Quotes By Chanakya

One whose knowledge is confined to books and whose wealth is in the possession of others, can use neither his knowledge nor wealth when the need for them arises.

The wise man should restrain his senses like the crane and accomplish his purpose with due knowledge of his place, time and ability.

Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person.

There is no austerity equal to a balanced mind, and there is no happiness equal to contentment; there is no disease like covetousness, and no virtue like mercy.

God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god. The soul is your temple.

The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction.

The one excellent thing that can be learned from a lion is that whatever a man intends doing should be done by him with a whole-hearted and strenuous effort.

A man is born alone and dies alone; and he experiences the good and bad consequences of his karma alone; and he goes alone to hell or the Supreme abode.

The happiness and peace attained by those satisfied by the nectar of spiritual tranquillity is not attained by greedy persons restlessly moving here and there.

As a single withered tree, if set aflame, causes a whole forest to burn, so does a rascal son destroy a whole family.

Do not reveal what you have thought upon doing, but by wise council keep it secret being determined to carry it into execution.

There is poison in the fang of the serpent, in the mouth of the fly and in the sting of a scorpion; but the wicked man is saturated with it.

Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous.

Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends.

Never make friends with people who are above or below you in status. Such friendships will never give you any happiness.

The biggest guru-mantra is: never share your secrets with anybody. It will destroy you.

Purity of speech, of the mind, of the senses, and of a compassionate heart are needed by one who desires to rise to the divine platform.

It is better to die than to preserve this life by incurring disgrace. The loss of life causes but a moment's grief, but disgrace brings grief every day of one's life.

The earth is supported by the power of truth; it is the power of truth that makes the sun shine and the winds blow; indeed all things rest upon truth.

He who is overly attached to his family members experiences fear and sorrow, for the root of all grief is attachment. Thus one should discard attachment to be happy.

Do not be very upright in your dealings for you would see by going to the forest that straight trees are cut down while crooked ones are left standing.

Test a servant while in the discharge of his duty, a relative in difficulty, a friend in adversity, and a wife in misfortune.

If one has a good disposition, what other virtue is needed? If a man has fame, what is the value of other ornamentation?

Once you start a working on something, don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest.

A man is great by deeds, not by birth.

The life of an uneducated man is as useless as the tail of a dog which neither covers its rear end, nor protects it from the bites of insects.

As long as your body is healthy and under control and death is distant, try to save your soul; when death is immanent what can you do?

He who lives in our mind is near though he may actually be far away; but he who is not in our heart is far though he may really be nearby.

The world's biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman.

A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are screwed first.