A mere knowledge of things can be had in a short enough time, but their spirit can only be acquired by centuries of training and self-control. Dominating nature from outside is a much simpler thing than making her your own in love’s delight, which is a work of true genius. Your race has shown that genius, not by acquirements, but by creations; not by display of things, but by manifestation of its own inner being.

— Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore Quotes

Take away man from his natural surroundings, from the fulness of his communal life, with all its living associations of beauty and love and social obligations, and you will be able to turn him into so many fragments of a machine for the production of wealth on a gigantic scale. Turn a tree into a log and it will burn for you, but it will never bear living flowers and fruit.

— Rabindranath Tagore

But there are ideals which do not play hide-and-seek with our life; they slowly grow from seed to flower, from flower to fruit; they require infinite space and heaven’s light to mature, and the fruits that they produce can survive years of insult and neglect.

— Rabindranath Tagore

The product of this inner life is a living product. It will be needed when the youth returns home weary and dust-laden, when the soldier is wounded, when the wealth is squandered away and pride is humbled, when man’s heart cries for truth in the immensity of facts and harmony in the contradiction of tendencies. Its value is not in its multiplication of materials, but in its spiritual fulfilment.

— Rabindranath Tagore

A mere knowledge of things can be had in a short enough time, but their spirit can only be acquired by centuries of training and self-control. Dominating nature from outside is a much simpler thing than making her your own in love’s delight, which is a work of true genius. Your race has shown that genius, not by acquirements, but by creations; not by display of things, but by manifestation of its own inner being.

— Rabindranath Tagore

But the beauty which Paresh Babu saw in her face was not that of complexion or features, but of the soul which there found its expression, – not just the pleasantness of a faultless shape but the firmness of strength, the brightness of independence, – characteristics which attract a chosen few, but repel most others.

— Rabindranath Tagore

The night kisses the fading day whispering to his ear, “I am death, your mother. I am to give you fresh birth.

— Rabindranath Tagore

Turn a tree into a log and it will burn for you, but it will never bear living flowers and fruit.

— Rabindranath Tagore

In life the one becomes many. In death the many become one.

— Rabindranath Tagore

Reality is the harmony which gives to the component parts of a thing the equilibrium of the whole.

— Rabindranath Tagore

The truth is that the spirit of conflict and conquest is at the origin and in the centre of Western nationalism; its basis is not social co-operation.

— Rabindranath Tagore

The very psychology of men and women about their mutual relation is changing and becoming the psychology of the primitive fighting elements, rather than of humanity seeking its completeness through the union based upon mutual self-surrender.

— Rabindranath Tagore

Light, oh where is the light! Kindle it with the burning fire of desire! It thunders and the wind rushes screaming through the void. The night is black as a black stone. Let not the hours pass by in the dark. Kindle the lamp of love with thy life.

— Rabindranath Tagore

Clever lies become matters of self-congratulation.

— Rabindranath Tagore

You cannot go on violating these laws in the name of your nation, yet enjoy their advantage as individuals.

— Rabindranath Tagore

Even though from childhood I had been taught that idolatry of the Nation is almost better than reverence for God and humanity, I believe I have outgrown that teaching, and it is my conviction that my countrymen will truly gain their India by fighting against the education which teaches them that a country is greater than the ideals of humanity.

— Rabindranath Tagore

Whenever Power removes all checks from its path to make its career easy, it triumphantly rides into its ultimate crash of death.

— Rabindranath Tagore

Every now and then, their mutual passion would show signs of fading; without the firm support of the world of everyday duty, it was difficult to keep up this fervour. Unless love is rooted in purposeful activity, its delights are neither fulfilling nor lasting.

— Rabindranath Tagore

Life’s memories are not life’s history, but the original work of an unseen artist.

— Rabindranath Tagore

Rajalakshmi would send for Bihari and express her grief. Bihari would tell her, ‘Ma, when the worm weaves a cocoon there is not much to fear, but when it breaks out and flies away, it is hard to make it return. Who would have thought he would break free of his bond with you in such a manner?

— Rabindranath Tagore

The one who plants a tree knowing he may never sit in its shade has learnt a little about life.

— Rabindranath Tagore
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