गुणवान्वा परजनः स्वजनो निर्गुणोऽपि वा। निर्गुणः स्वजनः श्रेयान्यः परः पर एव सः॥
guṇavānvā parajanaḥ svajano nirguṇo'pi vā| nirguṇaḥ svajanaḥ śreyānyaḥ paraḥ para eva saḥ||
English Meaning
If one that is not our own, be furnished with every grace, and if one's own be void of all merit, one's kindred, albeit unworthy, is preferable; and he that is not ours, is even always such.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)