Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi or Mahatma Gandhi as he is more well-known was an inspiration to many people. Throughout his life, he was a seeker of truth and simplicity.
Gandhi was born in India in 1869. In his earlier years, Gandhi studied law in London before moving to South Africa to work. During his twenty-one years in South Africa, he fought against discrimination aimed at the Indian people. His time in South Africa lead to him becoming a political activist.
On this permanent return to India in 1915 he joined the Indian National Congress and became heavily involved in the fight for India’s independence from the British Empire.
His belief in non-violent protest is legendary. Gandhi is known for many wonderful quotes.
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Here are 10 thought-provoking quotes from Mahatma Gandhi to contemplate.
A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes.”
If you consider yourself a failure, you will have a hard time creating your own version of success. Your thoughts both negative and positive had a profound effect on your reality. Be proactive in reducing and eliminating negative thoughts.
Have exceptional thoughts, be exceptional.
If you are struggling with self-doubt, I have an excellent online course for you. The How to Break the Habit of Self-Doubt and Build Real Confidence course is run by the amazing Mel Robbins over at CreativeLive. I took this course myself this year and totally loved it. This course was a game-changer for me.
You can read my review of the course and how I believe it can benefit you.
If this isn’t quite what you are looking for, CreativeLive has an amazing range of personal development courses (as well as a whole bunch of other topics) that you might enjoy. Check out their range and see if anything is a good fit for you.
Related post – Words to Stop Using to Move Your Life Forward
Action expresses priorities.”
If you think a certain task is a priority in your life, yet you are not taking action to move forward in the completion of that task, you need to have a closer look at your priorities.
Perhaps you are not being entirely honest in your evaluation of what is important to you. If this is the case, take the time to re-examine what your priorities are, then take action to express those priorities.
Related post – How to Achieve Your Goals – The Key to Setting Goals and Achieving Them
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.”
This is one of the reasons many people have adopted a minimalist lifestyle. Over-consumption and greed have had a severe effect on our environment, people, wildlife, and economy.
Have a heartfelt look at what and how much you need to be fulfilled and happy. You may be enlightened and surprised by the results.
An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.”
Gandhi was a strong believer in non-violent protest. Hopefully, your life is violence-free however other more common forms of ‘eye for an eye’ may still prevail.
Holding petty grudges, seeking revenge, getting back at people, and making others purposely suffer will ultimately leave you feeling empty.
Related post – 10 Behaviors that Stop You Growing as a Person
A ‘No’ uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a ‘Yes’ merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble.”
Too often people say yes when they really mean no. They agree to actions, conversations, and projects that they would rather not be involved in. Saying yes can lead to resentment, bitterness, and indifference.
Stick to your convictions, be strong in your resolve and say yes only when you mean it.
Related post – How to Have More Self-Discipline
Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances.”
How often do we seek validation, acceptance, and peace from within ourselves?
More likely these factors are influenced by external and let’s face it unreliable sources. A complete stranger criticizes us and our confidence crumbles. Our boss comments negatively on our work and we are thrown into turmoil.
Instead, trust and nurture your inner voice.
Related post – Stop Waiting for Acceptance – Accept Yourself
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
Harmony in today’s society can be a rare and precious thing.
Living in harmony means tuning into your core values. If your values conflict with one another, you may struggle to achieve a sense of harmony and balance. Gandhi summed it up best. When what you think, say and do align you can find true happiness.
Related post – 20 Inspiring Happiness Quotes
The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
Forgiveness is not easy.
It takes courage and strength to forgive people who have wronged us. For our own peace of mind, it’s better to forgive and move on, rather than be stuck in the anger and torment of the past.
Forgiveness can be hard so if you need additional support, I suggest the below books to guide you through the process.
Related post – 10 Life-Changing Quotes on Forgiveness
Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”
Strength comes in many forms. It comes with the ability to be there for your children after you have suffered a personal loss or betrayal. It comes in being available to help someone else when you yourself feel lost or lonely. Strength comes from doing what you know to be right, despite it not being the easy choice.
You must be the change you want to see in the world.”
This is by far my favorite Gandhi quote. It is filled with hope, wonder, encouragement, and a sense of purpose.
If you want to see more kindness, be kind to others. If you seek forgiveness, then be more forgiving.
Be open to opportunity, caring, patience, and equality. Above all be open to love and kindness.
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Read Next – 10 Inspiring Ways to Do More of What Makes You Happy
Another great post, so moving and inspirational.
My favourite is ‘you must be the change you want to see in the world’ as well. It’s nigh on impossible not to feel inspired and driven by that comment.
Hi Kirstie
Great to see you here again. Always a pleasure 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. I am thrilled you found it moving, that made my day.
How is the writing going at your end?
Thanks again for your comment and look forward to chatting again soon.
Cheers
Thea
The writing’s going rather well, I’m right before the final climatic sceen in my novel, but time is scare this week because I’m juggling a visitng nephew and my own son, so I imagine that will push back the schedule a little. Thanks for asking.
As for making your day, well you made mine, so I guess we’re even ;p
What a beautiful post Thea and what an inspiring individual.
There aren’t too many people in this world today who can top the teachings of Gandhi! I love all of these quotes and all of his teachings and only aspire to be half the person he believed we could all be. But my journey still continues and I still have a very long way to go. He’s definitely opened my eyes to me believing I can be all I know I can be.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful post with us. I’ll be sure to share it as well with my friends and followers.
Have a beautiful day Thea.
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne
Thank you so much for your lovely comment. My apologies for taking so long to reply, I had a big couple of days here on the blog and didn’t realise I had gotten so far behind with my comments. Definitely time to fix that tonight!
I am so glad you enjoyed the Gandhi post, he was definitely an inspiring individual. Thank you so much for sharing the post with your group. I really appreciate it.
I hope you have a gorgeous day too!
Cheers
Thea
i ever heard about mahatma gandhi, but i do not know what it is about, thanks for sharing about this
This is really inspiring post. Unfortunately in today people around the world become more greeedy. In Mahatma Gandhi’s India we have dozen of billiniores one hand and starving people on the orther. Today world need person like Mahatma Gandhi once more.
Hi Sachin
Thank you for your comment. It’s great to see you here on the blog.
I am so glad that you found the post on Mahatma Gandhi inspiring. He was truly a remarkable man!
I look forward to seeing you here again soon.
Cheers
Thea
The quotes you have collected are fabulous.
Gandhi has been one personality which has amazed me the most. A man fighting for the nation, against arms and ammunition only through conviction and truth. A man who had no great physical personality but mentally took the whole world by storm.
Simply Epic!
Hi Himanshu
Thanks for stopping by. I am so glad you enjoyed the Gandhi post. I like your wording – he was simply epic!
I really enjoyed putting the article together. I did quite a bit of reading before writing the post and I learnt a lot about Gandhi that I didn’t know before. I found it really fascinating.
Again I am glad you enjoyed it and I hope to see you here again soon.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Cheers
Thea
Very inspiring thoughts! “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” This one is really true.