Chanakya was an ancient Indian teacher, philosopher, economist, jurist and royal advisor. He is traditionally identified as Kauṭilya or Vishnugupta, who authored the ancient Indian political treatise, the Arthashastra, a text dated to roughly between the 3rd century BCE and the 3rd century CE. Profoundly inspirational Chanakya quotes will challenge the way you think, and make your life worth living.
If you’re searching for best philosophy quotes that perfectly capture what you’d like to say or just want to feel inspired yourself, browse through an amazing collection of profound Erich Fromm quotes, famous Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel quotes and top Guru Nanak quotes.
Famous Chanakya Quotes
Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous. Chanakya
One who can’t determine his goals; cannot win. Chanakya
A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are screwed first. Chanakya
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. Chanakya
Before you start some work always ask yourselves three questions why I am 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
Do not reveal what you have thought upon doing, but by wise council keep it secret being determined to carry it into execution. Chanakya
Just as a mirror reflects as a mans face his personality is reflected in his choice of friends. One must always be careful in forming friendships and acquaintances, for one’s friends, are in a way, an extension of one’s inner inclinations and tendencies. Chanakya
Never make friends with people who are above or below you in status. Such friendships will never give you any happiness. Chanakya
A man is great by deeds, not by birth. Chanakya
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. Chanakya
God dwells not in the wooden, or stone or earthen idols. His abode is in our feeling, our thoughts. It is only through the feeling that we deem God existing in these idols. Chanakya
The world’s biggest power is the beauty and the youth of a woman. Chanakya
Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth. Chanakya
There is some self interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self interests. This is a bitter truth. Chanakya
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
It’s better to die than to preserve this life by incurring disgrace. Chanakya
Once you start working on something don’t be afraid of failure and don’t abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest. Chanakya
He who lives in our mind is near though he may actually be far away, but he who is not in our heart is far though he may really be nearby. Chanakya
As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it. Chanakya
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. Chanakya
God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your God. The soul is your temple. Chanakya
No one can defeat a powerful mind. Chanakya
Wealth, a friend, a wife, and a kingdom may be regained, but this body when lost may never be acquired again. Chanakya
Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous. Chanakya
Never make friends with people who are above or below you in status. Such friendships will never give you any happiness. Chanakya
Wealth, a friend, a wife, and a kingdom may be regained, but this body when lost may never be acquired again. Chanakya
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. Chanakya
As a single withered tree, if set aflame, causes a whole forest to burn, so does a rascal son destroy a whole family. Chanakya
Humbleness is at the root of self control. Chanakya
The life of an uneducated man is as useless as the tail of a dog which neither covers its rear end nor protects it from bites of insects. Chanakya
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 hearten and strenuous effort. Chanakya
A wise man should restrain his senses like the crane and accomplish his purpose with due knowledge of his place, time, and ability. Chanakya
As a single withered tree, if set aflame, causes a whole forest to burn, so does a rascal son destroy a whole family. Chanakya
The serpent, the king, the tiger, the stinging wasp, the small child, the dog owned by other people, and the fool these seven ought not to be awakened from sleep. Chanakya
There is poison in the fang of the serpent, in the mouth of the fly and in the sting of a scorpion; but the wicked man is saturated with it. Chanakya
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
Purity of speech, of the mind, of the senses, and of a compassionate heart are needed by one who desires to rise to the divine platform. Chanakya
Drop the idea that love and attachment are one thing. They are enemies. It is attachment that destroys all love. Chanakya
The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the directions of the wind. But, the goodness of a person spreads in all direction. Chanakya
One whose knowledge is confined to books and whose wealth is in the possession of others can use neither knowledge nor wealth to carry it into execution. Chanakya
Drop the idea that attachment and love are one thing. They are enemies. It is attachment that destroys all love. Chanakya
There is poison in the fang of a serpent, in the mouth of a fly, and in the sting of a scorpion; but the wicked man is saturated with it. Chanakya
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. Chanakya
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. Chanakya
The earth is supported by the power of truth, it is the power of truth that makes the sun shine and the winds blow, indeed all things rest upon truth. Chanakya
The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all directions. Chanakya
Never reveal what you have thought upon doing, but by wise council keep it secret being determined to carry it into execution. Chanakya
The earth is supported by the power of truth; it is the power of truth that makes the sun shine and the winds blow; indeed all things rest upon truth. Chanakya
