If an expedient to avert it is thought of, it will intrude through that expedient itself." It is significant that in other places he has held up the free will of man (as in Chap. 62 on Manly Effort), where in the concluding couplet he says, "They who strive hard without fatigue or desperation or delay will vanquish fate and throw it out." In four chapters, especially (Chapters 60 to 63 entitled "On Enthusiams, Against Idleness, On Manly Effort, On Perseverance in spite of Difficulties"), he has laid great emphasis on the free will of man and has removed the misconception that man is God's sport and that all his doings have been pre-ordained or pre-determined. To him, fate is sometimes esoteric but never inexorable.

In the chapter on "Enthusiasm" for instance, Thiruvalluvar states that the property or possession to be prized for is enthusiasm, since people who are destitute of that cannot possess anything at all. To be enthusiastic in mind and to be energetic in body is a great gift. All other possessions like the possession of wealth pass away and abide not. People who are agile and enthusiastic never say, "I have lost my property." Persons who persevere to their utmost will be sought after by wealth. Thiruvalluvar wants everyone to have high ambitions and glorious aspirations in life. It does not matter to him if the object sought for sometimes will not materialise. It is enough to have thought nobly and aimed high. It is only people who sweat and labour and persevere that can be liberal and generous to others in gifts. In the modern world also, this is found to be quite true. It is only nations like the American, Russian and the British who have consolidated their economic position that can go to the help of the under-developed or undeveloped countries. Enthusiasm is itself wealth, according to the learned sage. "Those that do not have that wealth are only trees in the shape of man. . . ."

In the chapter (Chap. 62) on "Manly Effort", the poet has exhorted the nations to be enterprising. He is one of the great thinkers of the world who have been of the opinion that the best way to attain greatness is not to regard anything as impossible under the sun. If one strives hard, one is sure to make possible even the supposedly impossible things. One should not do things in a half-hearted way; one should exert oneself to the full, for the world will abandon those who leave their work unfinished. It is only those that are alert and agile that can be proud of being helpful to others, because generosity of a man who does not strive hard will be of little worth like the manliness of a hermaphrodite who brandishes a sword. On the other hand, if people are engrossed in their work with the thought that the path of glory is nota bed of roses, they will be able to prop up and support their kith and kin. Manly effort makes a wealthy man; lack of effort means poverty Not to be born in a fortunate family