Quotes from Indira Gandhi

Wearing khadi was a badge of honour. It was something one was proud to do.

There exists no politician in India daring enough to attempt to explain to the masses that cows can be eaten.

I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles but today it means getting along with people.

The purpose of life is to believe, to hope, and to strive.

I don't mind if my life goes in the service of the nation. If I die, every drop of my blood will invigorate the nation.

I am not a person to be pressured - by anybody or any nation.

Life is a continuous process of adjustment.

People with clenched fists can not shake hands.

Being prime minister isn't the only job in life! As far as I'm concerned, I could live in a village and be satisfied.

Now I don't get upset by unpleasant things, I don't play the victim, and I'm always ready to come to terms with life.

There are grave misgivings that the discussion on ecology may be designed to distract attention from the problems of war and poverty.

If I see something dirty or untidy, I have to clean it up.

My son had nothing to do with policy or decision making, nor did I discuss the elections or any other matter with him.

This is why we feel that democracy's important: because democracy allows you to have small explosions and therefore avoid the bigger explosions.

In an underdeveloped society, the first anxiety is of infant mortality. In an advanced one it is to keep alive the aged.

We have to prove to the disinherited majority of the world that ecology and conservation will not work against their interest but will bring an improvement in their lives.

The people have nothing to fear of me; people have never feared me.

I have lived a long life, and I am proud that I spend the whole of my life in the service of my people. I am only proud of this and nothing else. I shall continue to serve until my last breath, and when I die, I can say, that every drop of my blood will invigorate India and strengthen it.

People tend to forget their duties but remember their rights.

Let's not forget that in India the symbol of strength is a woman; the goddess Shakti.

A nation' s strength ultimately consists in what it can do on its own, and not in what it can borrow from others.

... where does strength come from? It is not muscle strength any more. It is not also mere intellectual strength. What is strength? Strength is the support of the people.

In fact the communists gained strength in India when the people thought my party was moving to the right. And they were correct.

I certainly won't have an empty life!