“A nation' s strength ultimately consists in what it can do on its own, and not in what it can borrow from others.”

“All my games were political games; I was, like Joan of Arc, perpetually being burned at the stake.”

“All the people who fought for freedom were my heroes. I mean, that was the sort of story I liked reading... freedom struggles and so on.”

“Even if I died in the service of the nation, I would be proud of it. Every drop of my blood... will contribute to the growth of this nation and to make it strong and dynamic.”

“Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave.”

“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 am not a person to be pressured - by anybody or any nation.”

“I do not like carving the world into segments; we are one world.”

“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.”

“I think basically I'm lazy, but I have a housewife's mentality when I go about my job.”

“Martyrdom does not end something, it only a beginning.”

“My father was a statesman, I am a political woman. My father was a saint. I am not.”

“One must beware of ministers who can do nothing without money, and those who want to do everything with money.”

“People tend to forget their duties but remember their rights.”

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

“The people have nothing to fear of me; people have never feared me.”

“The power to question is the basis of all human progress.”

“There are grave misgivings that the discussion on ecology may be designed to distract attention from the problems of war and poverty.”

“There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there.”

“There exists no politician in India daring enough to attempt to explain to the masses that cows can be eaten.”

“There is not love where there is no will.”

“We do not wish to impoverish the environment any further, and yet we cannot for a moment forget the grim poverty of large numbers of people. Are not poverty and need the greatest polluters?”

“We have to prove to the disinherited majority of the world that ecology and conservation will not work against their interest but will bring an improvement in their lives.”

“Winning or losing of the election is less important than strengthening the country.”

“You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.”

“You must learn to be still in the midst of activity and to be vibrantly alive in repose.”