26 Quotes & Sayings By Chanakya

Chanakya was a great thinker and a great strategist who preached the philosophy of action. Chanakya was a mentor to Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan Dynasty, who became a great warrior and also a great administrator. Chanakya is credited for giving a revolution in political science and military science. He was born in Pataliya, which is now in modern-day Uttar Pradesh Read more

He was from the Shunga Dynasty that ruled Hastinapur. He was one of the most brilliant strategists and philosophers of ancient India, who were all advocates of the Hindu philosophy of action. Chanakya is credited with being a pioneer in politics, economics, warfare, strategy and computer science.

Even today, he is regarded as one of India's greatest thinkers and philosophers.

1
That man who is without religion and mercy should be rejected. A guru without spiritual knowledge should be rejected. The wife with an offensive face should be given up and so should relatives who are without affection. Chanakya
2
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. Chanakya
3
Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions - Why am I doing it, What the results might be and Will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead. Chanakya
4
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? Chanakya
5
Never make friends with people who are above or below you in status. Such friendships will never give you any happiness. Chanakya
6
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. Chanakya
7
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. Chanakya
8
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. Chanakya
9
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. Chanakya
10
As a single withered tree, if set aflame, causes a whole forest to burn, so does a rascal son destroy a whole family. Chanakya
11
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. Chanakya
12
Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth. Chanakya
13
The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all directions. Chanakya
14
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. Chanakya
15
The world's biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman. Chanakya
16
God doesn't dwell in the wooden, stony or earthen idols. His abode is in our feelings, our thoughts. Chanakya
17
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. Chanakya
18
The wise man should restrain his senses like the crane and accomplish his purpose with due knowledge of his place, time and ability. Chanakya
19
As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it. Chanakya
20
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. Chanakya
21
There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth. Chanakya
22
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. Chanakya
23
A man is great by deeds, not by birth. Chanakya
24
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. Chanakya
25
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. Chanakya