Never quit, or maybe you should

Thirukkural with the Times explores real-world lessons from the classic Tamil text ‘Thirukkural’. Written by Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, the Kural consists of 1,330 short couplets of seven words each. This text is divided into three books with teachings on virtue, wealth, and love and is considered one of the great works ever on ethics and morality. The Kural has influenced scholars and leaders across social, political, and philosophical spheres.Motivational speaker, author and diversity champion Bharathi Bhaskar explores the masterpiece.Kural 342 carries a piece of wisdom far ahead of its time:"Vendin Undaagath Thurakka; ThurandhapinEendu Iyarpaala Pala""Quit early if you seek joy;for many delights await even after renunciation"Though Thiruvalluvar’s context here is renunciation, the verse implies something relevant to modern life — the wisdom of quitting.Human civilization glorifies endurance. From childhood, we are taught to hold on at any cost. But life, with its silent ironies, often rewards those who know when to let go.To leave a job at the right time, to walk away from a failing venture, to exit a collapsing investment, or to step out of a toxic relationship before the soul gathers scars — these are not acts of weakness but of clarity.In her book ‘Quit’, Annie Duke writes about the power of walking away. Human beings enter swiftly but exit reluctantly. We cling to old decisions long after reality has changed. Ego chains us to fading hopes.The stock market mirrors this beautifully. Every investor knows the phrase ‘stop loss’. It is a simple principle: if the fall becomes dangerous, step out. Yet millions fail to do so. In 2025, despite fairly stable conditions, only about 16% made profits while 84% lost money amongst retail investors in India. Many failed because they stayed too long.Relationships are no different. People remain in painful spaces believing that one morning the other person will change, and the clouds will part. Sometimes that miracle happens. Often it does not. Walking away early may hurt the heart; walking away late may wound the spirit.The Mahabharata gives us a haunting metaphor through Abhimanyu. He knew how to enter the Padmavyuha but not how to emerge from it. That is not merely a battle strategy; it is a philosophy of life. Many of us know how to get into careers, businesses, debts, and commitments. Few learn the art of exiting. Abhimanyu believed that other warriors will get him out of viyuga while his father was away but he succumbed as he did not know how to step out. Even modern entrepreneurship respects the intelligence of quitting. Silicon Valley celebrates the idea of the MVP, the Minimum Viable Product. Build quickly, test honestly, and if failure appears inevitable, walk away early. Here, quitting is not disgrace; it is disciplined wisdom.Author Annie Duke recounts the story of three Mt Everest climbers — Hutchison, Taske, and Kasischke. As they were one day away from scaling the peak, their coach told them to start at midnight and reach the summit before 1pm after which the weather conditions could become unfavourable. The three climbed till 11.30am and realized that there was no way to reach by 1pm and decided to return. They stood within touching distance of glory but turned back. History scarcely remembers them because they never conquered Everest. But they lived. Others in their group who climbed further became frozen monuments to misplaced persistence.Life changes its script without notice. New truths emerge. Old assumptions collapse. To continue merely because we once decided to begin is not always bravery. Sometimes it is fear wearing the mask of determination.That is why Thiruvalluvar sounds surprisingly modern even today. For he declared that if you have the courage to let go, “many delights await”. New paths. New peace. New beginnings.Sometimes quitting is not giving up.Sometimes it is choosing life before life chooses for us.