Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was the former President of India. He was also a very famous scientist who helped develop missiles and launch vehicles. People lovingly called him the ‘Missile Man of India‘. Even though he came from a poor family, he worked very hard and became successful.
Dr. Kalam really wanted India to become a developed country. He hoped India would make progress in technology, healthcare and farming. He was a humble and down-to-earth person who liked talking to students. He visited many schools and colleges. He gave speeches and wrote books to motivate young people in India to dream big and work hard. His words focused on thinking positively in all parts of life.
Here are 75 of the most inspiring positive thinking quotes by Dr. Kalam. These quotes will help you think positively and make your dreams come true. The quotes are about dreams, having a good attitude, learning, young people, thinking, positive thinking, hard work, life, not giving up, being strong, creativity, integrity, dealing with failure, knowledge and being successful.
75+ Inspirational Positive Thinking Abdul Kalam Quotes
Quotes on Dreams
“Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action.”
This quote encourages us to dream big as dreams are the seeds of success. When we dream, we unlock our potential. Dreams motivate us to have ambitious thoughts which ultimately result in actions that make dreams into reality.
“Dream is not that which you see while sleeping it is something that does not let you sleep.”
Dreams make us restless and energetic when they are unfulfilled. Great dreams lead to tireless efforts that pave the path to success.
“You have to dream before your dreams can come true.”
We must envision our goals and dreams before we can actually accomplish them. Imagination and belief in oneself are key to realizing one’s dreams.
“Aim for the sky, you may reach the treetop. Aim for the treetop, you may not reach the sky.”
We must set seemingly impossible goals rather than low targets to expand our limits and potential.
Quotes on Attitude
“You cannot change your future. But you can change your habits, and surely your habits will change your future.”
We become what we repeatedly do. Developing good habits today ensures a successful tomorrow.
“Don’t read success stories, you will only get a message. Read failure stories, you will get some ideas to get success.”
Failures teach valuable lessons that open the door to new ideas and ultimate success.
“All Birds find shelter during a rain. But Eagle avoids rain by flying above the Clouds.”
We must face challenges rather than escape them to rise above mediocrity.
“Confidence and Hard Work is the best medicine to kill the disease called failure. It will make you a successful person.”
Self-belief and tireless effort are the keys that can cure failure and lead to success.
“If you fail, never give up because FAIL means “First Attempt In Learning”.”
Failure is an opportunity to learn and improve. Never give up at the first failure.
Student APJ Abdul Kalam Quotes
Quotes on Knowledge
“Knowledge without action is useless.”
Knowledge and skills must be applied to create impact, not simply acquired for the sake of it.
“Knowledge, hard work and perseverance are the keys to success.”
Developing expertise, working diligently and showing grit leads one to success.
“The purpose of education is to make good human beings with skill and expertise… Enlightened human beings can be created by teachers.”
Education’s core purpose is creating virtuous, skilled individuals. Teachers catalyze this human formation.
“Books are always your best friend.”
Books provide wisdom, comfort and companionship unaffected by time or circumstances.
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.”
Contemporary illiteracy refers not to basic literacy but being unable to constantly adapt through learning and unlearning.
Quotes on Learning
“The ignited mind of the youth is the most powerful resource on the earth, above the earth and under the earth.”
Young minds brimming with energy and passion have the power to create miracles.
“The best brains of the nation may be found on the last benches of the classroom.”
Brilliance has nothing to do with grades. Thinkers and innovators often challenge norms.
“Educationists should build the capacities of the spirit of inquiry, creativity, entrepreneurial and moral leadership among students and become their role model.”
Teachers must nurture curiosity, innovation, leadership and ethics.
“Teaching is a very noble profession that shapes the character, caliber, and future of an individual. If the people remember me as a good teacher, that will be the biggest honour for me.”
Molding students’ personalities and future is the biggest contribution of a teacher.
“Science is a beautiful gift to humanity; we should not distort it.”
Scientific knowledge has immense power which must be harnessed responsibly.
Quotes on Youth
“You have to dream before your dreams can come true.”
Everyone must envision their goals before accomplishing them.
“My message, especially to young people is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, courage to discover the impossible and to conquer the problems and succeed. These are great qualities that they must work towards.”
Young people must dare to be innovative explorers and problem-solvers.
“Youth is not a Time of Life – It is a State of Mind. Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. People grow old by deserting their ideals.”
Age is a state of mind. Idealism defines youthfulness.
