Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was an aerospace scientist who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. He played a leading role in the development of India’s missile and nuclear weapons programs. Greatest A. P. J. Abdul Kalam quotes will inspire, motivate, and encourage you to think beyond the box and take the actions necessary for dream, love and education.
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Most Famous A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Quotes
If you want to shine like a sun, first burn like a sun. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Small aim is a crime. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
There are a number of women who have brought about immense change in society. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Teaching is a very noble profession that shapes the character, caliber, and future of an individual. If the people remember me as a good teacher, that will be the biggest honor for me. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Real education enhances the dignity of a human being and increases his or her self-respect. If only the real sense of education could be realized by each individual and carried forward in every field of human activity, the world will be so much a better place to live in. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Great dreams of great dreamers are always transcended. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
When we tackle obstacles, we find hidden reserves of courage and resilience we did not know we had. And it is only when we are faced with failure do we realize that these resources were always there within us. We only need to find them and move on with our lives. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
My 2020 Vision for India is to transform it into a developed nation. That cannot be abstract; it is a lifeline. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
The world has today 546 nuclear plants generating electricity. Their experience is being continuously researched, and feedback should be provided to all. Nuclear scientists have to interact with the people of the nation, and academic institutions continuously update nuclear power generation technology and safety. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
The bird is powered by its own life and by its motivation. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
It’s when children are 15, 16 or 17 that they decide whether they want to be a doctor, an engineer, a politician or go to the Mars or moon. That is the time they start having a dream, and that’s the time you can work on them. You can help them shape their dreams. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
My view is that at a younger age your optimism is more, and you have more imagination etc. You have less bias. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Today, India is a nuclear weapons state. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Nations consist of people. And with their effort, a nation can accomplish all it could ever want. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
For success of any mission, it is necessary to have creative leadership. Creative leadership is vital for government, non-governmental organisations as well as for industries. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
We should not give up and we should not allow the problem to defeat us. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
I was a disadvantaged child from a non-educated family, yet I had the advantage of being in the company of great teachers. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
I love the sea. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
To succeed in your mission, you must have single-minded devotion to your goal. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
One of the very important characteristics of a student is to question. Let the students ask questions. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
If we are not free, no one will respect us. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
If you fail, never give up because FAIL means “First Attempt In Learning”. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Don’t take rest after your first victory because if you fail in second, more lips are waiting to say that your first victory was just luck. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Never stop fighting until you arrive at your destined place – that is, the unique you. Have an aim in life, continuously acquire knowledge, work hard, and have perseverance to realise the great life. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
The wealth of information now available at the click of a finger amazes me. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Life is a difficult game. You can win it only by retaining your birthright to be a person. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
To become ‘unique,’ the challenge is to fight the hardest battle which anyone can imagine until you reach your destination. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Do we not realize that self respect comes with self reliance? – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
You should not give up and we should not allow the problem to defeat us. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
The Bay of Bengal is hit frequently by cyclones. The months of November and May, in particular, are dangerous in this regard. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
God is everywhere. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
For me, there is no such thing as a negative experience. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Man needs his difficulties because they are necessary to enjoy success. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Creativity is seeing the same thing but thinking differently. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
We must think and act like a nation of a billion people and not like that of a million people. Dream, dream, dream! – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
The President’s post should not be politicized. Once a president is elected, he is above politics. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
My hair grows and grows; you cannot stop it – that fellow grows, it grows wild. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
There has to be a global mission of human progress. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
A dream is not that which you see while sleeping, it is something that does not let you sleep. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Wherever I go, as long as I get a hot vegetable dish, I am okay. If I am in Gujarat, I have Gujarati food. If it’s Shillong, it’s northeastern. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
When you look at the light bulb above you, you remember Thomas Alva Edison. When the telephone bell rings, you remember Alexander Graham Bell. Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize. When you see the blue sky, you think of Sir C.V. Raman. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
All of us do not have equal talent. But , all of us have an equal opportunity to develop our talents. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Measuring nuclear yield depends on multiple parameters – the location and number of instruments, the geology of the area, the location of the seismic station in relation to the test site. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Every nation has to follow a certain policy: Commercial, trade, various other types of policies. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
India’s trade deficit is because of excess of import over exports. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
We have not invaded anyone. We have not conquered anyone. We have not grabbed their land, their culture, their history and tried to enforce our way of life on them. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
For me, there are two types of people: the young and the experienced. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
What is politics? Political system is equal to development politics plus political politics. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
War is never a lasting solution for any problem. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
No religion has mandated killing others as a requirement for its sustenance or promotion. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Today, India consumes about 682 watts per capita, far lesser than developed nations. As India develops, it will definitely require a lot more energy. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
There is not enough funding for basic sciences in India. We have to invest in a big way, and I am pushing that idea. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Science is a beautiful gift to humanity; we should not distort it. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
You see, God helps only people who work hard. That principle is very clear. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
