The following are some famous quotes by the legend Chanakya. He was one of the most intelligent political strategists of all time offered his advice in the Arthashastra.
Chanakya was an ancient Indian polymath who was active as a teacher, author, strategist, philosopher, economist, jurist, and royal advisor. He is traditionally identified as Kauṭilya or Vishnugupta, who authored the ancient Indian political treatise, the Arthashastra, a text dated to roughly between the fourth century BCE and the third century CE. As such, he is considered the pioneer of the field of political science and economics in India, and his work is thought of as an important precursor to classical economics.His works were lost near the end of the Gupta Empire in the sixth century CE and not rediscovered until the early 20th century. Around 321 BCE, Chanakya assisted the first Mauryan emperor Chandragupta in his rise to power and is widely credited for having played an important role in the establishment of the Maurya Empire. Chanakya served as the chief advisor to both emperors Chandragupta and his son Bindusara.
1. A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are screwed first.
2. Never make friends with people who are above or below you in status. Such friendships will never give you any happiness.
3. There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth.
4. Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth.
5. A man is great by deeds, not by birth.
6. As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it.
7. Chanakya Niti: 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Chanakya Niti: The wise man should restrain his senses like the crane and accomplish his purpose with due knowledge of his place, time and ability.
11. Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions: why I am 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.
12. Once you start working on something, don’t be afraid of failure and don’t abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest.
13. If a king is energetic, his subjects will be equally energetic. If he is reckless, they will not only be reckless likewise, but also eat into his works.
14. The biggest guru-mantra is: Never share your secrets with anybody. If you cannot keep a secret with you, do not expect that others will keep it? It will destroy you.
15. One whose knowledge is confined to books and whose wealth is in the possession of others can use neither knowledge nor wealth when the need for them arises.
16. Time perfects men as well as destroys them.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. The king shall lose no time when the opportunity waited for arrives.
20. Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person.
21. A man attains greatness by his merits, not simply by occupying an exalted seat. Can we call a crow an eagle simply because he sits on the top of a tall building.
22. Sinfully acquired wealth may remain for ten years; in the eleventh year it disappears with even the original stock.
23. All the creatures are pleased by loving words; and therefore we should address words that are pleasing to all, for there is no lack of sweet words.
24. As a single withered tree, if set aflame, causes a whole forest to burn, so does a rascal son destroy a whole family.
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.
26. Drop the idea that attachment and love are one thing. They are enemies. It is attachment that destroys all love.
27. Chanakya Niti: Wealth, a friend, a wife, and a kingdom may be regained; but this body when lost may never be acquired again.
28. Poverty, disease, sorrow, imprisonment and other evils are the fruits borne by the tree of one’s own sins.
29. There are three gems upon this earth; food, water, and pleasing words — fools consider pieces of rocks as gems.
30. A learned man is honored by the people.A learned man commands respect everywhere for his learning. Indeed,learning is honored everywhere.
31. Accumulated wealth is saved by spending just as incoming fresh water is saved by letting out stagnant water.
32. Chanakya Niti: The power of a king lies in his mighty arms;that of a brahmana in his spiritual knowledge; and that of a woman in her beauty youth and sweet words.