Quotes by Mahatma Gandhi
“Civilization is the encouragement of differences.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Of all the evils for which man has made himself responsible, none is so degrading, so shocking or so brutal as his abuse of the better half of humanity; the female sex.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
Mahatma Gandhi has, and continues to, offer inspiration to people around the world. His commitment to truth, justice and his own profound spirituality made him one of the most pivotal characters of his time.
Today, Mahatma Gandhi quotes are still widely used, in education curriculum, religious and spiritual communities and as a way of offering hope to those in times of need.
As well as having a huge impact on the world, Gandhi led a remarkable life and achieved many things during his lifetime.
“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“I can retain neither respect nor affection for government which has been moving from wrong to wrong in order to defend its immorality”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Peace between countries must rest on the solid foundation of love between individuals.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“(When asked what he thought of Western civilization): 'I think it would be a good idea.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“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 may be.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Action expresses priorities.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
The Beginning
Born in Porbandar in 1869, Gandhi’s father was the community’s high official (Diwan) and was extremely well thought of. Gandhi’s mother was wife number four for his father, who had lost his three previous wives during childbirth.
Quotes by Mahatma Gandhi from his autobiography indicate that he had an active imagination as a young child.
An inquisitive mind, Gandhi was introduced to many classic Indian stories, of which Mahatma Gandhi quotes King Harishchandra and Shravana as being particularly influential on the way he viewed truth and love as values.
In spring of 1883, and down to his parents’ arrangements, Gandhi married 14-year old Kasturbia Makhanji; he was just 13-years old at the time. Quotations from Mahatma Gandhi remember the day with fondness, although he noted neither he nor his bride were aware of how truly monumental the occasion was for them. Instead, both were more interested in the new clothes they had been given and the fact they could eat as many sweet treats as they liked.
The following year life played a cruel trick, when Gandhi and Kasturbi’s first-born son died a few days after birth. Gandhi’s father died just a couple of months after his grandson.
The couple did go on to have four children over a 13-year time span - all boys too.
Mahatma Gandhi quotes the year following his arranged marriage and the subsequent death of his son as being the reason his education took a back seat.
However, this temporary lack of enthusiasm for learning did not last and eventually Gandhi went on to further education and even University.
“Where there is love, there is life”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“The future depends on what you do today.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“They cannot take away our self respect if we do not give it to them.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“In doing something, do it with love or never do it at all.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“The Roots of Violence: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without morality, Science without humanity, Worship without sacrifice, Politics without principles."
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Silence becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Nothing is so aggravating as calmness.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“True morality consists not in following the beaten track, but in finding the true path for ourselves, and fearlessly following it.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Do not crave to know the views of others, nor base your intent thereon. To think independently for yourself is a sign of fearlessness.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
A Truly Remarkable Career
Upon leaving University, Gandhi decided to travel to London where he would train as a barrister. Quotes by Mahatma Gandhi reveal his career choice was largely influenced by his family, who wanted him to have as much chance as possible of obtaining his father’s high official role.
Gandhi’s mother was nervous about him travelling to London and before he left, she made him swear a solemn vow – to renounce alcohol, promiscuity and meat- in front of her and a Jain monk.
Gandhi’s culture shock on his arrival in London was short-lived and it was not long before he was immersing himself in local life – even taking up dancing lessons in order to meet new people.
Despite his willingness to integrate, Mahatma Gandhi quotes in his autobiography that the vow he had taken “was never far from my mind”.
One thing that Gandhi was not impressed by in London was the distinct lack of “tasty” vegetarian meals. On the advice of a friend, Gandhi joined the Vegetarian Society and through this, met with a group of people who encouraged him to take part in the study of Buddhist and Hindu literature with them. Spiritual quotes by Mahatma Gandhi suggest this was his defining moment as far as religion was concerned, as he had previously shown no religious interest whatsoever.
Gandhi left London to return to India in 1891, where he was met with the devastating news that his mother had died some months earlier and his family had conspired to keep it from him. Mahatma Gandhi quotes this period of his life as being the darkest, as he had to grieve for his mother and come to terms with his family’s betrayal.
Gandhi spent an unhappy eighteen months desperately trying to get his own law firm off the ground. Quotes from people who were closest to him told how shy he was, so shy he was often worried about talking in front of others in court.
After failing to establish his own firm and a job at another firm going wrong, Gandhi accepted a job offer from an Indian firm based in South Africa – and so he moved again. South Africa was Gandhi’s training ground, as Mahatma Gandhi quotes himself “South Africa was largely responsible for the development of my ethics, religious beliefs, political views and leadership skills."
Ghandi had also, by his own admission, been completely unaware of the discrimination many Indians and Muslims faced on a regular basis.
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Men often become what they believe themselves to be. If I believe I cannot do something,it makes me incapable of doing it. When I believe I can,I acquire
the ability to do it even if I didn’t have it in the beginning.’
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Love is the strongest force the world possesses.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“If you want something really important to be done you must not merely satisfy the reason, you must move the heart also.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Don't talk about it. The rose doesn't have to propagate its perfume. It just gives it forth, and people are drawn to it. Live it, and people will come to see the source of your power.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Compassion is a muscle that gets stronger with use.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Truth resides in every human heart,
and one has to search for it there,
and to be guided by truth as one sees it.
