Be the change that you wish to see in the world.

Description: This widely-cited teaching is attributed to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the Indian independence leader and advocate of nonviolent resistance. Gandhi dedicated his life to truth (satya) and nonviolence (ahimsa), leading India to freedom from British colonial rule through peaceful civil disobedience.

This quote captures Gandhi's philosophy of personal responsibility and embodied action. Rather than waiting for others to create the world we desire, or simply criticizing what's wrong, Gandhi calls us to become living examples of our ideals. If we want more compassion in the world, we must be compassionate. If we seek peace, we must cultivate it within ourselves first.

The power of this teaching lies in its recognition that transformation begins from within and radiates outward. It challenges us to examine the gap between our values and our actions, and to close that gap through conscious choice. Gandhi believed that genuine social change is built person by person, action by action, moment by moment.

Credit: While this exact phrasing has become popular in modern times, scholars note it's a paraphrase of Gandhi's more detailed writings. The essence comes from his statement: "If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him." Regardless of the exact wording, the sentiment authentically reflects Gandhi's life and teachings.