Mahatma Gandhi

Quotes are word for word from the source.

• Striving for ideals

  “We should keep this ideal constantly before us, and try to approximate to it more and more to the utmost of our capacity.”

  Our noteGandhi explains how to approach the difficult ideal of self-control in daily life.

• Immediate benefits of change

  “The earnest man who, forgetting the errors of the past, begins to live a life of purity will be able to reap the fruit of it straightway.”

  Our noteHe encourages readers that starting a disciplined life brings immediate positive results.

• Overcoming Difficulties

  “This is a hard thing to do, but we have been born into this world that we might wrestle with difficulties and temptations, and conquer them”

  Our noteGandhi discusses the necessity of self-discipline and overcoming natural temptations to achieve health.

• Strict Adherence

  “The more strictly, however, we observe the laws which have been explained in this book, the more shall we be free from disease.”

  Our noteHe emphasizes that following fundamental health principles leads to freedom from physical ailments.

• Cost of delay

  “Otherwise, much precious time may be wasted in cases (as of scorpion-sting) where delay would be dangerous.”

  Our noteHe warns that lack of preparation leads to dangerous delays in critical moments.

• Challenging common beliefs

  “It is a mere superstition that a weak man will get weaker by starving.”

  Our noteGandhi challenges the conventional wisdom regarding nutrition and recovery during illness.

• Obedience and conviction

  “those who have neither definite views on the subject nor courage enough to stand up for their convictions should no doubt obey the laws of the state”

  Our noteGandhi explains that those without a strong personal conviction should follow established laws.

• Root cause analysis

  “The only sound system of treatment is that which attempts to remove the root-causes of disease by a strict observance of the fundamental laws of health.”

  Our noteGandhi explains that true healing comes from addressing the source of a problem rather than just symptoms.

• Natural simplicity

  “Our attempt to enhance by such ridiculous means the beauty that Nature has given, only bespeaks our vanity and ignorance.”

  Our noteGandhi criticizes the practice of dressing children in ornate clothes and jewelry as a sign of parental vanity.

• Early education

  “We should always remember that the education of the child really begins from its very birth, and is best given by the parents themselves.”

  Our noteGandhi emphasizes that parents are the primary and most important educators of their children.

• Transparency in practice

  “There is nothing reserved and nothing secret in it. A portion of the whole theory of life described in 'Hind Swaraj' is undoubtedly being carried into practice.”

  Our noteGandhi addresses critics who suggested he had a secret agenda.

• Soul force

  “It replaces violence with self-sacrifice. It pits soul force against brute force.”

  Our noteGandhi describes the essence of his non-violent approach.

• Limiting indulgence

  “The more we indulge our passions, the more unbridled they become. Our ancestors, therefore, set a limit to our indulgences.”

  Our noteHe argues that self-control is the foundation of a stable and moral society.

• Fair means and results

  “I wish only to show that only fair means can produce fair results, and that, at least in the majority of cases, if not, indeed, in all, the force of love and pity is infinitely greater than the force of arms.”

  Our noteGandhi explains why the method used to achieve a goal determines the quality of the outcome.

• Nature of history

  “History, then, is a record of an interruption of the course of nature. Soul-force, being natural, is not noted in history.”

  Our noteGandhi argues that peace is the natural state, while history only records the exceptions of conflict.

• Leading by example

  “we should do what we know to be right, and that others will do it when they see the way”

  Our noteGandhi argues against waiting for others to act first when you already know the right course of action.

• Thorough observation

  “I have naturally made as critical observations as I could. I have fairly covered the majority of railway systems during this period.”

  Our noteHe emphasizes the importance of gathering comprehensive data through personal experience.

• Customer cross-subsidization

  “It is a known fact that the third class traffic pays for the ever-increasing luxuries of first and second class travelling.”

  Our noteHe points out that the most neglected customers are often the ones funding the business.

• The Personal Equation

  “I, who was able to watch the efforts, had no hesitation in inferring that the personal equation counted for success in the one and failure in the other instance.”

  Our noteGandhi observes that the success of cooperative efforts depends more on the individual leader than the system.

• Authentic Brand Identity

  “The fact is that I wear the national dress because it is the most natural and the most becoming for an Indian.”

  Our noteGandhi explains why he chooses traditional Indian attire over Western clothing.

• Radical transparency

  “Facts we would always place before our readers, whether they are palatable or not, and it is by placing them constantly before the public in their nakedness that the misunderstanding between the two communities in South Africa can be removed.”

  Our noteExplaining how publishing raw facts can resolve social misunderstandings.

• Individual conscience

  “In matters of conscience, the law of majority has no place.”

  Our noteAsserting that personal integrity outweighs popular opinion.

• Duty to resist

  “Non-cooperation with evil is as much a duty as is cooperation with good.”

  Our noteExplaining the moral necessity of refusing to participate in harmful systems.

• Believing in dreams

  “Always believe in your dreams, because if you don't, you'll still have hope.”

  Our noteA short encouragement regarding personal vision and hope.

• Service to others

  “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

  Our noteHe was discussing how man becomes great through working for the welfare of fellow men.

• No forced compliance

  “It is not possible to make a person or society non-violent by compulsion.”

  Our noteStating that true change and values cannot be forced upon others.

• Strategic yielding

  “Resistance will only rouse their suspicion and strengthen their opposition. A satyagrahi resists when there is threat of force behind obstruction.”

  Our noteGandhi explains his sensible and practical point of view on non-violence.

• Power of mission

  “A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.”

  Our noteDiscussing how a small group can impact the world.

• Paying the price

  “Hitler is awake all the 24 hours of the day in perfecting his sadhana. He wins because he pays the price. His inventions surprise his enemies.”

  Our noteDiscussing the discipline and single-mindedness required to achieve any great goal.

• Avoid hasty generalizations

  “A seeker after Truth cannot afford to indulge in generalisation. Darwin for the greater part of his book Origin of the Species [sic] has simply massed fact upon fact without any theorising”

  Our noteEmphasizing the importance of factual evidence over broad theoretical claims.