Kural - 183

'Tis greater gain of virtuous good for man to die,
Than live to slander absent friend, and falsely praise when nigh

Explanation
Death rather than life will confer upon the deceitful backbiter the profit which (the treatises on) virtue point out.

Tamil Transliteration
Purangoorip Poiththuyir Vaazhdhalin Saadhal
Arangootrum Aakkath Tharum.