Quotations of Mahatma Gandhi

8/3/2019 Quotations of Mahatma Gandhi

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Quotations of Mahatma

Gandhi

by Roedy Green 1996-2009 Canadian Mind Products

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Quotations of Mahatma Gandhi

This collection of quotations is copyrighted as a whole, but of course individual

quotations are not.

Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78) lead India to

independence using non-violent means. Indians refer to him as Mahatma Gandhi whichmeans great soul. Martin Luther King later used these same techniques to fight for black

civil rights in the USA.

I have always felt a special kinship with Gandhi. He was assassinated on 1948-01-30 by a

Hindu fanatic. As he was dying he blessed his assassin. I was born five days later, just

missing any chance to even hear him on the radio. Gandhi inspired Martin Luther King.And King in turn inspired me in my work with gay liberation in the 1970s. When I

started, 95% of the gays were against me and 100% of the straights. I figured it waspointless, but I wanted to make a token gesture of defiance anyway. In only two years we

had the first gay rights legislation.

When I went to India in 1985 I met Gandhis godson, a wealthy industrialist who owned

a automobile, washing machine, manufacturing company calledTata He told me whatit was like as a boy living with Gandhi. Later he let me spend an afternoon in his private

museum of Gandhi memorabilia. On that trip a woman gave me an uncopyrighted little

book called Quotes of Gandhi. Here I share with you from that book and other sources.

I find Gandhis and Kings obsession with God somewhat embarrassing. However, thatbelief was central to their thinking, so I dont censor it here.

Action Freedom Asceticism

Truth Evil Prosletysing

Non-Violence Equality Education

Animal Rights Love Metaphysics and Religion

Courage Friendship Faith

Doubt Wealth Prayer

Thought Politics HumourPrinciple Debate and Struggle Links
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Conscience Armament

Present Humility

Action

Before you do anything, stop and recall the face of the poorest mosthelpless destitute person you have seen and ask yourself, Is what I am

about to do going to help him?

~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in theirmission can alter the course of history.


Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do

it.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Its the action, not the fruit of the action, thats important. You have to do

the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, thattherell be any fruit. But that doesnt mean you stop doing the right thing.

You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do

nothing, there will be no result.


Glory lies in the attempt to reach ones goal and not in reaching it.


We must become the change we want to see in the world.


Be the change that you want to see in the world.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Be the planetary citizen you want everyone else to be.

~ Roedy (born: 1948-02-04 age: 61)

We do not need to proselytise either by our speech or by our writing. We

can only do so really with our lives. Let our lives be open books for all tostudy.


Non-cooperation with evil is as much a duty as is cooperation withgood.


Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment, full effort is full

victory.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)
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Action expresses priorities.


For me the present is merged in eternity. I may not sacrifice the latter forthe present.


An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.


Action is no less necessary than thought to the instinctive tendencies ofthe human frame.


Consciously or unconsciously, everyone of us does render some service

or another. If we cultivate the habit of doing this service deliberately, our

desire for service will steadily grow stronger, and it will make not only forour own happiness, but that of the world at large.


I claim to be an average man of less than average ability. I have not theshadow of a doubt that any man or woman can achieve what I have, if he

or she would make the same effort and cultivate the same hope and faith.


I claim to be no more than an average person with less than average

ability. I have not the shadow of doubt that any man or woman can

achieve what I have, if he or she would make the same effort and cultivatethe same hope and faith.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real

war against war, we shall have to begin with the children.


There is more to life than increasing its speed.


A person who is worried about the outcome of his work does not see hisgoal; he sees only his opposition and the obstacles before him.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Service that is rendered without joy helps neither the servant nor the

served. But all other pleasures as possessions pale into nothingness before

service which is rendered in a spirit of joy.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

A true soldier does not argue as he marches, how success is going to be

ultimately achieved. But he is confident that if he only plays his humble

part well, somehow or other the battle will be won. In is that spirit thatevery one of us should act. It is not given to us to know the future. But it is


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given to everyone of us to know how to do our own part well.


Truth

Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Truth is by nature self-evident. As soon as you remove the cobwebs of

ignorance that surround it, it shines clear.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Truth never damages a cause that is just.


