Portrait of Guru Nanak

Guru Nanak

Founder of Sikhism

Early Modern influential 183 sayings

Sayings by Guru Nanak

There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim.

1499 — Statement made upon awakening from a profound spiritual experience at the River Bein, questioning re…
Wisdom Confirmed

The Commander issues the order, and the soldiers array themselves accordingly. They cannot see the Commander, but they must obey His Order.

circa 1500 — From a Shabad, describing the divine order of the universe in militaristic terms.
War & Conflict Unverifiable

Make compassion the cotton, contentment the thread, modesty the knot and truth the twist. This is the sacred thread of the soul; if you have it, then go ahead and put it on me.

circa 1499 — Response to Hindu priests offering him the Janeu (sacred thread), redefining its meaning radically.
Biblical Unverifiable

The body is the field of karma in this age; whatever you plant, you shall harvest.

circa 1500 — From a Shabad, describing the body as a field for action.
Wisdom Unverifiable

He alone is a Brahmin who knows God.

circa 1500 — From a Shabad, challenging caste hierarchy by redefining Brahminhood spiritually.
Biblical Unverifiable

Speak only that which will bring you honor.

circa 1500 — From a Shabad, advising careful, truthful speech.
Wisdom Confirmed

The nights are wasted sleeping, and the days are wasted eating; the human spends his life in vain.

circa 1500 — From a Shabad, critiquing a life of mere consumption and sloth.
Wisdom Unverifiable

When the corn is ripe, it is cut down; when the mortal becomes old, death dances over his head.

circa 1500 — From a Shabad, using agricultural metaphor for mortality.
Life & Death Unverifiable

If you must speak, speak only the Truth.

circa 1500 — Teaching to his followers
Wisdom Unverifiable

Even Kings and emperors with heaps of wealth and vast dominion cannot compare with an ant filled with the love of God.

circa 1500 — From a hymn in the Guru Granth Sahib
Biblical Confirmed

The sun and moon, O Lord, are Thy lamps; the firmament Thy salver; the orbs of the stars the pearls encased in it.

circa 1500 — From a hymn in the Guru Granth Sahib
Nature & World Unverifiable

I am neither a child, a young man, nor an ancient; nor am I of any caste.

circa 1500 — From a hymn in the Guru Granth Sahib
Wisdom Confirmed

Why do you go to the forest in search of God? He lives in all, and yet is ever distinct. He abides with you, too.

circa 1500 — Teaching to ascetics
Nature & World Unverifiable

There is but One God, His Name is Truth, He is the Creator, Fearless, without hatred, Immortal, Unborn, Self-existent, by the Guru's Grace.

c. 15th-16th century CE — Mool Mantar, Japji Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib
Inspirational Unverifiable

He who has no faith in himself can never have faith in God.

c. 15th-16th century CE — Attributed, often cited in Sikh literature
Biblical Confirmed

Why do you not love the one who created you?

c. 15th-16th century CE — Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 721
Love & Relationships Unverifiable

Before becoming a Muslim, a Hindu, a Christian, a Jew, let us become a Human.

c. 15th-16th century CE — Attributed, common in interfaith dialogues, though exact textual source difficult to pinpoint in GGS
Wisdom Unverifiable

He who has conquered his mind has conquered the world.

c. 15th-16th century CE — Japji Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib
War & Conflict Unverifiable

The greatest joy is to be found in the Lord's Name.

c. 15th-16th century CE — Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 26
Wisdom Unverifiable

Death would not be called bad, O people, if one knew how to truly die.

c. 15th-16th century CE — Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 579
Life & Death Confirmed
Your Cart

Your cart is empty