Chanakya

Chanakya is a great Indian politician, strategist and writer of 350 BC - 275 BC. He was an adviser and a prime minister to the first Maurya Emperor Chandragupta (c. 340-293 BC), and architect for him to rise to power. Some scholars consider Chanakya to be "the pioneer economist of the world".

Chanakya had composed two books, Arthashastra and Nitishastra which is also know as Chanakya Niti. The Arthashastra discusses monetary and fiscal policies, welfare, international relations, and war strategies in detail. Nitishastra is a treatise on the ideal way of life, and shows Chanakya's in depth study of the Indian way of life.

Chanakya quotes

"A person should not be too honest.
Straight trees are cut first
and Honest people are victimised first."

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"Even if a snake is not poisonous,
it should pretend to be venomous."

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"The biggest guru-mantra is:
Never share your secrets with anybody. !
It will destroy you."

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"There is some self-interest behind every friendship.
There is no Friendship without self-interests.
This is a bitter truth."

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"Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions -
Why am I doing it,
What the results might be and
Will I be successful.
Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead."

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"As soon as the fear approaches near,
attack and destroy it."

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"Once you start a working on something,
don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it.
People who work sincerely are the happiest.."
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"The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind.
But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction."
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"A man is great by deeds, not by birth."

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"Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them.
By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends."

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"Books are as useful to a stupid person
as a mirror is useful to a blind person."
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"Education is the best friend.
An educated person is respected everywhere.
Education beats the beauty and the youth."

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Some more details @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanakya