Its sentences are counted as binding as the ten commandments of the Jews. Its very language has become the test of literary excellence. It is no exaggeration to say that it is as important in Tamil literature, as influential on the Tamil mind, as Dante's great work on the language and thought of Italy.
“Called the first of works, from which, whether for thought or language, there is no appeal, the cural has a strong claim upon our attention as a part of the literature of the country, and as a work of intrinsic excellence.
“We may regard Valluvar as Tamil Solomons, Ezras or Tuppers, who collected and arranged the 'poverbial philosophy of primitive times.”
“Some of the sayings (of cural) are probably as old as the earliest writings of the Old Testament.”.
“The Kural is that admirable collection of stanzas in the Tamil language, which is instinct with the purest and most elevated religious emotion............ What philosophy he teaches seems to be of the eclectic school as represented by the Bhagavat Geeta."
“Kural of Tiruvalluvar is well known throughout the South of the Indian peninsula. There is no doubt that no one can pretend to scholarship in Tamil unless he reads and understands this master-piece of Tamil literature."
