character

कदर्त्थितस्यापि च धैर्यवृत्तेर्
न शक्यते धैर्यगुणः प्रमार्ष्टुं।
अधोमुखस्यापि कृतस्य वह्नेर्
नाऽधः शिखा यान्ति कदाचिदेव॥
भर्त्तृहरि   नीतिशतकं
kadartthitasyāpi ca dhairyavṛtter
na śakyate dhairyaguṇaḥ pramārṣṭuṁ|
adhomukhasyāpi kṛtasya vahner
nā'dhaḥ śikhā yānti kadācideva||
bharttṛhari   nītiśatakaṁ

Even when a person with innate steady character is insulted and forced to submission, he does not lose his boldness and capitulate. It is just like a flame of a lamp. Even if the burning wick of lamp is held upside down, the flame holds itself directed upwards alone.
Hard times can never dampen the character of a bold man.

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