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Kautilya Quotes

A collection of quotes of Kautilya

Kautilya was an ancient Indian philosopher, economist, and statesman who authored the Arthashastra, an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy.

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.

Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth.

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

Test a servant while in the discharge of his duty, a relative in difficulty, a friend in adversity, and a wife in misfortune.

As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it.

There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth.

He who is overly attached to his family members experiences fear and sorrow, for the root of all grief is attachment. Thus one should discard attachment to be happy.

The world’s biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman.

Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown-up children are your best friends.

A man is great by deeds, not by birth.

Wealth, a friend, a wife, and a kingdom may be regained, but this body when lost may never be acquired again.

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.

God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god. The soul is your temple.

Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person.

There is no austerity equal to a balanced mind, and there is no happiness equal to contentment; there is no disease like covetousness, and no virtue like mercy.

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

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

There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth.

One should not discharge an arrow against one who is unperceived, against one who is in distress, against one who is engaged in battle, against one who is in captivity, or against one who is devoted to study of the Vedas.

We should not fret for what is past, nor should we be anxious about the future, men of discernment deal only with the present moment.

He who is overly attached to his family members experiences fear and sorrow, for the root of all grief is attachment. Thus one should discard attachment to be happy.

The wise man should restrain his senses like the crane and accomplish his purpose with due knowledge of his place, time, and ability.

A man is born alone and dies alone; and he experiences the good and bad consequences of his karma alone; and he goes alone to hell or the Supreme abode.

The world's biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman.

Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth.

As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it.

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

The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all directions.

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.

God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god. The soul is your temple.

There is no austerity equal to a balanced mind, and there is no happiness equal to contentment; there is no disease like covetousness, and no virtue like mercy.

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

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

There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth.

One should not discharge an arrow against one who is unperceived, against one who is in distress, against one who is engaged in battle, against one who is in captivity, or against one who is devoted to study of the Vedas.

We should not fret for what is past, nor should we be anxious about the future, men of discernment deal only with the present moment.

He who is overly attached to his family members experiences fear and sorrow, for the root of all grief is attachment. Thus one should discard attachment to be happy.

The wise man should restrain his senses like the crane and accomplish his purpose with due knowledge of his place, time, and ability.

A man is born alone and dies alone; and he experiences the good and bad consequences of his karma alone; and he goes alone to hell or the Supreme abode.

The world's biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman.

Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth.

As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it.

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

The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all directions.

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.

God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god. The soul is your temple.

There is no austerity equal to a balanced mind, and there is no happiness equal to contentment; there is no disease like covetousness, and no virtue like mercy.

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

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

There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth.

That mother and that father are enemies, who do not give education to their children.

Wealth will desert the childish man who always consults the stars.

Even the fangless serpent should raise its hood, for with or without poison, a raised hood is frightening.

The fish, the toad and the birds protect their infants by sight, thought and touch – so do good men.

Anger is the origin of all legal disputes...murder also results from anger.

These quotes encapsulate Kautilya's wisdom on various aspects of life, governance, and human nature.

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