Inspirational Quotes

Words to motivate, inspire, and guide you.

Chanakya Quotes

Hear the Author's Words

Acceptance Anxiety Discernment Mindfulness Present Moment We should not fret for what is past, nor should we be anxious about the future; men of discernment deal only with the present moment.

Secrecy Self Preservation Trust Vulnerability The biggest guru-mantra is: never share your secrets with anybody. It will destroy you.

Deception Disguise Pretense Self-Defense Strategy Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous.

Education Respect Value of Education Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth.

Knowledge Self-awareness Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person.

Compassion Discipline Greed Happiness Inner Peace 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.

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

Avoidance Caution Danger Innocence Vulnerability The serpent, the king, the tiger, the stinging wasp, the small child, the dog owned by other people, and the fool: these seven ought not to be awakened from sleep.

Courage Overcoming Persistence Strength As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it.

Purpose Self-awareness Self-Control Wisdom The wise man should restrain his senses like the crane and accomplish his purpose with due knowledge of his place, time and ability.

Mortality Physical Health Proactiveness Spirituality 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?

Discipline Enduring Relationships Mutual Respect Nurturing Trust 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.

Corruption Evil Wickedness 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.

Flexibility 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.

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

Determination 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.

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

Contentment Greed Happiness Peace Spirituality 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.

Discernment Generosity Wisdom Worthiness O wise man! Give your wealth only to the worthy and never to others. The water of the sea received by the clouds is always sweet.

Compassion Purity Self-Control Spirituality 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.

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

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

Education Purpose Utility 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.

Attachment Detachment Happiness Sorrow 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.

Intimacy Love Marriage Role Service A good wife is one who serves her husband in the morning like a mother does, loves him in the day like a sister does and pleases him like a prostitute in the night.

Decision Making Dignity Honor Integrity Sacrifice 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.

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

Knowledge Practicality Self Reliance Wealth 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.

Action Greatness Merit A man is great by deeds, not by birth.

Distance Inner Peace Love Mindfulness Perception 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.