From "My Experiments with Truth"
The book will have truth and only truth, no matter how harsh, as it is God itself. It shall not be tampered with for the convenience of humans.
Gandhiji had an ordinary family, yet he got to know at the very start how important experience and devotion are.
He understood at an early age the power of truth, and he never wanted to lie, even if it meant sacrifice.
We can practically see that he is writing the truth because he is writing a chapter he doesn’t want to write.
He illustrates his bond with Kasturba Gandhi and how their relationship came to be.
His experience as a high schooler shows how truth got him into trouble, but he never strayed from it.
His friends influenced him to eat meat, and he was convinced only on the hope of a free India.
Vices are easier to adopt, and bad influence compromises your time, devotion, and mind.
An honest confession makes us accountable and frees us from fear; truth is always possible.
Don’t let carnal behavior overcome your duty.
Get good morals and principles planted in your head at an early age.
Make the sacrifices that need to be made.
Don’t let society dictate how you act; be humble in your actions.
Welcome the unknown to improve yourself, because what you know has already shaped you.
Stay with your morals under all circumstances, ensuring they don’t disturb others.
Don’t waste time fitting into society when one day society will fit into you.
No matter how good you are, someone is better; no matter how poor, someone is poorer. Be humble.
Don’t let convenience tamper with hardship, or it will destroy you without realization.
Build courage to speak, but speak only when needed.
Don’t let society breach your morals.
Appreciate what is good, regardless of background or relations.
Never rely on God to come and save you.
Behaving fancily for society induces hatred for simple people; be humble.
What makes things great is their purpose.
Things lose meaning with time; change is necessary to preserve morals.
Don’t overthink meeting helpful people, but don’t waste their time.
Some things cannot be achieved alone.
Always imagine the consequences of your decisions.
Planning from the start eases tension in practice.
You become like the people you surround yourself with.
You get what you deserve.
Look for red flags before choosing anything.
Don’t abandon your culture and morals; they may inspire others.
Stand up for what is right, and fight for truth.
In life, there will be people who help you, so don’t lose hope.
Learn all you can, but never detract from your roots.
Don’t let people’s mistakes deter you from the original idea.
Do the best you can for others without expecting results.
Be thorough in decisions; forgiving comes from understanding others’ reasons.
Keep evaluating your goal; focus on the bigger picture.
If you dislike something, try looking at it clearly.
Never feel alone when you are right.
Perform tasks to the fullest, as you are responsible for them.
Don’t let small battles distract you from the bigger goal.
Keep your work organized to avoid misunderstandings.
Don’t ignore opportunities, even small ones.
Work for your goal even if you don’t expect results.
Think before acting, as your actions influence others.
Trust is easily lost.
Try to learn everywhere you go.
No takeaway written for this chapter.
Service without joy benefits neither the servant nor the served.
Don’t be so engaged in work that you forget to question your values.
Your words shape your work.
Keep doing what’s right, even unsupported, because you’ll win in the end.
People only understand importance when something is absent.
All struggles eventually end.
Forgive even those who hurt you; sometimes they aren’t the true wrongdoers.
Work that wins public trust is bound to succeed.
Real education uses experience to improve oneself and surroundings.
Learn deeply about what you deal with; it will never go to waste.
Don’t let convenience override your vow.
Your morals lie in your culture.
Provide for yourself so you don’t depend on others.
When the time is right, people unite against a common enemy.
Indians are generous only when they feel it’s needed.
Leave unneeded things; they may serve greater use elsewhere.
Making others realize work is needed is harder than doing it yourself.
No work is small; all give experience.
Don’t rush work; it may be vital for others.
Don’t assume intentions only from actions.
Always learn without judgment.
Instead of hating immorality, find solutions.
The best way to know something is to see it yourself.
Don’t judge something by its representation.
When rulers are ignorant, it is our duty to make the best of it.
Some morals and ethics rank higher than survival.
Don’t fear the unknown if you have faith in truth.
Don’t let reality weaken motivation; use it to strengthen your resolve.
When people trust you, fulfill that duty fully.
Let your work be your answer to insult.
Don’t let fear of loss outweigh your concern for a better future.
Never stop changing minds.
Realize your value; don’t risk society’s progress.
Try new things but don’t follow blindly.
Always be ready to change your opinions.
Hate the sin, not the sinner.
Treat everyone kindly; your mind may change with time.
Never abandon what you’ve begun unless it is morally wrong.
Honest work requires honest people.
Writing regularly shapes humility, fairness, and non-violence.
People respect anyone who fights injustice for them.
Be willing to risk your men to save others.
Help delayed is no help.
Teach others by leading so they’re independent.
Don’t assert what you aren’t sure of.
Equality is essential in work.
Help is given, never taken.
Maintaining an idea is harder than creating it.
Take full responsibility even for a suggestion.
Always help your roots—parents, city, or nation.
Service comes from the heart, not views.
Only practice makes an idea yours.
The creator must preserve an idea’s original meaning.
Don’t stop positive experiments unless they break ethics.
Faith is shown through actions, not words.
Apply advice to yourself as well as others.
No life solution is complete without a change of mind.
Religion is guidance, but duty is personal.
People learn from example, not instruction.
The mind remembers events, not texts.
Teaching is re-learning; a teacher must embody principles.
One bad apple doesn’t ruin the bunch.
Respect leads to empathy, which dissolves hatred.
Possessions hinder spiritual connection.
In disagreements, listen first; then act freely.
Always admit and atone when wrong.
Different tolerances must be acknowledged for common solutions.
Respect trusted people’s decisions even if you disagree.
Forgive unknown bad decisions.
Anyone can follow plans; be good at making them.