But no one has a right to coerce others
to act according to his own view of truth.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“It is wrong and immoral to seek to escape the consequences of one's acts.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“There are many causes I would die for. There is not a single cause I would kill for.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“God has no religion.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
Achievements and Memorable Moments
Mahatma Gandhi quotes several events in his autobiography as being responsible for the shaping of his life.
The first was when he was literally thrown off a train for refusing to move from first class. Gandhi protested, insisting he would take the case of discrimination as far as he could. He was eventually allowed to travel, although he was to receive a beating from the driver when he refused to stand up for a Caucasian passenger.
Gandhi was shocked at the level of discrimination towards colored people. As well as these, Gandhi was asked several times to remove his turban in public places and he was beaten up several times, usually when he spoke up about the discrimination he had experienced.
Gandhi decided that rather than return to India – he was going to stay on in South Africa and help the Muslims stop a bill being passed that would see them lose their right to vote. Mahatma Gandhi quotes reveal that, while he was not successful in stopping the bill, he unified the Indian community in South Africa.
Gandhi founded the Natal Indian Congress in 1894 and was soon responsible for shaping a powerful political force. All this despite Gandhi’s claims that politics were of no real interest to him. “If I seem to take part in politics, it is only because politics encircles us today” a Mahatma Gandhi quote reveals his true feelings in an 1895 speech.
Gandhi became the epitome of non-violent protests, encouraging Indians to make their feelings clear by refusing to obey discriminatory rules and engaging in other forms of peaceful resistance.
Unfortunately, Gandhi and his supporters were repressed, usually in the most violent way possible and Gandhi experienced several sentences in prison. Quotations by Mahatma Gandhi during his incarcerations show his interest in politics increasing, as he thought to rid the world of white supremacy.
One of Gandhi’s finest moments came in 1900 when, in a bid to prove to the British that Muslim men were just as capable of physical labor as a white man was, Gandhi organized a group of ambulance drivers. These men carried and treated wounded British soldiers – and bridges began to build.
In 1906 with the British at war with the Zulu kingdom, Mahatma Gandhi quotes this time as his most passionate learning experience. He apparently learnt that directly challenging a powerful authority was futile and instead change would only be brought about by peaceful protests made by those who were pure of heart. Some of the most inspirational quotes from Gandhi come from this time, where it was obvious he was trying to accept humanity –flaws and all- without letting it put him off living as purely as possible.
Gandhi was given national hero status, when the black majority finally came into power.
India saw a different man to the one who had left nearly 20 years before. Gandhi went on to become an important and dominant figure in Indian politics and his doctrine of peaceful protest is still obeyed and respected today.
Gandhi went on to lead a peaceful protest, “March to the Sea”, where he led thousands of people to the ocean in a bid to make their own salt from saltwater – a direct protest to the recent announcement that salt was to be taxed.
As well as representing the Indian National Congress, Gandhi negotiated with the British regarding the Mountbatten Plan – which would eventually lead to India and Pakistan becoming two separate states.
Read more about Mahatma Gandhi and his works here.
“The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way it treats its animals” ~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Truth never damages a cause that is just.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the culture of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“There would be nothing to frighten you if you refused to be afraid.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“I should love to satisfy all, if I possibly can; but in trying to satisfy all, I may be able to satisfy none. I have, therefore, arrived at the conclusion that the best course is to satisfy one’s own conscience and leave the world to form its own judgment, favorable or otherwise.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
Gandhi Fans and Critics
Gandhi most certainly had his fair share of critics; in fact, he was seen as something of an irritation to anyone who was not involved in Gandhi’s work.
Quotes by Mahatma Gandhi reveal the depth of feeling against him, and he recognised that he often walked a fine line between friend and enemy on both sides of the camp.
Gandhi bore no ill will towards his critics, despite being on the receiving end of beatings, jail sentences and other discrimination.
His peaceful nature and belief that everyone could live together harmoniously was backed by the belief that his violent opponents operated on ignorance and anger – which they did not understand.
Gandhi always said that his work, whether it was a silent protest or tending to the ill or wounded, was always made worth it by the average people he came across every day. He was always quick to point out that he did not touch people’s lives but rather they touched his – many of whom left an indelible mark.
“Even if you are in the minority of one, the truth is the truth”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Terrorism and deception are weapons not of the strong, but of the weak.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does the truth become error because nobody will see it."
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Anger and intolerance are the twin enemies of correct understanding.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
"Faith is not something to grasp, it is a state to grow into.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
The End
Tragically, for a man who had led his life being the voice of non-violence and peaceful protest, Gandhi’s life was taken in a particularly violent way – when he was assassinated in 1948.
The reason for his assassination has been attributed to the fact he tried to stop the Hindu-Muslim conflict that had risen following independence. This policy saw Gandhi lose his life for the cause in Delhi.
However, even now Mahatma Gandhi quotes, along with his belief in simple living and commitment to non-violent confrontation still offer the oppressed the gift of hope.
This seemingly average person, described as shy and introvert by his family, was and to some extent remains one of the world’s most influential people.
“In fact, it is more correct to say that Truth is God, than to say that God is Truth.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“True love is boundless like the ocean and, swelling within one, spreads itself out and, crossing all boundaries and frontiers, envelops the whole world.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“There is force in the universe, which, if we permit it, will flow through us and produce miraculous results.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
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