“But India cannot live for Lancashire or any other country before she is able to live for herself. And she can live for herself only if she produces and is helped to produce everything for her requirements within her own borders.”
Share this quote
Probable attribution
This saying is widely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the attribution is not supported by a reliable primary source.
Likely origin: Attributed to M.K. Gandhi via 'Third Class in Indian Railways' (1917); his economic self-reliance / anti-Lancashire argument.
About this quote
A community has to meet its own basic needs before it can afford to serve distant markets. Leaning on faraway producers for essentials hollows out local capacity; building the ability to supply yourself first is what makes genuine independence possible.
When to use it
- A town investing in local food growers before chasing export contracts.
- A household covering its own rent and groceries reliably before lending money to others.
- A company securing its core supply chain in-house before outsourcing critical parts abroad.