Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings have touched the lives of so many people around the world. Known as the Father of India, he was loved for his humble simplicity and peaceful nature.
One of Mahatma Gandhi’s greatest gifts were his quotes that help us to look within and allow us to believe that true change and peace is possible.
Our list of 35 of the best Mahatma Gandhi quotes will leave you feeling motivated and inspired.
10 Facts About Mahatma Gandhi
The name ‘Mahatma’ means “Great Soul”. So it’s not surprising that Mahatma Gandhi quotes have been inspiring people for decades.
- Born in India in 1869 as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to a wealthy family, his father was a Chief Minister or ‘diwan’ and his mother was a homemaker.
- Growing up, he learned the teachings of two Indian religions, Hinduism and Jainism.
- Gandhi had an arranged marriage. He was married to his wife for 60 years until his death in 1948.
- Inspired by religious concepts, Gandhi was a vegetarian, committed to the non-injury of all living things.
- He believed in non violence, and his practice of passive resistance helped him achieve India’s independence.
- He studied law in London and attempted to start a law practice in India.
- He lived in South Africa for 21 years, where he witnessed racial discrimination by Europeans.
- Gandhi fought for Indian rights against the British Empire, leading several protests and marches against the British.
- Although Gandhi had many supporters, he had just as many that opposed him. During a prayer meeting in 1948 he was assassinated.
- His funeral was attended by more than 2 million people.
35 Mahatma Gandhi Quotes
Ready for a little inspiration? Here is a list of our 35 favorite Mahatma Gandhi quotes:
‘Be the change that you wish to see in the world.’
‘An ounce of patience is worth more than a ton of preaching.’
‘A man is but a product of his thoughts. What he thinks he becomes.’
‘In a gentle way, you can shake the world.’
‘Where there is love there is life.’
‘Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.’
‘An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.’
‘See the good in people and help them.’
‘You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.’
‘The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong.’
‘Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.’
‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.’
‘Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.’
‘Peace is its own reward.’
‘To believe in something, and to not live it, is dishonest.’
‘It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there’ll be any fruit. But that doesn’t mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your actions. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.’
‘Whatever you do may seem insignificant to you, but it is most important that you do it.’
‘If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children.’
‘The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.’
‘Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances.’
‘Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.’
‘Gentleness, self-sacrifice, and generosity are the exclusive possession of no one race or religion.’
‘It’s easy to stand in the crowd but it takes courage to stand alone.’
‘Speak only if it improves upon the silence.’
‘Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment.’
‘Knowledge gained through experience is far superior and many times more useful than bookish knowledge.’
‘Relationships are based on four principles: respect, understanding, acceptance, and appreciation.’
‘The real love is to love those that hate you, to love your neighbor even though you distrust him.’
‘There are two days in the year that we can not do anything, yesterday and tomorrow.’
‘In doing something, do it with love or never do it at all.’
‘When you are right, you have no need to be angry. When you are wrong, you have no right to be angry.’
‘It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.
‘What barrier is there that love cannot break?’
‘Carefully watch your thoughts, for they become your words. Manage and watch your words, for they will become your actions. Consider and judge your actions, for they have become your habits. Acknowledge and watch your habits, for they shall become your values. Understand and embrace your values, for they become your destiny.’
‘It’s not too late at all. You just don’t yet know what you are capable of.’
These Mahatma Gandhi quotes are an enduring message of peace and are sure to help keep you going through even the hardest times.
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