Chanakya’s timeless wisdom for life management, taken from his teachings in his texts, Arthashastra and Chanakya Neeti.

1) “There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth.”

While this might sound harsh to some, it is a bitter reality of life. So, it’s better to understand others’ motives and have realistic expectations from others.

2) “Education is the best friend.”

Unlike material wealth, knowledge cannot be stolen, taxed, or devalued. An educated mind earns respect, solves problems and creates opportunities where others see none. Continuous learning and updating our knowledge and skills — whether in strategy, economics, human psychology, etc. — is the ultimate investment. Our knowledge and skills are our most valuable assets. Education can take us places and help us be successful in life. An educated person is respected everywhere.

3) “Learn from other’s mistakes.”

Observing other people’s lives and failures can help us grow as a person and avoid making similar mistakes.

“Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.” — Unknown

Intelligent ones learn from their mistakes and the wise ones learn from other’s mistakes.

Choose to be wise.

4) “Before you start the work, always ask yourself three questions.”

Why am I doing this? (Purpose) What will be the result? (Outcome) Will I be successful? (Probability of Success) Most people act on impulse or follow trends without introspection. Chanakya emphasizes strategic clarity — before investing time, money, or effort, we must evaluate the motive, potential consequences and feasibility of any endeavor. This will help us set clear goals, which is important for planning and executing effectively. This prevents wasted effort and ensures alignment with long-term goals.

5) “Do not reveal what you have thought upon doing. Keep it secret till it is executed.”

Have you ever noticed how by revealing your thoughts and intentions, you are sometimes derailed from your goals? Talking about this, Chanakya says that one should maintain confidentiality of one’s work till success is achieved.

6) “Once you start working on something, don’t fear failure.”

Many abandon efforts at the first sign of difficulty. Chanakya’s philosophy is: “Even if you fail, you gain experience — but quitting guarantees defeat.” Every setback teaches resilience, sharpens strategy and prepares us for future success. The key is persistence with adaptability.

7) “The biggest Guru-Mantra: Never share your secrets with anyone. It will destroy you.”

Trust is earned, not given freely. Chanakya warned that confiding in the wrong person can lead to betrayal, sabotage, or exploitation. Whether in business negotiations, personal relationships, or political alliances, information is power and leaking it carelessly weakens our position.

Keep your thoughts and life private. Guarding your information can stop others from using it against you when you are vulnerable.

8) “A person should not be too honest.”

While honesty is a virtue, blind honesty in a manipulative world can be self-destructive. Chanakya observed that “straight trees are cut first” — meaning those who are overly transparent often become easy targets. Being too honest can sometimes backfire on us. Instead, one should balance honesty with pragmatism. This will help one to navigate life’s challenges better. Chanakya advocated tactical discretion: revealing only what is necessary, guarding secrets and using diplomacy when dealing with rivals.

9) “If a king or a leader is soft towards evil, the good will suffer.”

Weak leadership invites chaos. Chanakya believed that excessive leniency toward wrongdoing, corrupts systems and harms the virtuous. In modern terms, this means: A CEO who tolerates unethical employees, ruins company culture. A government that ignores corruption destroys public trust. Justice must be firm, or disorder prevails.

10) “A Man is great by deeds, not by birth.”

In an era dominated by caste and aristocracy, Chanakya rejected privilege, declaring that true greatness comes from action, not lineage. This principle applies today: A startup founder with no connections can outshine corporate heirs. Meritocracy beats nepotism in the long run. Our work defines us, not our background.

11) “The one who runs after luxury will never be successful.”

Chanakya observed that indulgence weakens discipline, distracting from true goals. History’s greatest conquerors, innovators and leaders — from Alexander to Steve Jobs — practiced austerity in pursuit of a higher vision. Luxury should be a reward, not an obsession.

12) “The arrow shot by an archer can be deflected, but the strategy of a wise man cannot.”

Physical force has limits; intellectual strategy is unstoppable. Chanakya outmaneuvered the mighty Nanda Empire not with armies alone but with psychological warfare, alliances, and long- term planning. In business, outthinking competitors beats outspending them.