Morarji Desai Quotes

43 Sourced Quotes

I believe in preventing cruelty to all living beings in any form.

Morarji Desai
One can't be kind to one person and cruel to another.

Morarji Desai
If we do not want to be pained by anybody we must not pain anybody; and how can man consider himself humane if he wants to live at the cost of others.

Morarji Desai
For those who believe in God the matter is simpler still and clearly than anything else: because those who believe in God believe that God is the Creator of the whole Universe and there is nothing that does not come from Him.

Morarji Desai
I do not want to go into its physical reasons: the construction of the human body is different from that of carnivorous animals. But man's intelligence is such that it can be utilised to defend any-thing he does, whether right or wrong.

Morarji Desai
I would, therefore, say that for no reason whatsoever, except in self-defense, should one think of killing any animal.

Morarji Desai
One has got to choose between the two evils, also between the lesser of the two evils in the matter of food, and therefore vegetarian food has got to be taken by man in order to sustain human life

Morarji Desai
You are quite correct in saying that I banned the export of monkeys on a humanitarian basis and not because the number was lessening.

Morarji Desai
Unless morality comes to public life, politics will remain what it is all over the world. My only interest in remaining in politics is to bring in morality. I've chosen the path of action and bhakti.

Morarji Desai
Very often, unfortunately the wrong kind of publicity appears in the press... That happens. Is God free from it? Was Mahatma Gandhi free from it? It's due to ignorance also. Some of these people deliberately misquote.

Morarji Desai
As long as man eats animals how can cruelty to animals be removed.

Morarji Desai
Celibacy is not only my view, but also that of several others', including the Roman Catholic Church. I don't say that this can be prescribed to the people. Here again, people say that I am imposing my will on them. I am not alone, Mahatma Gandhi was also against all artificial methods of family planning. He felt strongly about it. He said that by using it, you're turning women into prostitutes. He used such hard language. But, I know that the government doesn't run on individual opinions. Celibacy depends on self will. Only one in a million people can do it. It's necessary to have family planning. But, it doesn't lead to mental strength.

Morarji Desai
You are free to do any action as you want. That's not done by destiny. What you get is destiny. Because, that's the result of your own actions. Destiny is not given by God, one thing to one man, something else to another man. Then God would be unjust, partial and would cease to be God.

Morarji Desai
Consideration for other persons or for other living beings is very vital for goodness and want of consideration for other people makes human beings selfish, regardless for other people's good.

Morarji Desai
I consider astrology as a perfect science. But, I also believe what has to happen cannot be changed. Then what's the use? When you know, you worry about it. That why I never consult any astrologer. Of course, many of them come to me. But, no one can say I invited him or asked any questions. But when I believe it's a science, how can I deny it?

Morarji Desai
Is any serious crime committed without drinking? You see, if drinking were ruining only the man himself, then it wouldn't matter so much. But, why have we introduced it [prohibition] in the constitution? It's a crime against society as well. Take the case of ending your own life. Life is to live, therefore we've to discourage suicide. That doesn't mean you can't actually stop suicide, nobody can stop the actual act. Therefore, it's only the unsuccessful attempt which is an offence.

Morarji Desai
For a democracy to be healthy and effective, three political parties fight elections so that they can replace one another in Governments every few years. Dictatorial governments are either communist, or fascist, or military or personal. Nothing can control the power and wealth of a dictator. History has shown that there were no benevolent dictators and even if a saint became a dictator, he would be corrupted by the unlimited power and wealth at his command, and soon become a despot and tyrant. Mahatma Gandhi, who got us freedom by the unique method of non-violent resistance against evil was an ideal democrat.

Morarji Desai
I can't say I have shed [ego] it completely. I have certainly given it up, up to 95 per cent. I believe until and unless I give up my ego, I can't realise God. My whole ambition in life is to realise God or truth, whatever you may want to call it. Do you believe in God? It's a fashion not to believe in God.

Morarji Desai
It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get.

Morarji Desai
Belief in God is a matter of personal conviction and faith.

Morarji Desai
I only cherished service to people. There should not be greed even in service.

Morarji Desai
I do not consider anyone inferior to me or myself superior to anybody. Ever since I became an adult, I have been convinced that one should form no habits except the habit of telling the truth. All other habits enslave one and make one dependent and weak.

Morarji Desai
This country [India] has the best future. When it reached its summit, it was bound to come down. It has taken 2000 years. Yet, this is the only country which has not been destroyed in the world. All other civilizations have gone.... This is the only country whose civilization has survived to this day. Whether it is Egypt, Babylon or Sumeria, there is absolutely no indication of that in those countries at present.

Morarji Desai
Things should be done for their own sake. I accept that I will never understand reality, so I concentrate on action, dharma [duty] and commitment.

Morarji Desai
I have even acted in a children's film. It was a 10-minute role which I did somewhere around 1961. I had to quote from Gandhi. I spoke for 8 to 10 minutes continuously without any rehearsal, or writing, or retake. Not one word had to be changed. Because when you speak and act truthfully, you do not make a mistake. It comes naturally.

Morarji Desai
When what I believe is the truth, I must act on it. But, I consider that you have every right to think what you think is the truth. I pay a price for adhering to my truth. I pay and do it cheerfully.

Morarji Desai
[becoming the Prime Minister of this country] That's destiny. That's not the result of my work. But, what I do as Prime Minister is a new action for which I am responsible. And whatever wrong I have done, I'll have to pay for it.

Morarji Desai
I worked as a volunteer at that session and heard Mahatma Gandhi for the first time. I was profoundly impressed by his personality. Mahatama Gandhi was explaining his weapon of non-violent struggle for securing Swaraj.... Mahatma Ganndhi told his young companions – May be you don't agree today with what I say. But I am confident that within twenty five or thirty years, we will get Swaraj by this method. This purportedly proved true and just 31 years later India became independent.

Morarji Desai
To live a life of truth one has to suffer, but must suffer cheerfully

Morarji Desai
The Home Rule Movement had just started at that time. I used to attend many of the public meetings held under its auspices. I heard with great interest what Mrs Annie Besant whose language was so charmingly appealing and who used the silver tones of her voice with such effect that many students came under influence. After I passed my intermediate examination, in the last days of 1915, there was an annual session of Indian National Congress in Bombay which Sir Satyendra Prasanna Sanja presided.

Morarji Desai