Mahatma Gandhi Quotes on Knowledge
Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948), whose The Story of My Experiments with Truth (1927–29) and Hind Swaraj (1909) supply the central first-person and programmatic expressions of his political and religious thought, treats truth (satya) as the ultimate object of knowledge — "truth is God" rather than merely an attribute of statements — and the practice of nonviolent civil resistance (satyāgraha, "holding fast to truth") as the principal experimental method through which knowledge of it is incrementally won. The framework grounds Gandhi's distinctively practical and confessional epistemology in which the philosophical life is a public laboratory of moral and political experiment rather than a withdrawal into theoretical contemplation.
Quotes
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Attributed to Mahatma Gandhi:
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
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“The Indians do not regret that capable natives can exercise the franchise. They would regret if it were otherwise. They, however, assert that they too, if capable, should have the right. You, in your wisdom , would not allow the Indian or the native the precious privilege under any circumstances, because they have a dark skin .”
Wikiquote -
“Indian Opinion (1 October 1903)”
One thing we have endeavoured to observe most scrupulously, namely, never to depart from the strictest facts and, in dealing with the difficult questions that have arisen during the year , we hope that we have used the utmost moderation possible under the circumstances. Our duty is very simple and plain. We want to serve the community, and in our own humble way to serve the Empire. We believe in t -
“Why, of all places in Johannesburg , the Indian location should be chosen for dumping down all kaffirs of the town, passes my comprehension. Of course, under my suggestion, the Town Council must withdraw the Kaffirs from the Location. About this mixing of the Kaffirs with the Indians I must confess I feel most strongly. I think it is very unfair to the Indian population, and it is an undue tax on even the proverbial patience of my countrymen.”
Letter to Dr. Porter, Medical Officer of Health for Johannesburg (15 February 1905); later published in The Indian Opinion . -
“Why, of all places in Johannesburg , the Indian location should be chosen for dumping down all kaffirs of the town, passes my comprehension. Of course, under my suggestion, the Town Council must withdraw the Kaffirs from the Location. About this mixing of the Kaffirs with the Indians I must confess I feel most strongly. I think it is very unfair to the Indian population, and it is an undue tax on ”
Letter to Dr. Porter, Medical Officer of Health for Johannesburg (15 February 1905); later published in The Indian Opinion . -
“In this instance of the fire-arms, the Asiatic has been most improperly bracketed with the native. The British Indian does not need any such restrictions as are imposed by the Bill on the natives regarding the carrying of fire-arms. The prominent race can remain so by preventing the native from arming himself. Is there a slightest vestige of justification for so preventing the British Indian?”
Comments on a court case in The Indian Opinion (25 March 1905) -
“Comments on a court case in The Indian Opinion (25 March 1905)”
In this instance of the fire-arms, the Asiatic has been most improperly bracketed with the native. The British Indian does not need any such restrictions as are imposed by the Bill on the natives regarding the carrying of fire-arms. The prominent race can remain so by preventing the native from arming himself. Is there a slightest vestige of justification for so preventing the British Indian? -
“Seven social sins: politics without principles , wealth without work , pleasure without conscience , knowledge without character , commerce without morality , science without humanity , and worship without sacrifice .”
1920s | A list closing an article in Young India (22 October 1925); Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi Vol. 33 (PDF) p. 135 Variant: The seven blunders that human society commits and cause all the violence: we -
“"Politics without principle, wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, and worship without sacrifice — are the seven social sins."”
1920s | Originally published in Young India , 22 October 1925, in The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi , Vol. 33, p. 135. -
“Our sages have taught us to learn one thing; `As in the Self, so in the Universe.' It is not possible to scan the universe as it is to scan the self. Know the self and you know the universe.”
1920s | Young India (8 April 1926) -
“I have been known as a crank, faddist, madman. Evidently the reputation is well deserved. For wherever I go, I draw to myself cranks, faddists, and madmen.”
1920s | Young India (13 June 1929); also in All Men Are Brothers: Autobiographical Reflections (2005) edited by Krishna Kripalani, p. 163