Quotes from Indira Gandhi

Martyrdom does not end something, it only a beginning.

On the one hand, the rich look askance at our continuing poverty - on the other, they warn us against their own methods.

I do not like carving the world into segments; we are one world.

Yes, he [Mahatma Gandhi] was a great man. However...between me and Gandhi there was never the understanding there was between me and my father.

If by religion we mean a belief in humanity rather than the gods, an effort to make man better and a little happier, then yes, I'm very religious.

My father was a saint. He was the closest thing to a saint that you can find in a normal man.

We should not mourn for men of high ideals. Rather we should rejoice that we had the privilege of having had them with us, to inspire us by their radiant personalities.

To be a mother, a housewife, never cost me any sacrifice - I savored every minute of those years.

I was a perfect housewife. Being a mother has always been the job I liked best. Absolutely.

We would rather starve than sell our national honor.

We know very well that India's destiny is linked to world peace.

That's always been my philosophy. - I've never thought of the consequences of a necessary action.

To me the function of politics is to make possible the desirable.

Politics is the art of acquiring, holding, and wielding power.

My father was prime minister, and to take care of his home, to be his hostess, automatically meant to have my hands in politics - to meet people, to know their games, their secrets.

Politics...You see, it depends on what kind of politics. What we did during my father's generation was a duty. And it was beautiful because its goal was the conquest of freedom.

I don't care if I remain prime minister. I'm only interested in doing a good job as long as I'm capable and for as long as I don't get tired.

There are moments in history when brooding tragedy and its dark shadows can be lightened by recalling great moments of the past.

There are only moments of happiness - from contentment to ecstacy.

If by happiness you mean instead an ordinary contentment, then yes - I'm fairly contented. Not satisfied - contented.

Home is wherever I go.

I'm told [ Zulfikar Ali] Bhutto is ambitious. I hope he's very ambitious; ambition may help him see reality.

Even if I died in the service of the nation, I would be proud of it. Every drop of my blood... will contribute to the growth of this nation and to make it strong and dynamic.

We do not wish to impoverish the environment any further, and yet we cannot for a moment forget the grim poverty of large numbers of people. Are not poverty and need the greatest polluters?