सुभाषितसुधानिधि - प्राज्ञ

प्राज्ञोऽपि जल्पतां पुंसां श्रुत्वा वाचः शुभाशुभाः ।
गुणवद्ववाक्यमादत्ते हंसः क्षीरमिवांभसः ॥

- सुभाषितसुधानिधि

Just like a swan has the ability to separate milk from water, a wise man must pay attention to only those words that matter (truth). There will be gregarious people who will speak a lot about others - some true, but mostly baseless.

- Subhashitasudhannidhi

पञ्चतंत्र - कथामुख - क्षीरमिवांबुमध्यात्

अनंतपारं किल शब्दशास्त्रं
    स्वल्पं तथायुर्बहवश्च विघ्नाः ।
सारं ततो ग्राह्यमपास्य फल्गु
    हंसैर्यथा क्षीरमिवांबुमध्यात् ॥

- पञ्चतंत्र, कथामुख

The vastness of knowledge (written in scriptures) is huge. This life is short and filled with obstacles. Hence it is not possible to read them all. One must attempt to understand the scriptures with most value first and abandon the rest much like how a swan filters milk from water.

- Panchatantra, Kathamukha

अन्योक्तिस्तबक - हंस बक

वाग्देव्या सह सख्यमाचर वह ब्रह्माणमाविष्कुरु
  प्राविण्यं गतिषु प्रदर्शय निजं विद्याबलं निर्मलम् |
मीनं मा स्पृश मौक्तिकं कवलय क्रीड द्रुतं द्यौस्तले
  चेदव्रीड बकाधम प्रतिभया हंसत्वमाकांक्षसि ||

- अन्योक्तिस्तबक

Oh Duck! you secretly wish to be a swan. I will tell you what you need to do to become one. You must be friends with Saraswathi (goddess of learning). You must climb the back of Lord Brahma (the creator). You must show elegance in your walking. You must study more and increase your knowledge. You must give up eating fish. Instead you must have pearls (pure crystal water) for food. You must learn to fly in the sky. When you can do all these, then you can wish to be a swan.

- Anyoktistabaka