Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was one of India’s greatest freedom fighters and a lawyer. He played a significant role in the independence of the country through his path of ‘non-violence’. A true role model for everyone, I strongly feel that there’s so much for all of us to learn from him.
The things he did were great, and the things he said were impactful, thus earning the tag of the Mahatma. Many are inspired by the things he said, and I will be sharing some of his most inspiring quotes and I’d like to share what those quotes mean to me since I think they are valuable life lessons.
“An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.”
Mahatma Gandhi is referring to violence here. If we respond to violent behavior with violence, there’ll be no difference between the person who initiated the violence and us. The same can be said for abusive verbal behavior. If someone disrespects you by saying something offensive and you retaliate in a similar manner, there’ll be no difference between you and him.
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
I strongly feel happiness is a feeling that can only be achieved by thinking positive thoughts, saying positive things, and doing the things that are positive for you as well as others. Thinking negative thoughts, saying negative things, and doing the things that are negative for others won’t lead you towards a happy life. True happiness comes from harmony.
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
I feel that the one who forgives or who understands the true meaning of forgiveness can be considered a strong individual. On the other hand, the one who doesn’t forgive or doesn’t understand the true meaning of forgiveness can be considered as a weak individual. Now, Gandhiji didn’t give any ultimatum with this statement. Instead, he just passed a message which makes a lot of sense. We should learn how to be a bigger person and forgive.
“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”
I think real strength is not the result of physical training and capacity. It is measured by the undefeatable will to work and overcome all the obstacles in life. I feel that if you genuinely believe you can achieve something, you will be able to accomplish it, and that will be your biggest strength.
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”
People are greedy, and that’s the message I think Gandhiji wants to convey with the help of this quote. If you aren’t greedy, the Earth has enough to fulfill your needs, but if you are greedy, then even the Earth can’t meet your requirements or should I say ‘greeds.’ The lesson here is: we won’t feel incomplete or unhappy if we aren’t greedy.
“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.”
Here, dirty feet refer to negative or corrupt thoughts. By taking himself as an example, Gandhiji tells us that we should never let anyone fill our minds with negative thoughts. Our thoughts and choices must be our own, and no one must have the power to manipulate or change them.
“The future depends on what we do in the present.”
I strongly feel our future is the product of our present. It will be positive and pleasant if we perform positive activities in our present. On the other hand, it will not be positive and good if we do not perform positive actions in our present. Do good today, to get good tomorrow. Always perform good deeds and be kind to others.
“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”
I will say that sometimes, being gentle is the answer. You don’t have to be aggressive to achieve something or make a buzz in the world. It can be done gently and humbly. You can accomplish a lot in life by taking the gentle and humble approach, even more than you’ll achieve if you take the aggressive approach.