“I can not give you the reference of Ram Chandar or Krishna, because they were not historical figures. I can not help it but to present to you the names of Abu Bakar and Umar Farooq. They were leaders of a vast Empire, yet they lived a life of austerity.”
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Attribution note
Shared widely as Gandhi praising Abu Bakr and Umar, but no Collected Works, Young India, or Harijan citation supports it. The wording and sectarian framing are unverified; attribution remains unconfirmed.
Likely origin: No verifiable primary/CWMG source; circulates chiefly in Islamic-context quote collections.
About this quote
Real authority is measured by how simply a person lives while holding great power, not by the size of what they command. Wealth and rank test character; those who stay austere despite ruling much earn a moral weight that titles alone can never buy.
When to use it
- A newly promoted manager keeps the same modest desk and habits instead of demanding perks.
- A wealthy founder drives an old car and pushes the extra profits into raising his workers' wages.
- A city mayor rides public transit to work and turns down the offer of a chauffeured car.