, not criticizing the faults of men in front of others to defame them, sweet disposition and straightforward speech.
A dishonorable and immoral man, though born of a noble lineage, endowed with eloquence, a handsome appearance and adorned with garlands is like the Palasa (Flame of the Forest) tree which blooms but does not yield any fruit.