One whose knowledge is confined to books and whose wealth is in the possession of others can use neither knowledge nor wealth when the need for them arises. Chanakya
God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god. The soul is your temple. Chanakya
The world’s biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman. Chanakya
Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions Why am I doing it, what are the results might be and will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions. Kautilya
There is some self interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self interests. This is a bitter truth. Chanakya
Every individual whether the ruler or the ruled is governed by his or her own dharma. To the extent that society respected dharma, society protected itself; to the extent, society offended it, society undermined. Kautilya
The life of an uneducated man is as useless as the tail of a dog which neither covers its rear end nor protects it from the bites of insects. Chanakya
Whoever imposes severe punishment becomes repulsive to the people; while he who awards mild punishment becomes contemptible. But whoever imposes punishment as deserved becomes respectable. Kautilya
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. Chanakya
For every effect, there is a specific cause. Success is not an accident. Success is not based on chance. Success is not a matter of luck. Success is the result of well thought out action. Kautilya
Accumulated wealth is saved by spending just as incoming fresh water is saved by letting out stagnant water. Chanakya
Success needs action. Action needs initiative. Kautilya
Till the enemy’s weakness is known, he should be kept on friendly terms. Chanakya
Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth. Chanakya
Those base men who speak of the secret faults of others destroy themselves like serpents that stray onto ant hills. Chanakya
Books are useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person. Chanakya
The happiness and peace attained by those satisfied by the nectar of spiritual tranquility is not attained by greedy persons restlessly moving here and there. Chanakya
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
Never settle for anything less than what you deserve. It’s not pride, it’s self respect. Chanakya
Avoid him who talks sweetly before you but tries to ruin you behind your back, for he is like a pitcher full of poison with milk on top. Chanakya
It is better to die than preserve life by incurring disgrace. The loss of life only pains a moment, but disgrace every day of one’s life. Chanakya
God does not dwell in the wooden, stony, or earthen idols. His abode is in our feelings, our thoughts. Chanakya
We have to make people soft who are hard, to attract those who are far, if they do bad for us then even considering our aim we should always love them. Chanakya
Test a servant while in the discharge of his duty, a relative in difficulty, a friend in adversity, and a wife in misfortune. Chanakya
There are three gems upon this earth, food, water, and pleasing words fools consider pieces of rocks as gems. Chanakya
Humbleness is at the root of self control. Chanakya
He who is prepared for the future and he who deals cleverly with any situation that may arise are both happy, but the fatalistic man who wholly depends on luck is ruined. Chanakya
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. Chanakya
A learned man is honored by the people. A learned man commands respect everywhere for his learning. Indeed, learning is honored everywhere. Chanakya
If one has a good disposition, what other virtue is needed? If a man has fame, what is the value of other ornamentation? Chanakya
If you were to choose between an evil person and a snake to keep company with, opt for the snake. Because the snake will bite you only in self defense but the evil person will put a bite for any reason and any time or always. Chanakya
As long as your body is healthy and under control and death is distant, try to save your soul; when death is immanent what can you do? Chanakya
There are only two ways of dealing with the evil persons or thorns. Crush them under your boot or stay far away from them. Chanakya
Time perfects men as well as destroys them. Chanakya
Too much beauty got Sita kidnapped, too much ego got Ravana killed and too much charity got Raja Bali in deep trouble. So too much of anything is bad. One should refrain from too much. Chanakya
All creatures are pleased by loving words, and therefore we should address words that are pleasing to all, for there is no lack of sweet words. Chanakya
There is no present and future of the lazy. Chanakya
Sinfully acquired wealth may remain for ten years; in the eleventh year it disappears when even the original stock. Chanakya
You can win over a greedy by offering money, a proud person by covering before him. You can win a foolish by agreeing with him and you can win a scholar by truth only. Chanakya
A man attains greatness by his merits, not simply by occupying an exalted seat. Can we call a crow an eagle simply because he sits on top of a building? Chanakya
It is the mind of man alone that is the cause of his bondage or freedom. Chanakya
We should always speak what would please the man of whom we expect a favor, like the hunter who sings sweetly when he desires to shoot a deer. Chanakya
It is better to have only one son endowed with good qualities than a hundred devoid of them. For the moon though one, dispels the darkness, which the stars, though numerous, do not. Chanakya
We should not feel pride in our charity, austerity, valor, scriptural knowledge, modesty, and morality for the world is full of the rarest gems. Chanakya
As long as your body is healthy and under control and death is distant, try to save your soul; when death is immanent what can you do? Chanakya
Who realizes all the happiness that he desires? Everything is in the hands of God. Therefore one should learn contentment. Chanakya