An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor

does truth become error because nobody sees it.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Truth quenches untruth, love quenches anger, self-suffering quenches

violence. This eternal rule is a rule not for saints only but for all.


In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place.


Even as wisdom often comes from the mouths of babes, so does it often

come from the mouths of old people. The golden rule is to test everythingin the light of reason and experience, no matter from where it comes.


Abstract truth has no value unless it incarnates in human beings who

represent it, by proving their readiness to die for it.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

There is no principle worth the name if it is not wholly good.


He who trifles with truth cuts at the root of Ahimsa [non-violence]. Hewho is angry is guilty of Himsa.


All the religions of the world, while they may differ in other respects,

unitedly proclaim that nothing lives in this world but Truth.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Morality is the basis of things and truth is the substance of all morality.


Breach of promise is a base surrender of truth.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)


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Breach of promise is no less an act of insolvency than a refusal to pay

ones debt.


Confession of errors is like a broom which sweeps away the dirt and

leaves the surface brighter and clearer. I feel stronger for the confession.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Violence and Non-violence

What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless,

whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism

or the holy name of liberty or democracy?


The good man is the friend of all living things.


Peace is its own reward.


I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is onlytemporary; the evil it does is permanent.


An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Non-violence, which is the quality of the heart, cannot come by an appeal

to the brain.


However much I may sympathise with and admire worthy motives, I aman uncompromising opponent of violent methods even to serve the noblest

of causes.


I abhor vivisection with my whole soul. All the scientific discoveries

stained with innocent blood I count as of no consequence.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is

momentary.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

I am prepared to die, but there is no cause for which I am prepared to

kill.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)


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Nonviolence is not a garment to be put on and off at will. Its seat is in the

heart, and it must be an inseparable part of our being.


The pursuit of truth does not permit violence on ones opponent.


Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a

true democratic spirit.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Violent means will give violent freedom. That would be a menace to the

world and to India herself.


Experience convinces me that permanent good can never be the outcome

of untruth & violence. Even if my belief is a fond delusion, it will beadmitted that it is a fascinating delusion.


Violent men have not be known in history to die to a man. They die up toa point.


Non-violence is not a quality to be evolved or expressed to order. It is aninward growth depending for sustenance upon intense individual effort.


Animal Rights

To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a humanbeing. The more helpless the creature, the more that it is entitled to

protection by man from the cruelty of man.


Courage

Non-violence and cowardice are contradictory terms. Non-violence is thegreatest virtue, cowardice the greatest vice. Non-violence springs from

love, cowardice from hate. Non-violence always suffers, cowardice would

always inflict suffering. Perfect non-violence is the highest bravery. Non-violent conduct is never demoralising; cowardice always is.


Manliness consists not in bluff, bravado or lordliness. It consists indaring to do the right and facing consequences whether it is in matters

social, political or other. It consists in deeds, not words.


Better than cowardice is killing and being killed in battle.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)


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Fear has its use but cowardice has none.


A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of thebrave.


A No uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a Yes merely

uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

I believe that a man is the strongest soldier for daring to die unarmed.


It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our hearts, than to put on

the cloak of nonviolence to cover impotence.


Man lives freely only by his readiness to die, if need be, at the hands of

his brother, never by killing him.


You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body,

but you will never imprison my mind.


Nobody can hurt me without my permission.


The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.


It is any day better to stand erect with a broken and bandaged head thanto crawl on ones belly, in order to be able to save ones head.


Let no one charge me with ever having abused or encouraged weakness

or surrendered on matters of principle. But I have said, as I say again, that

every trifle must not be dignified into a principle.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Anger is the enemy of Ahimsa [non-violence] and pride is a monster

swallows it up.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Let us all be brave enough to die the death of a martyr, but let no one lust

for martyrdom.



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I am but a poor struggling soul yearning to be wholly good, wholly

truthful and wholly non-violent in thought, word and deed, but ever failing

to reach the ideal which I know to be true. It is a painful climb, but thepain of it is a positive pleasure to me. Each step upwards makes me feel

stronger and fit for the next.


