Once you start a working on something, don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest.
ChanakyaRead
A man attains greatness by his merits, not simply by occupying an exalted seat. Can we call a crow an eagle (garuda) simply because he sits on the top of a tall building.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True greatness comes from one's actions and character, not just from status or position.
This quote emphasizes that true merit and excellence are defined by an individual's achievements and qualities rather than their title or status. It uses the metaphor of a crow perched on a high building, suggesting that mere appearance of grandeur does not equate to true greatness or nobility.
Themes
GreatnessMeritStatusAchievementsCharacter
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared in a motivational speech to inspire individuals to focus on personal development rather than just seeking titles.
More from Chanakya
All quotes →Let not a single day pass without your learning a verse, half a verse, or a fourth of it, or even one letter of it; nor without attending to charity, study and other pious activity.
ChanakyaRead
The life of an uneducated man is as useless as the tail of a dog which neither covers its rear end, nor protects it from the bites of insects.
ChanakyaRead
The serpent, the king, the tiger, the stinging wasp, the small child, the dog owned by other people, and the fool: these seven ought not to be awakened from sleep.
ChanakyaRead
Whoever imposes severe punishment becomes repulsive to the people; while he who awards mild punishment becomes contemptible. But whoever imposes punishment as deserved becomes respectable.
ChanakyaRead
One whose knowledge is confined to books and whose wealth is in the possession of others, can use neither his knowledge nor wealth when the need for them arises.
ChanakyaRead
Similar quotes
It took me seventeen years to get three thousand hits in baseball. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course.
Hank AaronRead
Black people in America, people from the struggle, immigrants, it's no generational wealth that we are attached to, so we are tasked to create - in one generation - closing the gap. That's why we so Doomsday about getting to the check: 'cause it's life or death for real.
Nipsey HussleRead
I have the world heavyweight title not because it was 'given' to me, not because of my race or religion, but because I won it in the ring through my own boxing ability.
Muhammad AliRead
Make your mark in New York and you are a made man.
Mark TwainRead
Success is not built on success. It's built on failure. It's built on frustration. Sometimes its built on catastrophe.
Sumner RedstoneRead
I wanted to be an editor or a journalist, I wasn't really interested in being an entrepreneur, but I soon found I had to become an entrepreneur in order to keep my magazine going.
Richard BransonRead