Chanakya was a major Hindu philosopher around 300 BCE who wrote “Artha-shastra” a big book on politics and success.
Born into a learned family he was well-educated and knew about medicine, astrology and even some foreign ideas.
He helped Chandragupta create a strong Indian empire by beating the Nandas.
Chanakya’s book which got lost and was found in 1905 guided Chandragupta with tough political strategies like spying and secret killings.
People compare Chanakya to Machiavelli and ancient philosophers like Aristotle for his clever but sometimes harsh political moves that shaped a well-run empire.
Here are some inspiring quotes by Chanakya.
Best Chanakya Quotes
1. “The biggest guru-mantra is: never share your secrets with anybody. It will destroy you.” ~ (Chanakya).
2. “As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it.” ~ (Chanakya).
3. “God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god. The soul is your temple.” ~ (Chanakya).
4. “The world’s biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman.” ~ Chanakya.
5. “One who can’t determine his goals; cannot win.” ~ Chanakya.
6. “No one can defeat a powerful mind.” ~ Chanakya.
7. “There is no present and future of the lazy.” ~ Chanakya.
8. “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.” ~ (Chanakya).
9. “A man is great by deeds, not by birth.” ~ (Chanakya).
10. “Do not reveal what you have thought upon doing, but by wise counsel keep it secret being determined to carry it into execution.” ~ (Chanakya).
11. “He who gives up shyness in monetary dealings, in acquiring knowledge, in eating and in business, becomes happy.” ~ (Chanakya).
Popular Chanakya Quotes
12. “There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth.” ~ (Chanakya).
13. “Enemies strike at weak points.” ~ (Chanakya).
14. “A person becomes great not by sitting on some high seat, but through higher qualities. A crow does not become an eagle by simply sitting on the top of a palatial building.” ~ (Chanakya).
15. “Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous.” ~ (Chanakya).
16. “The one excellent thing that can be learned from a lion is that whatever a man intends doing should be done by him with a whole-hearted and strenuous effort.” ~ (Chanakya).
17. “Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth.” ~ (Chanakya).
18. “Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person.” ~ (Chanakya).
19. “The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction.” ~ (Chanakya).
20. “Once you start a working on something, don’t be afraid of failure and don’t abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest.” ~ (Chanakya).
Top Chanakya Quotes
21. “A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are screwed first.” ~ (Chanakya).
22. “Time perfects men as well as destroys them.” ~ (Chanakya).
23. “People’s Fury is above all the furies.” ~ (Chanakya).
24. “Never make friends with people who are above or below you in status. Such friendships will never give you any happiness.” ~ (Chanakya).
25. “A debt should be paid off till the last penny; An enemy should be destroyed without a trace.” ~ (Chanakya).
26. “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.” ~ (Chanakya).
27. “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.” ~ (Chanakya).
28. “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.” ~ (Chanakya).
29. “Let not a single day pass without your learning a verse, half a verse, or a fourth of it, or even one letter of it; nor without attending to charity, study and other pious activity.” ~ (Chanakya).
30. “Skills are called hidden treasure as they save like a mother in a foreign country.” ~ (Chanakya).
31. “Knowledge is lost without putting it into practice; a man is lost due to ignorance; an army is lost without a commander; and a woman is lost without a husband.” ~ (Chanakya).
Famous Chanakya Quotes
32. “A permanent relationship is dependent on particular purpose or wealth.” ~ (Chanakya).
33. “In trans-border relations, there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies or even permanent borders. There are only permanent interests and everything should be done to secure these interests.” ~ (Chanakya).
34. “Time perfects all living beings as well as kills them; it alone is awake when all others are asleep. Time is insurmountable.” ~ (Chanakya).
35. “There is no disease so destructive as lust.” ~ (Chanakya).
36. “Our bodies are perishable, wealth is not at all permanent and death is always nearby. Therefore we must immediately engage in acts of merit.” ~ (Chanakya).
37. “The disgrace of one’s people brings sorrow to the Nobel minded.” ~ (Chanakya).
38. “Rain which falls upon the sea is useless; so is food for one who is satiated; in vain is a gift for one who is wealthy; and a burning lamp during the daytime is useless.” ~ (Chanakya).
39. “Poverty, disease, sorrow, imprisonment and other evils are the fruits borne by the tree of one’s own sins.” ~ (Chanakya).
Inspirational Chanakya Quotes
40. “The learned are envied by the foolish; rich men by the poor; chaste women by adulteresses; and beautiful ladies by ugly ones.” ~ (Chanakya).
41. “If a king is energetic, his subjects will be equally energetic.” ~ (Chanakya).
42. “He who loses his money is forsaken by his friends, his wife, his servants and his relations; yet when he regains his riches those who have forsaken him come back to him. Hence wealth is certainly the best of relations.” ~ (Chanakya).
43. “He whose son is obedient to him, whose wife’s conduct is in accordance with his wishes, and who is content with his riches, has his heaven here on earth.” ~ (Chanakya).
44. “Water is the medicine for indigestion; it is invigorating when the food that is eaten is well digested; it is like nectar when drunk in the middle of a dinner; and it is like poison when taken at the end of a meal.” ~ (Chanakya).
Great Chanakya Quotes
45. “Although an ass is tired, he continues to carry his burden; he is unmindful of cold and heat; and he is always contented; these three things should be learned from the ass.” ~ (Chanakya).
46. “One whose knowledge is confined to books and whose wealth is in the possession of others, can use neither his knowledge nor wealth when the need for them arises.” ~ (Chanakya).
47. “Beauty is spoiled by an immoral nature; noble birth by bad conduct; learning, without being perfected; and wealth by not being properly utilised.” ~ (Chanakya).
48. “Learning is like a cow of desire. It, like her, yields in all seasons. Like a mother, it feeds you on your journey. Therefore learning is a hidden treasure.” ~ (Chanakya).
49. “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.” ~ (Chanakya).
50. “A father who is a chronic debtor, an adulterous mother, a beautiful wife, and an unlearned son are enemies in one’s own home.” ~ (Chanakya).
Inspiring Chanakya Quotes
51. “A person who cannot decide his goal, simply cannot win.” ~ Chanakya.
52. “Never settle for anything less than what you deserve. It’s not pride, it’s self respect.” ~ Chanakya.
53. “Humbleness is at the root of self control.” ~ Chanakya.
54. “Your feelings are your god.” ~ (Chanakya).
55. “Education beats the beauty and the youth.” ~ (Chanakya).
56. “Till the enemy’s weakness is known, he should be kept on friendly terms.” ~ (Chanakya).
57. “Good behavior wins even an enemy.” ~ (Chanakya).