“We must think and act like a nation of a billion people and not like that of a million people. Dream, dream, dream!”
India’s huge population represents immense human potential. Our dreams must match this potential.
“Let me define a leader. He must have vision and passion and not be afraid of any problem. Instead, he should know how to defeat it. Most importantly, he must work with integrity.”
A leader must have a vision, passion, courage and integrity.
“We will be remembered only if we give our younger generation a prosperous and safe India.”
Our legacy depends on enabling India’s youth to inherit a prosperous nation.
Quotes on Thinking
“Thinking is progress. Non-thinking is stagnation of the individual, organisation and the country. Thinking leads to action. Knowledge without action is useless.”
Reflection is critical for growth while inaction causes stagnation.
“Thinking is the capital, Enterprise is the way, Hard Work is the solution.”
Ideation provides direction, enterprise provides methodology and hard work leads to results.
“Learning gives creativity, creativity leads to thinking, thinking provides knowledge and knowledge makes you great.”
Learning enables us to think originally and gain knowledge that catalyzes greatness.
“You have to think high to rise.”
Ambitious thinking leads to great heights.
“Man needs his difficulties because they are necessary to enjoy success.”
Struggle teaches us to value our achievements.
Quotes on Positive Thinking
“Be active! Take on responsibility! Work for the things you believe in. If you do not, you are surrendering your fate to others.”
Take charge, have accountability and work towards your beliefs. Inaction hands over your destiny to others.
“Man needs difficulties in life because they are necessary to enjoy success.”
Challenges help us understand and treasure success.
“Difficulties in your life do not come to destroy you but to help realize your hidden potential and power. Let difficulties know that you too are difficult.”
Obstacles reveal our latent capabilities. Face troubles boldly.
“Don’t take rest after your first victory because if you fail in second, more lips are waiting to say that your first victory was just luck.”
Sustain your victories through persistent effort. Otherwise people may dismiss even your genuine wins as mere luck.
“Winners are not those who never fail but those who never quit.”
Winners persist despite failures. Quitters are the true failures.
“Have faith in yourself. Everything depends on the spirit with which you work.”
Have self-conviction. Your mindset decides your destiny.
Quotes on Hard Work
“Excellence is a continuous process and not an accident.”
There are no shortcuts to excellence. It requires continuous diligent work.
“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.”
Success comes from diligent preparation, perseverant work and learning from failure.
“Hard work, Perseverance and Patience are the keys to success.”
Tireless diligent work with an attitude of perseverance is essential for succeeding.
“Do not unnecessarily criticize but use the effort in doing some solid work.”
Avoid unconstructive criticism and channelize efforts into productive work.
“Do we not realize that self-respect comes through self-reliance?”
Relying on one’s own capabilities generates self-respect.
“You see, God helps those who work hard. That principle is very clear.”
Providence favors those who diligently work towards their goals.
Quotes on Life
“Life is a difficult game. You can win it only by retaining your birthright to be a person.”
Never sacrifice your identity to win in life.
“Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work.”
The universe supports determined dreamers.
“You see, God helps only people who work hard. That principle is very clear.”
Providence favors those who diligently work towards their goals.
“To succeed in your mission, you must have single-minded devotion to your goal.”
Laser-sharp focus is imperative to realize objectives.
“Let me define a leader. He must have vision and passion and not be afraid of any problem. Instead, he should know how to defeat it. Most importantly, he must work with integrity.”
Leaders require vision, passion, courage and integrity.
“You cannot change your future. But you can change your habits, and surely your habits will change your future.”
– We become what we repeatedly do. Developing good habits today ensures a successful tomorrow.
Quotes on Perseverance
“Never stop fighting until you arrive at your destined place – that is, the unique you. Have an aim in life, continuously acquire knowledge, work hard, and have perseverance to realise the great life.”
Keep striving until you discover your unique talents. Acquire knowledge and persevere unceasingly to achieve greatness.
“You should not give up and we should not allow the problem to defeat us.”
Never accept defeat irrespective of the problem. Persist until you emerge victorious.
“All Birds find shelter during a rain. But Eagle avoids rain by flying above the Clouds.”
Soar above challenges through resilience instead of circumventing them.
“Confidence and Hard Work is the best medicine to kill the disease called failure. It will make you a successful person.”
Self-belief and diligent work nullify failure’s lethal effects and breed success.
“If you want to shine like a sun, first burn like a sun.”
