Chanakya quotes

Born
350 BC.

Died
283 BC.

Occupation
Philosopher.

Chanakya was an Indian teacher, philosopher, economist, jurist and royal advisor. He is traditionally identified as Kauá¹­ilya or Vishnugupta, who authored the ancient Indian political treatise, the Arthashastra.

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

Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous.
– Chanakya

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

Never make friends with people who are above or below you in status. Such friendships will never give you any happiness.
– 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

The biggest guru-mantra is: never share your secrets with anybody. It will destroy you.
– 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

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

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

A good wife is one who serves her husband in the morning like a mother does, loves him in the day like a sister does and pleases him like a prostitute in the night.
– Chanakya

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

A man is great by deeds, not by birth.
– Chanakya

It is better to die than to preserve this life by incurring disgrace. The loss of life causes but a moment’s grief, but disgrace brings grief every day of one’s life.
– 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 fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all directions.
– Chanakya

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

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

God doesn’t dwell in the wooden, stony or earthen idols. His abode is in our feelings, our thoughts.
– Chanakya