Chanakya
Chanakya
Chanakya; flourished c. 4th century BCE) was an Indian teacher, philosopher, economist, jurist and royal advisor. He is traditionally identified as Kauṭilya or Vishnu Gupta, who authored the ancient Indian political treatise, the Arthashastra. As such, he is considered the pioneer of the field of political science and economics in India, and his work is thought of as an important precursor to classical economics. His works were lost near the end of the Gupta Empire and not rediscovered until 1915...
NationalityIndian
ProfessionPolitician
CountryIndia
Do not put your trust in a bad companion nor even trust an ordinary friend, for if he should get angry with you, he may bring all your secrets to light.
The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction.
As a calf follows its mother among a thousand cows, so the (good or bad) deeds of a man follow him.
Do not be very upright in your dealings for you would see by going to the forest that straight trees are cut down while crooked ones are left standing.
That man who is without religion and mercy should be rejected. A guru without spiritual knowledge should be rejected. The wife with an offensive face should be given up, and so should relatives who are without affection.
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.
If a king is energetic, his subjects will be equally energetic.
Never make friends with people who are above or below you in status. Such friendships will never give you any happiness.
We should always speak what would please the man of whom we expect a favour,like the hunter who sings sweetly when he desires to shoot a deer.
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.
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.
Low class men desire wealth;middle class men both wealth and respect; but the noble, honour only; hence honour is the noble man's true wealth.
Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth.
Do not reveal what you have thought upon doing, but by wise council keep it secret being determined to carry it into execution.