“The main purpose of life is to live rightly, think rightly, act rightly. The soul must languish when we give all our thought to the body.”
- October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948
- British Indian Empire
- Lawyer, religious leader, social activist, political leader
- As a leader of the Indian independence movement, he advocated non-violent resistance (Satyagraha) and contributed to India’s independence from Britain.
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Quote
“The main purpose of life is to live rightly, think rightly, act rightly. The soul must languish when we give all our thought to the body.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mahatma Gandhi emphasizes that the ultimate purpose of life lies in the alignment of thought, action, and living with moral principles. For Gandhi, living rightly means adhering to values like truth, nonviolence, and compassion. He suggests that the pursuit of physical well-being and material comforts, while not inherently wrong, should never overshadow the nurturing of the soul and the ethical quality of our actions. Focusing too much on the body and its desires leads to the neglect of the deeper, more spiritual aspects of life. This aligns with Gandhi’s holistic view of life, where the physical, mental, and spiritual are interconnected.
Gandhi often expressed concern about the imbalance between material and spiritual pursuits. In his philosophy of simple living and self-discipline, he taught that spiritual growth requires more than just external practices; it demands a pure heart, right intention, and ethical conduct. He believed that true freedom and inner peace could only be achieved by prioritizing moral and spiritual development over mere materialism. For Gandhi, the soul thrives when we seek truth in our thoughts, actions, and relationships, which in turn transforms both the individual and society.
In the modern context, this quote serves as a reminder to reassess our priorities. In a world often preoccupied with wealth, status, and physical gratification, Gandhi calls for a return to the fundamentals of ethical living—living rightly, thinking rightly, and acting rightly. When we focus too much on external success or physical desires, we risk losing touch with our inner selves, leading to a lack of fulfillment and moral stagnation. Gandhi’s message is timeless: true purpose comes from spiritual alignment and ethical living, not from the pursuit of fleeting material comforts.
