140 Powerful Mahatma Gandhi Quotes to Transform Your Life

By Motive In quotes-by-author At 24th Jun 2024

Mahatma Gandhi remains honored across the world for his ideology of non-violence alongside his unwavering devotion for truth and justice hence earning him the title of the Indian independence movement’s father. His sagacity is timeless. It serves as a bright light to our life, leadership, personal development and collective advancement. Here is a collection of 140 vigorous Gandhi’s citations that can motivate you to become better.

1. Quotes on Nonviolence and Peace

  1.  “Nonviolence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man.”
  2.  “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.”
  3.  “The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace.”
  4.  “Nonviolence means not only avoiding external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him.”
  5.  “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”

 2. Insights on Truth and Honesty

  1.  “Truth never damages a cause that is just.”
  2.  “An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it.”
  3.  “Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.”
  4.  “The truth is still the truth even if no one believes it. A lie is still a lie even if everyone believes it.”
  5.  “There is no God higher than truth.”

3. Wisdom on Life and Living

  1.  “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
  2.  “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
  3.  “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
  4.  “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
  5.  “A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.”

4. Guidance on Leadership and Service

  1.  “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
  2.  “The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.”
  3.  “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.”
  4.  “The best way to lead others is to empower them to lead themselves.”
  5.  “You may never know what results come of your actions, but if you do nothing, there will be no results.”

 5. Reflections on Change and Progress

  1.  “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
  2.  “The future depends on what we do in the present.”
  3.  “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.”
  4.  “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”
  5.  “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

 6. Teachings on Love and Compassion

  1.  “Where there is love there is life.”
  2.  “The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.”
  3.  “Hate the sin, love the sinner.”
  4.  “Love is the strongest force the world possesses and yet it is the humblest imaginable.”
  5.  “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

 7. Insights on Self-Discipline and Personal Growth

  1.  “The best way to discipline oneself is to lead a simple and humble life.”
  2.  “The only tyrant I accept in this world is the still small voice within.”
  3.  “Live simply so that others may simply live.”
  4.  “It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.”
  5.  “A ‘no’ uttered from deepest conviction is better and greater than a ‘yes’ merely uttered to please, or what is worse, to avoid trouble.”

 8. Wisdom on Education and Learning

  1.  “Literary education is of no value if it is not able to build up a sound character.”
  2.  “The real difficulty is that people have no idea of what education truly is. We assess the value of education in the same manner as we assess the value of land or of shares in the stock market. We want to provide only such education as would enable the student to earn more.”
  3.  “True education must correspond to the surrounding circumstances or it is not a healthy growth.”
  4.  “By education I mean an all-round drawing of the best in child and man in body, mind, and spirit.”
  5.  “The best education is the one that teaches us how to live and how to die.”

9. Reflections on Faith and Spirituality

  1.  “Faith is not something to grasp, it is a state to grow into.”
  2.  “Faith is not something that can be proved by evidence; it is something that can only be experienced.”
  3.  “Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one’s weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”
  4.  “A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.”
  5.  “True religion is not a narrow dogma. It is not external observance. It is the simple but deep faith in the goodness of all beings.”

 10. Quotes on Integrity and Honesty

  1.  “To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest.”
  2.  “Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress.”
  3.  “The real ornament of a woman is her character, her purity.”
  4.  “The only way to be truly happy is to live an honest and simple life.”
  5.  “A man of truth must also be a man of care.”

 11. Reflections on Freedom and Independence

  1.  “Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”
  2.  “The spirit of democracy is not a mechanical thing to be adjusted by abolition of forms. It requires a change of heart.”
  3.  “Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living?”
  4.  “I want freedom for the full expression of my personality.”
  5.  “True freedom comes only when we are able to conquer the inner demons that hold us back.”

12. Quotes on Courage and Strength

  1.  “The real courage is in facing danger when you are afraid.”
  2.  “A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave.”
  3.  “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
  4.  “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”
  5.  “The best way to stand is to be strong and to hold onto your principles.”

13. Guidance on Humility and Modesty

  1.  “It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.”
  2.  “There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supersedes all other courts.”
  3.  “Service which is rendered without joy helps neither the servant nor the served.”
  4.  “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
  5.  “I look only to the good qualities of men. Not being faultless myself, I won’t presume to probe into the faults of others.”

14. Insights on Patience and Persistence 

  1. “To lose patience is to lose the battle.” 
  2. “Patience means self-suffering.”
  3.  “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” 
  4. “Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory.” 
  5. “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” 

15. Quotes on Joy and Happiness 

  1. “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
  2.  “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” 
  3. “The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.”
  4. “An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.”
  5.  “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” 

16. Teachings on Simplicity and Contentment 

  1. “Live simply so that others may simply live.”
  2.  “Simplicity is the essence of universality.” 
  3. “A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.” 
  4. “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” 
  5. “A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.” 

17. Reflections on Justice and Fairness

  1. “Justice that love gives is a surrender, justice that law gives is a punishment.”
  2.  “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” 
  3. “The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.” 
  4. “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.”
  5.  “A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” 

18. Insights on Unity and Harmony

  1.  “Unity, to be real, must stand the severest strain without breaking.”
  2.  “A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.” 
  3. “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” 
  4. “The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.”
  5.  “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” 

19. Quotes on Discipline and Willpower

  1.  “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”
  2.  “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” 
  3. “The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.” 
  4. “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.”
  5.  “A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” 

20. Reflections on Equality and Justice

  1.  “Justice that love gives is a surrender, justice that law gives is a punishment.” 
  2. “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
  3.  “The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.” 
  4. “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” 
  5. “A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” 

21. Teachings on Humility and Compassion 

  1. “The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.”
  2.  “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
  3.  “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.”
  4.  “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
  5.  “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” 


Millions of people around the world are still inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's leftover. Integrity is urged by his words, kindness towards others is emphasized on while the need for truth and justice are also mentioned as crucial things to observe during all life aspects. You can draw courage and compassion from this when you think about these quotes.

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