That service is the noblest which is rendered for its own sake.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Principle

My work will be finished if I succeed in carrying conviction to the

human family that every man or woman, however weak in body, is theguardian of his or her self-respect and liberty, and that this defence

prevails though the world be against the individual resister.


A principle is the expression of perfection, and as imperfect beings like

us cannot practice perfection, we devise every moment limits of its

compromise in practice.


Conscience

There are times when you have to obey a call which is the highest of all,

i.e. the voice of conscience even though such obedience may cost many abitter tear, and even more, separation from friends, from family, from thestate, to which you may belong, from all that you have held as dear as life

itself. For this obedience is the law of our being.


Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be real must beunaffected by outside circumstances.


Dont listen to friends when the Friend inside you says Do this.


Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live

forever.


The only tyrant I accept in this world is the still voice within.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

The human voice can never reach the distance that is covered by the still

small voice of conscience.



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There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of

conscience. It supersedes all other courts.


We may never be strong enough to be entirely nonviolent in thought,

word and deed. But we must keep nonviolence as our goal and makestrong progress towards it.


Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an

indomitable will.


Never has man reached his destination by persistence in deviation fromthe straight path.


Self-respect known no considerations.


Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be read must beunaffected by outside circumstances.


Present

I do not want to forsee the future. I am concerned with taking care of the

present. God has given me no control over the moment following.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Freedom

Freedom is not worth having if it does not connote freedom to err.


Morality which depends upon the helplessness of a man or woman has

not much to recommend it. Morality is rooted in the purity of our hearts.


Evil

The destructive Seven Blunders of the World that cause violence:

1. Wealth without work.

2. Pleasure without conscience.3. Knowledge without character.

4. Commerce without morality.

5. Science without humanity.

6. Religion without sacrifice.7. Politics without principle.


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Man and his deed are two distinct things. Whereas a good deed shouldcall forth approbation and a wicked deed dis-approbation, the doer of the

deed, whether good or wicked always deserves respect or pity as the casemay be. Hate the sin and not the sinner is a precept which though easy

enough to understand is rarely practiced, and that is why the poison ofhatred spreads in the world.


Is it not enough to know the evil to shun it? If not, we should be sincere

enough to admit that we love evil too well to give it up.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

The moment there is suspicion about a persons motives, everything he

does becomes tainted.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

A man who broods on evil is as bad a man who does evil, if he is no

worse.


Man has reason, discrimination and free-will such as it is. The brute hasno such thing. It is not a free agent, and knows no distinction between

virtue and vice, good and evil. Man, being a free agent, knows these

distinctions, and when he follows his higher nature, shows himself far

superior to the brute, but when he follows his baser nature can showhimself lower than the brute.


Equality

It has always been a mystery to me how men can feel themselves

honoured by the humiliation of their fellow beings.


Woman in the companion of man, gifted with equal mental capacities.

She has the right to participate in the minutest details in the activities ofman, an she has equal right to liberty of freedom and liberty with him.


I believe in equality for everyone, except reporters and photographers.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Commonsense is a realised sense of proportion.


Gentleness, self-sacrifice and generosity are the exclusive possession of

no one race or religion.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)


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Love

It is the law of love that rules mankind. Had violence, i.e. hate, rules us

we would have become extinct long ago. And yet, the tragedy of it is thatthe so-called civilised men and nations conduct themselves as if the basis

of society was violence.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Hatred ever kills, Love never dies, such is the vast difference between thetwo. What is ordained by love is retained for all time. What is obtained by

hatred proves a burden in reality, for it increases hatred.


Where there is love there is life.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

It may be long before the law of love will be recognised in internationalaffairs. The machineries of government stand between and hide the heartsof one people from those of another.


To forgive is not to forget. The merit lies in loving in spite of the vivid

knowledge that the one that much be loved is not a friend. There is nomerit in loving an enemy when you forget him for a friend.


The only way love punishes in by suffering.


Justice that love gives is a surrender; justice that law gives is apunishment.


Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the

other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times moreeffective and permanent than the one derived from fear of punishment.


Love never claims, it ever gives. Love ever suffers, never resents, neverrevenges itself.


Where love is, there God is also.


