Nations are born out of travail and suffering

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-exchange market. We want to provide only such education as would enable the student to earn more. We hardly give any thought to the improvement of the character of the educated. The girls, we say, do not have to earn; so why should they be educated? As long as such ideas persist there is no hope of our ever knowing the true value of education.

God is not a Power residing in the clouds. He is an unseen Power residing within us and nearer to us than finger nails to the flesh.

Swadeshism is not a cult of hatred. It is a doctrine of selfless service that has its roots in the purest ahimsa, i.e. love.

Unity among the different races and the different religions of India is indispensable to the birth of national life.

Men say I am a saint losing himself in politics. The fact is that I am a politician trying my hardest to become a saint.

A man or a woman who serves the country with all his or her heart stands on par with the tallest Congress-man.