Khushwant Singh, a prominent Indian author and journalist, left an indelible mark with his thought-provoking quotes. From “We are all prisoners but some of us are in cells with windows and some without” to “The truth is a naked lady; she must be put on a pedestal for all to worship, but she must not be violated,” Singh’s quotes encapsulate his wit, social commentary, and philosophical depth. His words explore diverse themes such as religion, politics, and human relationships, often challenging conventional norms. Through his quotes, Singh invites introspection, humor, and a critical examination of society, leaving readers pondering the complexities of life and the world around them.
Khushwant Singh Quotes
The truth is that no religion has a monopoly on spirituality.
Humor is the most serious thing in the world.
I do not shake hands with those whose hands are soiled with the blood of my people.
History is a pack of lies about events that never happened told by people who weren’t there.
The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.
Man is not a rational animal; he is a rationalizing animal.
Death is a great leveller, and it comes to everyone.
A sense of humor is needed armor. Joy in one’s heart and some laughter on one’s lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life.
We are like the inhabitants of an isolated valley in New Guinea who communicate with societies in neighboring valleys through an exchange of shells. The more shells we get from them, the more we want to send them.
The basic fault lines today are not between people with different beliefs but between people who hold these beliefs with an element of dogma and people who are willing to admit that they might be wrong.
Let us be what we are, and be good at it.
The tragedy of modern man is not that he knows less and less about the meaning of his own life, but that it bothers him less and less.
The perfect way to deal with insults is to ignore them. If you can’t ignore them, then laugh at them. If you can’t laugh at them, then they probably are true.
Simplicity is a pleasant thing in children, or at any age, but it is not necessarily admirable, nor is affectation altogether a thing of evil. To be normal, to be at home in the world, with a prospect of power, usefulness, or success, the person must have that imaginative insight into other minds that underlies tact and savoir-faire, morality and beneficence. This insight involves sophistication, some understanding and sharing of the clandestine impulses of human nature..
Politics and religion are obsolete; the time has come for science and spirituality.
The history of the world is none other than the progress of the consciousness of freedom.
Gandhi believed in the law of love. A law that is more potent and more powerful than the law of destruction.
I am a professional writer and I’m on a schedule. I have to get to work whether I’m inspired or not.
We are all prisoners of our past. It is hard to think of ourselves as detached from it.
Best Khushwant Singh Quotes in English
The high of fear is the greatest high of all.
Life is a wretched gray Saturday, but it has to be lived through.
The sudden disappointment of a hope leaves a scar which the ultimate fulfillment of that hope never entirely removes.
I don’t take it well when someone tries to make me a better person.
In the history of mankind, every generation has to start again and create a world that suits its own needs best.
Good literature, even when it’s tragic, ends in joy.
I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that I’m going to be positive and not wake up feeling desperate.
The mark of a true writer is his ability to re-write.
It’s not necessary to be rich and famous to be happy. It’s only necessary to be rich.
The tragedy of modern man is not that he knows less and less about the meaning of his own life, but that it bothers him less and less.
A lawyer is a person who writes a 10,000-word document and calls it a ‘brief.’
Man is a strange animal. He generally cannot read the handwriting on the wall until his back is up against it.
I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of rights.
A good heart keeps you beautiful forever.
An empty stomach is not a good political advisor.
The noise came from the top of the social hierarchy; it did not come from the bottom. It was an educated sound.
I believe in miracles. I have seen so many of them take place in the lives of people all over the world.
True religion is like a beautiful flower. It has love and devotion at its root and the fragrance of selfless service as its petals.
Never fall in love with a politician, they are married to the public.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know anything about.
I am not a believer, but I have the greatest respect for those who are.
Somehow, religion is much better at instilling guilt than it is at instilling morality.
The only way to avoid being miserable is not to have enough leisure to wonder whether you are happy or not.
The capacity to suffer varies more than anything that I have observed in human nature.
I do not believe in revenge, but I do believe in justice.
When I die, I hope to go to Heaven, whatever the Hell that is.
Man is what he believes.
The trouble with a masochist is that he is also a sadist.
I don’t want to live to be 100. I don’t want to live to be 90. It’s no fun old age.
India is not, as people keep calling it, an underdeveloped country, but rather, in the context of its history and cultural heritage, a highly developed one in an advanced state of decay.