We may have our private opinions but why should they be a bar to themeeting of hearts?


Friendship


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every village.


To see the universal and all-pervading Spirit of Truth face to face onemust be able to love the meanest of creation as oneself. And a man who

aspires after that cannot afford to keep out of any field of life. That is whymy devotion to Truth has drawn me into the field of politics; and I can say

without the slightest hesitation, and yet in all humility, that those who saythat religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion

means.

~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78) My

Experiments With Truth

Just as a man would not cherish living in a body other than his own, so

do nations not like to live under other nations, however noble and great the

latter my be.


What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless,

whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism

or the holy name of liberty or democracy?~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

It would conduce to national progress and save a great deal of time and

trouble if we cultivated the habit of never supporting the resolutions either

by speaking or voting for them if we had not either the intention or theability to carry them out.


If I seem to take part in politics, it is only because politics encircles ustoday like the coil of a snake from which one cannot get out, no matter

how much one tries. I wish therefore to wrestle with the snake.


Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know whatreligion is.


What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very goodidea.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

What is a war criminal? Was not war itself a crime against God and

humanity, and, therefore, were not all those who sanctioned, engineered,

and conducted wars, war criminals? War criminals are not confined to theAxis Powers alone. Roosevelt and Churchill are no less war criminals than

Hitler and Mussolini. England, America and Russia have all of them got

their hands dyed more or less red - not merely Germany and Japan.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Nations are born out of travail and suffering



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I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides an my windows to be

stuffed. I wan the cultures of all the lands to be blown about my house as

freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any. I refuse tolive in other peoples houses as an interloper, a beggar or a slave.


Measures must always in a progressive society be held superior to men,

who are after all imperfect instruments, working for their fulfillment.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

This campaign of non-cooperation has no reference to diplomacy, secret

or open. The only diplomacy it admits of is the statement and pursuance of

truth at any cost.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

I claim that human mind or human society is not divided into watertight

compartments called social, political and religious. All act and react uponone another.


For me every ruler is alien that defies public opinion.


It is my own firm belief that the strength of the soul grows in proportionas you subdue the flesh.


The spirit of democracy is not a mechanical thing to be adjusted byabolition of forms. It requires a change of heart.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Man becomes great exactly in the degree in which he works for the

welfare of his fellow men.


Debate and Struggle

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then

you win.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

An opponent is entitled to the same regard for his principles as we would

expect others to have for ours. Non-violence demands that we should see

every opportunity to win over opponents.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Indeed ones faith in ones plans and methods is truly tested when the

horizon before one is the blackest.



16/26

Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress.


Non-cooperation is an attempt to awaken the masses, to a sense of theirdignity and power. This can only be done by enabling them to realise that

they need not fear brute force, if they but know the soul within.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Public opinion alone can keep a society pure and healthy.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Non-cooperation is beyond the reach of the bayonet. It has found an

abiding place in the Indian heart. Workers like me will go when the hour

has struck, but non-cooperation will remain.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Non-cooperation is directed not against men but against measures. It isnot directed against the Governors, but against the system they administer.

The roots of non-cooperation lies not in hatred but in justice if not inlove.


Insistence on truth can come into play when one party practices untruth

or injustice. Only then can love be tested. True friendship is put to the testonly when one party disregards the obligation of friendship.


You dont have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stopreading them.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

If we want to cultivate a true spirit of democracy we cannot afford to be

intolerant. Intolerance betrays want of faith in ones cause.


Moral authority is never retained by any attempt to hold onto it. It comes

without seeking and is retained without effort.


Adaptability is not imitation. It means power of resistance andassimilation.


It is quite proper to resist and attack a system, but to resist and attack its

author is tatamount to resisting and attacking oneself, for we are all tarredwith the same brush, and are children of one and the same Creator, and as

such the divine powers within us are infinite. To slight a single human

being, is to slight those divine powers and thus to harm not only thatBeing, but with Him, the whole world.



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If co-operation is a duty, I hold that non-co-operation also under certain

conditions is equally a duty.


I believe that cunning is not only morally wrong but also politically

expedient, and have therefore always discountenanced its use even fromthe practical standpoint.


