कात्यायन स्मृति - निःसार

मनुष्ये कदलीस्तंभे निःसारे सारमार्गणम् |
यः करोति स संमूढो जलबुद्बुदसन्निभे ||

- कात्यायन स्मृति

One must not search for a purpose/meaning in human life which is as dry (devoid of strength/life/sap) like a stem of banana plant and as ephemeral as a water bubble.

- Katyayana Smriti

पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद - हितैषि

माता मित्रं पिता चेति स्वभावात् त्रितयं हितम् |
कार्यकारणतश्चान्ये भवन्ति हितबुद्धयः ||

- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रभेद

Mother, friend and father - these are the only three people who will help you by nature. All other become well-wishers only to serve their own purpose.

- Panchatantra, Mitrabheda

पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद - स्पर्धा

महद्दिः स्पर्धमानस्य विपदेव गरीयसी |
दन्तभङ्गोऽपि नागानां श्लाघ्यो गिरिविदारणे ||

- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रभेद

When you are competing with the mighty, even if you face deep trouble you still have your honor. If an elephant breaks its tusk while it tries to break the mountain (by ramming into it) it still looks majestic.

- Panchatanra, Mitrabheda

तंत्रवार्तिक - कृष्णशुक्ल विवेक

महताऽपि प्रयत्नेन तमिस्रायां परामृशन् |
कृष्णशुक्लविवेकं हि न कश्चिदधिगच्छति ||

- तंत्रवार्तिक

In pitch darkness, one can not know the difference between white or black no matter how hard you try. The same difficulty exists when trying to know right from wrong if you are in the darkness of ignorance.

- Tantravartika

शिशुपालवध - कर्मफल

महतस्तरसा विलङ्घय -
    न्निजदोषेण कुधीर्विनश्यति |
कुरुते न खलु स्वयेच्छया
    शलभानिन्धनमिद्धदीधितिः ||

- शिशुपालवध

When a rogue tries to trouble a noble man, it is the rogue who gets destroyed by his own actions. The fire will not hunt down the moth. But it is the moth that tries to conquer fire, and gets burnt in the process.

- Shishupalavadha

विष्णुपुराण - मनोरथ

मनोरथानां न समाप्तिरस्ति
    वर्षायुतेनापि तथाब्दलक्षैः |
पूर्णेषु पूर्णेषु मनोरथानां
    उत्पत्तयः सन्ति पुनर्नवानाम् ||

- विष्णुपुराण

There is no end to the desires. They never get satisfied even after a lakh years of prosperity. As and when some desires get fulfilled, some more are born.

-Vishnu Purana

देवीभागवत - प्रमाद

मधु पश्यति मूढात्मा प्रपातं नैव पश्यति |
करोति निंदितं कर्म नरकान्न बिभेति च ||

- देवीभागवत

When he looks at the honey comb hanging off the cliff, a fool sees only honey. He does not see the danger of falling into the valley below. Just like that people only see the short term pleasures and not their consequences (like miserable time in hell)

- Devi Bhagavata