Quotes from Chanakya

God doesn't dwell in the wooden, stony or earthen idols. His abode is in our feelings, our thoughts.

At the time of the pralaya (universal destruction) the oceans are to exceed their limits and seek to change, but a saintly man never changes.

The king shall lose no time when the opportunity waited for arrives.

Love is indicated by deeds (and not by words)

O wise man! Give your wealth only to the worthy and never to others. The water of the sea received by the clouds is always sweet.

The forest fire burns even tree like sandalwood.

Do not be very upright in your dealings for you would see by going to the forest that straight trees are cut down while crooked ones are left standing.

Poverty, disease, sorrow, imprisonment and other evils are the fruits borne by the tree of one's own sins.

This world is a bitter tree, it has only two sweet nectar like fruits - one is soft voice and the other is company of gentlemen.

As a single withered tree, if set aflame, causes a whole forest to burn, so does a rascal son destroy a whole family.

Virtuous persons and fruit-laden trees bow, but fools and dry sticks break because they do not bend.

Do not put your trust in a bad companion nor even trust an ordinary friend, for if he should get angry with you, he may bring all your secrets to light.

An egoist can be won over by being respected, a crazy person can be won over by allowing him to behave in an insane manner and a wise person can be won over by truth.

A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are screwed first.

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.

Avoid him who talks sweetly before you but tries to ruin you behind your back, for he is like a pitcher of poison with milk on top.

Do not reveal what you have thought upon doing, but by wise council keep it secret being determined to carry it into execution.

Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous.

What good can the scriptures do to a man who has no sense of his own? Of what use is as mirror to a blind man?

Low class men desire wealth;middle class men both wealth and respect; but the noble, honour only; hence honour is the noble man's true wealth.

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?

Purity of speech, of the mind, of the senses, and of a compassionate heart are needed by one who desires to rise to the divine platform.

Learning is a friend on the journey; a wife in the house; medicine in sickness; and religious merit is the only friend after death.

As a calf follows its mother among a thousand cows, so the (good or bad) deeds of a man follow him.