Healthy discontent is the prelude to progress.


How can one be compelled to accept slavery? I simply refuse to do the

masters bidding. He may torture me, break my bones to atoms and evenkill me. He will then have my dead body, not my obedience. Ultimately,

therefore, it is I who am the victor and not he, for he has failed in getting

me to do what he wanted done.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Armament

Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look

upon the act depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Humility

The only virtue I want to claim is truth and non-violence. I lay no claim

to super-human powers. I want none. I wear the same corruptible flesh thatthe weakest of my fellow beings wears, and am therefore as liable to err as

any. My services have many limitations, but God has up to now blessed

them in spite of the imperfections.


I claim to be a simple individual liable to err like any other fellow mortal.

I own, however, that I have humility enough to confess my errors and to

retrace my steps.


The first condition of humaneness is a little humility and a little

diffidence about the correctness of ones conduct and a little

receptiveness.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

It is mans social nature which distinguishes him from the brute creation.

If it is his privilege to be independent , it is equally his duty to be inter-

dependent. Only an arrogant man will claim to be independent ofeverybody else and be self-contained.



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Asceticism

Man falls from the pursuit of the ideal of plain living and high thinking

the moment he wants to multiply his daily wants. Mans happiness reallylies in contentment.


As a rule, the mind, residing in a body that has become weakened by

pampering, is also weak, and where there is no strength of mind there canbe no strength of soul.


Increase of material comforts, it may be generally laid down, does not in

any way whatsoever conduce to moral growth.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Suffering cheerfully endured, ceases to be suffering and is transmutedinto an ineffable joy.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

I am a Puritan myself, but I am catholic toward others.


I would rather see the race of man extinct than that we should become

less than beasts by making the noblest of Gods creation, woman, theobject of our lust.


No sacrifice is worth the name unless it is a joy. Sacrifice and a long face

go ill together. Sacrifice is making sacred. He must be a poor specimenof humanity who is in need of sympathy for his sacrifice.


Prosletysing

We do not need to prosletyse either by our speech or by our writing. Wecan only do so really with our lives. Let our lives be open books for all to

study.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Education

Literary education is of no value, if it is not able to build up a sound

character.


There will have to be rigid and iron discipline before we achieve

anything great and enduring, and that discipline will not come by mere

academic argument and appeal to reason and logic. Discipline is learnt in


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the school of adversity.


Metaphysics and Religion

I worship God as Truth only. I have not yet found Him, but I am seekingafter Him. I am prepared to sacrifice the things dearest to me in pursuit of

this quest. Even if the sacrifice demanded by very life, I hope I may be

prepared to give it.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Power invariably elects to go into the hands of the strong. That strength

may be physical or of the heart or, if we do not fight shy of the word, of

the spirit. Strength of the heart connotes soul-force. Let it be rememberedthat physical force is transitory, even as the body is transitory. But the

power of spirit is permanent even as the spirit is everlasting.


The badge of the violent is his weapon, spear, sword or rifle. God is the

shield of the non-violent.


No religion which is narrow and which cannot satisfy the test of reason,will survive the coming reconstruction of society in which the values will

have changed and character, not possession of wealth, title or birth, will be

the test of merit.


As soon as we lose the moral basis, we cease to be religious. There is no

such thing as religion over-riding morality. Man, for instance, cannot be

untruthful, cruel or incontinent and claim to have God on his side.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Birth and death are not two different states, but they are different aspects

of the same state. There is as little reason to deplore the one as there is to

be pleased over the other.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Before the throne of the Almighty, man will be judged not by his acts,but by his intentions. For God alone reads our hearts.


It is through truth & non-violence that I can have some glimpse of God.Truth & non-violence are my God. They are the obverse and reverse of the

same coin.


Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the universe isendlessly bountiful. Just put forth a clear enough request, and everything

your heart desires must come to you.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)


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Faith must be enforced by reason when faith becomes blind it dies.


I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are sounlike your Christ.


In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in an clearer light, and

what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our lifeis a long and arduous quest after Truth.


Infinite striving to be the best is mans duty; it is its own reward.

