Indira Gandhi Quotes

“I'm trained to difficulties; difficulties can't be eliminated from life.”

“The old need the company of the young so that they renew their contact with life.”

“All of a sudden inscriptions appeared on walls. Signs appeared. And that 'no' exploded all over India, in an act of pride that surprised even me. Then even the political parties, all of them, even the deputies in Parliament, said no: it's better to die of hunger than be taken for a nation of beggars.”

“I don't see the world as something divided between right and left.”

“The meek may one day inherit the earth, but not the headlines.”

“My father cared very much about courage, physical courage as well. He despised those who didn't have it. But he never said to me, 'I want you to be courageous.' He just smiled with pride every time I did something difficult or won a race with the boys.”

“I learned very soon to get along by myself.”

“Have a bias toward action - let's see something happen now. You can break that big plan into small steps and take the first step right away.”

“We have believed - and we do believe now - that freedom is indivisible, that peace is indivisible, that economic prosperity is indivisible”

“My sons...I was crazy about my sons and I think I've done a super job in bringing them up.”

“Difficulties can't be eliminated from life. Individuals will always have them, countries will always have them...The only thing is to accept them, if possible overcome them, otherwise to come to terms with them. It's all right to fight, yes, but only when it's possible.”

“Rebels and non-conformists are often the pioneers and designers of change.”

“The collective judgment of the electorate must be respected.”

“Defeats are always pitiful. Victories are always last resources.”

“Women sometimes go too far, it's true. But it's only when you go too far that others listen.”

“You soon realize that the peak you've climbed was one of the lowest, that the mountain was part of a chain of mountains, that there are still so many, so many mountains to climb...And the more you climb, the more you want to climb - even though you're dead tired.”

“Little by little I changed my mind, and when I was about eighteen, I began to consider the possibility of getting married. Not to have a husband, but to have children.”

“I have lived a long life, and I am proud that I spend the whole of my life in the service of my people. I am only proud of this and nothing else. I shall continue to serve until my last breath, and when I die, I can say, that every drop of my blood will invigorate India and strengthen it.”

“Finally we promised to limit the birth rate. And this you really didn't believe; you smiled scornfully. Well, even in this things have gone well. The fact is that we have grown by over seventy millions in ten years, but it's also true that we have grown less than many other countries, including the countries of Europe.”

“Life is always full of dangers and I don't think one should avoid dangers.”

“That's always been my philosophy. - I've never thought of the consequences of a necessary action.”

“Every new experience brings its own maturity and a greater clarity of vision.”

“in today's world no country can be absolutely independent of another. It is a world of interdependence.”

“Happiness is a state of mind, you know. I don't think you are permanently happy. One is happy about certain things and not so happy about others.”

“I've never turned to anybody for advice and counsel. Even when I was a very small child, I had to stand on my feet because of the circumstances of those times, and somehow, the circumstances have remained more or less the same. I have to take my own decisions.”