Portrait of Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore

Indian poet, Nobel laureate

Modern influential 95 sayings

Sayings by Rabindranath Tagore

The West is obsessed with power, and that obsession will lead to its downfall.

1917 — Letter to C.F. Andrews
Controversial Unverifiable

The modern world has lost its soul in the pursuit of material gain.

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

The greatest evil is not poverty, but the spiritual degradation that comes from it.

early 20th century — Various writings
Controversial Unverifiable

The machine age has turned human beings into cogs in a giant machine.

1941 — Speech, 'Crisis in Civilization'
Controversial Unverifiable

The West has imposed its civilization on the East, and in doing so, has destroyed much that was valuable.

1917 — Letter to C.F. Andrews
Controversial Unverifiable

The pursuit of power is a sign of weakness, not strength.

early 20th century — Various writings
Controversial Unverifiable

The greatest danger to humanity is not external enemies, but the internal corruption of the spirit.

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

The modern world has lost its sense of beauty and wonder.

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

The West is suffering from a spiritual vacuum.

1941 — Speech, 'Crisis in Civilization'
Controversial Unverifiable

The greatest achievement of man is not in conquering nature, but in conquering himself.

early 20th century — Various writings
Controversial Unverifiable

The modern state is a soulless machine.

1917 — Lectures, 'Nationalism'
Controversial Unverifiable

The greatest wealth is not gold, but wisdom.

early 20th century — Various writings
Controversial Unverifiable

The modern world is a prison of our own making.

1941 — Speech, 'Crisis in Civilization'
Controversial Unverifiable

The greatest revolution is not political, but spiritual.

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

The West has given us the tools of destruction, not creation.

1921 — Letter to Romain Rolland
Controversial Unverifiable

The greatest poverty is not lack of money, but lack of love.

early 20th century — Various writings
Controversial Unverifiable

The modern man is a slave to his desires.

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

The greatest art is that which inspires humanity.

early 20th century — Various writings
Controversial Unverifiable

The modern world is a graveyard of dreams.

1941 — Speech, 'Crisis in Civilization'
Controversial Unverifiable

The greatest evil is that which masquerades as good.

early 20th century — Various writings
Controversial Unverifiable