Rabindranath Tagore

Indian poet, Nobel laureate

Modern influential 95 sayings

Sayings by Rabindranath Tagore

The English are a race of shopkeepers, and they have brought their shopkeeping mentality to governance.

1917 — Letter to C.F. Andrews
Controversial Unverifiable

Nationalism is a great menace. It is the greatest evil that the world is faced with today.

1917 — Lectures, 'Nationalism'
Controversial Unverifiable

The present civilization is suffering from a moral breakdown due to its worship of money and power.

1941 — Speech, 'Crisis in Civilization'
Controversial Unverifiable

The machine has created a Frankenstein monster, which is now devouring humanity.

1931 — Speech on 'The Poet's Religion'
Controversial Unverifiable

The political game of hide-and-seek, with its constant compromises and deceits, is unworthy of human beings.

1921 — Letter to Mahatma Gandhi
Controversial Unverifiable

The idea of a perfect state is a dangerous illusion, for it always leads to tyranny.

1931 — Essay, 'The Religion of Man'
Controversial Unverifiable

The Western concept of progress is a treadmill that leads nowhere.

1941 — Speech, 'Crisis in Civilization'
Controversial Unverifiable

Modern education is a factory for producing clerks, not free human beings.

1910s — Speech on education
Controversial Unverifiable

The greatest curse of India is caste, which has divided our people and made them weak.

1920s — Essay, 'Towards Universal Man'
Controversial Unverifiable

Religion, when it becomes organized, becomes a cage for the human spirit.

1931 — Essay, 'The Religion of Man'
Controversial Unverifiable

The cult of the nation is a cult of selfishness.

1917 — Lectures, 'Nationalism'
Controversial Unverifiable

The powerful are always afraid of the weak, and that is why they oppress them.

early 20th century — Various writings
Controversial Unverifiable

The greatest tragedy of modern times is the dehumanization of man by the machine.

1941 — Speech, 'Crisis in Civilization'
Controversial Unverifiable

The West has given us science, but it has not given us wisdom.

1921 — Letter to Romain Rolland
Controversial Unverifiable

The idea of a 'chosen people' is a dangerous delusion that leads to hatred and conflict.

1931 — Essay, 'The Religion of Man'
Controversial Unverifiable

Modern civilization is based on plunder and exploitation.

1941 — Speech, 'Crisis in Civilization'
Controversial Unverifiable

The pursuit of material wealth leads to spiritual poverty.

early 20th century — Various writings
Controversial Unverifiable

The true liberation of India will come not from political freedom, but from spiritual awakening.

1921 — Speech, 'The Call of Truth'
Controversial Unverifiable

The greatest enemy of mankind is not war, but ignorance.

early 20th century — Various writings
Controversial Unverifiable

The cult of efficiency is a dehumanizing force.

1941 — Speech, 'Crisis in Civilization'
Controversial Unverifiable