Blaze like the sun with enormous dedication to shine brightly.
Quotes on Strength
“When you speak, speak the truth; perform when you promise; discharge your trust…Withhold your hands from striking, and from taking that which is unlawful and bad…”
Speak truthfully, fulfill promises, be trustworthy, avoid violence and stay away from evil.
“We will be remembered only if we give to our younger generation a prosperous and safe India, resulting from economic prosperity coupled with civilizational heritage.”
Our legacy depends on providing India’s youth a prosperous nation rooted in ideals.
“Those who cannot work with their hearts achieve but a hollow, half-hearted success that breeds bitterness all around.”
Mechanical work sans heart achieves limited success filled with bitterness.
“Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow.”
Sacrificing our comforts can secure our children’s future.
“You have to dream before your dreams can come true.”
Concretization of dreams necessitates their conceptualization.
“Man needs difficulties in life because they are necessary to enjoy success.”
Challenges help us understand and treasure success.
Quotes on Creativity
“Creativity comes from zeal to do something, generally it is considered as thinking differently.”
Passion for excellence sparks original thinking and creativity.
“Creativity leads to thinking, thinking provides knowledge and knowledge makes you great.”
Creativity enables insightful reflection that builds knowledge leading to greatness.
“All of us do not have equal talent. But, all of us have an equal opportunity to develop our talents.”
While talents differ, opportunities for nurturing them are equal.
“Great dreams of great dreamers are always transcended.”
Great ambitions of ambitious people always get fulfilled.
“I’m not handsome like my friend. But I can give my hand to anyone who needs help. Beauty is in your heart, not in your face.”
True beauty lies in helping others selflessly, not superficial appearances.
Quotes on Integrity
“If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.”
Parents and teachers shape a nation’s integrity through mentoring.
“Be more dedicated to making solid achievements than in running after swift but synthetic happiness.”
Stay focused on substantial accomplishments than short-lived superficial joys.
“Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow.”
Sacrificing our comforts can secure our children’s future.
“You have to dream before your dreams can come true.”
Concrete manifestation of dreams requires their conceptualization.
“Great dreams of great dreamers are always transcended.”
Great ambitions of ambitious people get fulfilled.
Quotes on Failure
“ FAIL means “First Attempt in Learning”. End is not the end. In fact E.N.D. means “Effort Never Dies.” If you get No as an answer, remember N.O. means “Next Opportunity”. So let’s be positive.”
Treat failure as a learning experience. Persist in your efforts as efforts never go waste. Let a negative outcome provide impetus to march ahead. Maintain positivity.
“We should not give up and we should not allow the problem to defeat us.”
Never give up or allow problems to get the better of you.
“Don’t take rest after your first victory because if you fail in second, more lips are waiting to say that your first victory was just luck.”
A single victory does not guarantee everlasting success. Consistent effort is needed to prove initial wins weren’t simply luck.
“The best way to succeed in life is to act on the advice we give to others.”
We must practice what we preach rather than be hypocritical.
“It Is Easier To Build Boys Than To Mend Men.”
Shaping children’s values and character is easier than reforming flawed adults.
“Do not worry about failures. Never give up your self-confidence.”
Don’t lose self-belief due to failures. Persist.
Quotes on Success
“To succeed in your mission, you must have single-minded devotion to your goal.”
Unwavering focus is critical for any mission’s success.
“Nobody can hurt you without your permission.”
We allow others to hurt us by giving them such permission consciously or unconsciously.
“It is very easy to defeat someone, but it is very hard to win over someone.”
Vanquishing people through force or power is easy but earning their loyalty and goodwill takes true skill.
“Have an aim in life, continuously acquire knowledge, work hard, and have perseverance to realize the great life.”
Purposefulness, learning, diligence and perseverance are stepping stones to a life of greatness.
“Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives – choice, not chance, determines your destiny.”
Excellence results from resolute intentions, honest exertion and astute actions. It represents wisely chosen options, not mere chance. Our choices shape our destiny.
Conclusion
Dr. Kalam’s quotes provide invaluable lessons on dreaming big, thinking positively, working hard, never giving up on failures and staying grounded. They motivate us to be the best version of ourselves. His words will continue inspiring generations to build a developed, inclusive and righteous India. Truly, APJ Abdul Kalam’s thoughts on positive thinking can empower millions to transform their lives and the nation.
Video Credit: Spread Positivity