While children are struggling to be unique, the world around them is trying all means to make them look like everybody else. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
India should walk on her own shadow – we must have our own development model. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Economy forced me to become a vegetarian, but I finally starting liking it. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Rameswaram has, since antiquity, been an important pilgrimage destination. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Tell me, why is the media here so negative? Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognise our own strengths, our achievements? We are such a great nation. We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them. Why? – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things? Is it a legacy of our colonial years? We want foreign television sets. We want foreign shirts. We want foreign technology. Why this obsession with everything imported? – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Developing nations want to become developed nations. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Regarding marriage, it – somehow, it didn’t happen. One fellow in such a big family not getting married is not an issue. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Medical costs are of concern, both in developing and developed countries. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
The government, whether state or central, is elected. That means we have a responsibility to elect the right kind of leaders. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
I was in high school when Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru unfurled India’s flag in New Delhi. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
I’m not an expert on the arms race. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
It means, people who are in high and responsible positions, if they go against righteousness, righteousness itself will get transformed into a destroyer. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
For 2,500 years, India has never invaded anybody. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
I have met 18 million youth, and each wants to be unique. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Science has revealed that the human body is made up of millions and millions of atoms… For example, I am made up of 5.8×10 27 atoms. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Great teachers emanate out of knowledge, passion and compassion. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
No sanction can stand against ignited minds. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Let me define a leader. He must have vision and passion and not be afraid of any problem. Instead, he should know how to defeat it. Most importantly, he must work with integrity. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Poetry comes from the highest happiness or the deepest sorrow. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
When grand plans for scientific and defence technologies are made, do the people in power think about the sacrifices the people in the laboratories and fields have to make? – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
The youth need to be enabled to become job generators from job seekers. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
All wars signify the failure of conflict resolution mechanisms, and they need post-war rebuilding of faith, trust and confidence. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Science is global. Einstein’s equation, E=mc2, has to reach everywhere. Science is a beautiful gift to humanity, we should not distort it. Science does not differentiate between multiple races. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
All the scientists and technologists should work in appropriate region, specifically the rural technologies, to transform Indian rural sector. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
One of the more difficult tasks for me as president was to decide on the issue of confirming capital punishment awarded by courts… to my surprise… almost all cases which were pending had a social and economic bias. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
New markets could be created by rural potentials, which could lead to rise in the employment. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Over the years, I had nurtured the hope to be able to fly; to handle a machine as it rose higher and higher in the stratosphere was my dearest dream. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
God, our Creator, has stored within our minds and personalities, great potential strength and ability. Prayer helps us tap and develop these powers. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Unless India stands up to the world, no one will respect us. In this world, fear has no place. Only strength respects strength. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Writing is my love. If you love something, you find a lot of time. I write for two hours a day, usually starting at midnight; at times, I start at 11. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
I was willing to accept what I couldn’t change. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
I firmly believe that unless one has tasted the bitter pill of failure, one cannot aspire enough for success. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
The purpose of education is to make good human beings with skill and expertise… Enlightened human beings can be created by teachers. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Widespread use of antibiotics promotes the spread of antibiotic resistance. Smart use of antibiotics is the key to controlling its spread. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
In a democracy, the well-being, individuality and happiness of every citizen is important for the overall prosperity, peace and happiness of the nation. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
We should remember that there are nations which meet more than 30 to 60% of their power requirements through the nuclear power system. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Building capacity dissolves differences. It irons out inequalities. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
All of us do not have equal talent. But, all of us have an equal opportunity to develop our talents. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
How accurately can the law fix the crime? There has to be a mechanism for very fast action. The law is like this: catch them and punish them. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
India has to be transformed into a developed nation, a prosperous nation and a healthy nation, with a value system. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
One lesson that every nation can learn from China is to focus more on creating village-level enterprises, quality health services and educational facilities. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Climbing to the top demands strength, whether it is to the top of Mount Everest or to the top of your career. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Be more dedicated to making solid achievements than in running after swift but synthetic happiness. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Where do the evils like corruption arise from? It comes from the never-ending greed. The fight for corruption-free ethical society will have to be fought against this greed and replace it with ‘what can I give’ spirit. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Almost half of the population of the world lives in rural regions and mostly in a state of poverty. Such inequalities in human development have been one of the primary reasons for unrest and, in some parts of the world, even violence. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
My message, especially to young people is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, courage to discover the impossible and to conquer the problems and succeed. These are great qualities that they must work towards. This is my message to the young people. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Ultimately, education in its real sense is the pursuit of truth. It is an endless journey through knowledge and enlightenment. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Educationists should build the capacities of the spirit of inquiry, creativity, entrepreneurial and moral leadership among students and become their role model. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Smart habitation is an integrated area of villages and a city working in harmony and where the rural and urban divide has reduced to thin line. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
India can live without nuclear weapons. That’s our dream, and it should be the dream of the U.S. also. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
You have to dream before your dreams can come true. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Creativity is the key to success in the future, and primary education is where teachers can bring creativity in children at that level. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
