My parents shared not only an improbable love, they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation. They would give me an African name, Barack, or blessed, believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success.

India can live without nuclear weapons. That's our dream, and it should be the dream of the U.S. also.

If you get down and quarrel everyday, you're saying prayers to the devil, I say.

You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war.

We may stumble and fall but shall rise again; it should be enough if we did not run away from the battle.

Quality means doing it right when no one is looking. 

If you can, help others; if you can't do that, at least don't harm them.

There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast.

A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side.

God is to be worshipped as the one beloved, dearer than everything in this and next life.

Let each know that for each the body, the mind and the soul have been forced to fulfill themselves.

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.