Everything else is in Gods hands.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

It is the quality of our work which will please God and not the quantity.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

A vow is a purely religious act which cannot be taken in a fit of passion.

It can be taken only with a mind purified and composed and with God aswitness.


There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to themexcept in the form of bread.


Whenever I see an erring man, I say to myself I have also erred; when I

see a lustful man I say to myself, so was I once; and in this way I feelkinship with everyone in the world and feel that I cannot be happy without

the humblest of us being happy.


Fear of death makes us devoid both of valour and religion. For want ofvalour is want of religious faith.


Religion is a matter of the heart. No physical inconvenience can warrantabandonment of ones own religion.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Are creeds such simple things like the clothes which a man can change at

will and put on at will? Creeds are such for which people live for ages and

ages.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

I have but shadowed forth my intense longing to lose myself in the

Eternal and become merely a lump of clay in the Potters divine hands so

that my service may become more certain because uninterrupted by thebaser self in me.



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The spirit of non-violence necessarily leads to humility. Non-violence

means reliance on God, the rock of ages. If we would seek his aid, we

must approach Him with a humble and contrite heart.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

God is, even though the whole world deny him. Truth stands, even ifthere be no public support. It is self-sustained.


When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my

soul expands in the worship of the creator.


Religion is more than life. Remember that his own religion is the truest toevery man, even if it stands low in the scales of philosophical

comparison.


In nature there is a fundamental unity running through all the diversitywe see about us. Religions are given to mankind so as to accelerate the

process of realisation of fundamental unity.


I believe in absolute oneness of God and therefore also of humanity.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

My trust is solely in God. And I trust men only because I trust God. If I

had no God to rely upon, I should be like Timon, a hater of my species.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Ones own religion is after all a matter between oneself and ones Maker

and no one elses.


My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God. Non-violence is the means of realising Him.


A religion that takes no account of practical affairs and does not help tosolve them is no religion.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Every formula of every religion has in this age of reason, to submit to the

acid test of reason and universal assent.


God tries his votaries through and through but never beyond endurance.

He gives them strength enough to go through the ordeal he prescribes for

them.



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It is easy enough to say, I do not believe in God. For God permits all

things to be said of Him with impunity. he looks at our acts. And any

breach of His Law carries with it, not its vindictive, but it purifying,compelling punishment.


Human society is a ceaseless growth, and unfoldment in terms of

spirituality.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

If patience is worth anything, it must endure to the end of time. And a

living faith will last in the midst of the blackest storm.


Though we may know Him by a thousand names, He is one and the same

to us all.


I have found by experience that man makes his plans to be upset by God,but, at the same time, where the ultimate goal is the search of truth, on

matter how a mans plans are frustrated the issue is never injurious and

often better than anticipated.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

A clean confession combined with a promise never to commit the sin

again, when offered before one who has the right to receive it, is the purest

type of repentance.


Purity of personal life is the one indispensable condition for building up a

sound education.


Perfection is the exclusive attribute of God, and it is indescribable,untranslatable. I do believe that it is possible for human beings to become

perfect, even as God is perfect. It is necessary for all of us to aspire after

that perfection but when that blessed state is attained, it becomeindescribable, indefinable.


What is true of the individual will be tomorrow true of the whole nation

if individuals will but refuse to lose heart and hope.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Of all the animal creations of God, main is the only animal who has been

created in order that he may know his Maker. Mans aim is life is not

therefore to add from day to day to his material prospects and to hismaterial possessions, but his predominant calling is, from day to day to

come nearer to his own Maker.



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Humour

If I had no sense of humor, I would long ago have committed suicide.


Imitation is the sincerest flattery.~ Mahatma Gandhi (born: 1869-10-02 died: 1948-01-30 at age: 78)

Links

mkgandhi.org: quotations and information about Gandhi.

Quotations: some of my favourite quotations.

BrainyQuote: a very large collection of quotations arranged both by author and

subject.

Musings

Quotations about Patriotism Quotations about Religion

Things I wish I had learned when I was younger

Raincoast Proverbs

Enlightenment

Living Love Proverbs

Andrew G. Mulcahys sayings.

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Quotations of Mahatma Gandhi

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