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Happy Gurpurab 2025: 20 motivational quotes by Guru Nanak Dev Ji that will inspire you to rethink life

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on - Nov 5, 2025, 00:11 IST
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1/21

​Guru Nanak

Guru Nanak Dev Ji is the founder of Sikhism, a prominent religion in India. Born in 1469, he worked at a granary for many years before he was drawn into his religious work. He was a great writer and most of his teachings are written in the form of hymns. Here are the English translations of some of his most memorable lines. They will no doubt inspire you:

2/21

On the power self control brings

"Conquer your mind and conquer the world."
3/21

On the illusion opf life

“The world is a drama, staged in a dream”
4/21

On true wealthq

“Even Kings and emperors with heaps of wealth and vast dominion cannot compare with an ant filled with the love of God.”
5/21

On peace

“Dwell in peace in the home of your own being, and the Messenger of Death will not be able to touch you.”
6/21

On how all lives are equal

"Only fools argue whether to eat meat or not. They don't understand truth, nor do they meditate on it. Who can define what is meat and what is plant? Who knows where the sin lies, being a vegetarian"
7/21

On the muse

“Burn worldly love,
rub the ashes and make ink of it,
make the heart the pen,
the intellect the writer,
write that which has no end or limit.”
8/21

On the importance of believeing in your self

“He who has no faith in himself can never have faith in God.”
9/21

On how the soul has no gender

“I am neither male nor female, nor am I sexless. I am the Peaceful One, whose form is self-effulgent, powerful radiance.”
10/21

On the importance of sharing goodness

"If the people use the wealth bestowed on them by God for themselves alone or for treasuring it, it is like a corpse. But if they decide to share it with others, it becomes sacred food"
11/21

On asceticism

"Asceticism doesn't lie in mere words; He is an ascetic who treats everyone alike. Asceticism doesn't lie in visiting burial places; it lies not in wandering about nor in bathing at places of pilgrimage. Asceticism is to remain pure amidst impurities."
12/21

On the importance of solitary meditation

"Alone let him constantly meditate in solitude on that which is salutary for his soul, for he who meditates in solitude attains supreme bliss."
13/21

On death

“Death would not be called bad, O people, if one knew how to truely die.”
14/21

On truth

“Realization of Truth is higher than all else. Higher still is truthful living.”
15/21

On speaking thoughtfully

“Speak only that which will bring you honor.”
16/21

On ignorance

“Owing to ignorance of the rope the rope appears to be a snake; owing to ignorance of the Self the transient state arises of the individualized, limited, phenomenal aspect of the Self.”
17/21

On God being one

“There is but one God. True is His Name, creative His personality and immortal His form. He is without fear sans enmity, unborn and self-illumined. By the Guru's grace He is obtained.”
18/21

On finding happiness

“In this world
when you ask of happiness
Pain steps forward”
19/21

On the infinate soul

"I am not the born; how can there be either birth or death for me?"
20/21

On being connected with all life

"What should the yogi have to fear? Trees, plants, and all that is inside and outside, is He Himself"
21/21

On how understanding puts you on gods path

"He who regards all men as equals is religious."

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Copyright © Jun 6, 2026, 02.18AM IST Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service