100 Best Rudyard Kipling Quotes From The Famous Writer

Rudyard Kipling was an acclaimed English writer, novelist and poet.He was drawn towards literature and started writing at a very young age. His experiences in life deeply influenced his works in literature.Kipling had a vast collection of literary works covering novels, short stories, poems and fables. His first published work titled ‘Plain Tales From The Hills’, was followed by various other books to build his reputation as a writer. His most notable book was ‘The Jungle Book’ which had eight short stories revolving around the main character, Mowgli.He was a celebrated writer and his works are highly regarded to this date. And, although his stories bring order to the chaotic world and give a perspective to change the world, he had a troubled personal life. Go through these Rudyard Kipling quotes, where he fascinatingly plays with words to explain some of the important lessons of life!If you want to look for more literary quotes, you may also like these T.S. Eliot quotes and [Kerouac quotes].Rudyard Kipling Famous QuotesLiterature is the poetic documentation of life in its reality. Here is a collection of Rudyard Kipling quotes that resonate with his preachings to the human world, about life and how to live it. We have used motivational and inspirational Rudyard Kipling quotes, and you may even stumble on the very famous, “Words are of course the most powerful drug used by mankind” quote in this section. Start your day with quotes of this famous personnel.1. “Take everything you like seriously, except yourselves.”― Rudyard Kipling.2. “He wrapped himself in quotations - as a beggar would enfold himself in the purple of Emperors.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘Many Inventions’.3. “I always prefer to believe the best of everybody; it saves so much trouble”― Rudyard Kipling.4. “I never made a mistake in my life; at least, never one that I couldn’t explain away afterwards.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘Under The Deodars’.5. “We’re all islands shouting lies to each other across seas of misunderstanding.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Light That Failed’.6. “A woman’s guess is much more accurate than a man’s certainty.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘Plain Tales From The Hills’.7. “Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Collected Works’.8. “Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.”― Rudyard Kipling.9. “No price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.”― Rudyard Kipling.10. “For the sin, they do by two and two they must pay for one by one. “– Rudyard Kipling.Rudyard Kipling Quotes If You Are A RationalistRudyard Kipling has written lots of fiction, however, he has always kept a realistic approach in his art. Rudyard Kipling is an inspirational writer to many, he has sardonically showcased human frailties and wisdom in his many literary works. His poems and stories are widely popular and have been considered by many nobel laureates as the best works of fiction. Carry these Kipling quotes with you in every step of your life.11. “The first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it.”― Rudyard Kipling.12. “How can you do anything until you have seen everything or as much as you can?”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Light That Failed’.13. “Thou art of the Jungle and not of the Jungle. And I am only a black panther. But I love thee, Little Brother.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Jungle Book’.14. “If any Question why we died, Tell them because our Fathers lied.”― Rudyard Kipling.15. “Go, and peace go with thee. Only, another time do not meddle with my game”-Rudyard Kipling.16. “And the first rude sketch that the world had seen was joy to his mighty heart, till the Devil whispered behind the leaves ‘It’s pretty, but is it Art?’ “-Rudyard Kipling.17.  “An ounce of demonstration is worth a ton of theory."—Rudyard Kipling, 1889, ‘From Sea To Sea’.18. “A people always ends by resembling its shadow."—Rudyard Kipling.19. “As I pass through my incarnations in every age and race,I make my proper prostrations to the Gods of the Market-Place."—Rudyard Kipling.20. “I have written the tale of our lifeFor a sheltered people’s mirth,In jesting guise—but ye are wise,And ye know what the jest is worth."—Rudyard Kipling, 1886,’ Departmental Ditties’.21. “We pulled for you when the wind was against us and the sails were low.Will you never let us go?"-Rudyard Kipling.22. “Beware of overconcern for money, or position, or glory. Someday you will meet a man who cares for none of these things. Then you will know how poor you are."-Rudyard Kipling.23. “A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition."-Rudyard Kipling.24.“Hear! I will sing you the praise of the bottle-tailed Rikki, with eyeballs of red!"-Rudyard Kipling.25. “This is a brief life, but in its brevity, it offers us some splendid moments, some meaningful adventures."-Rudyard Kipling.26. “There is no sin so great as ignorance. Remember this."-Rudyard Kipling.Rudyard Kipling ‘Jungle Book’ Quotes’The Jungle Book’ is a fable that characterizes a man child Mowgli, who is being raised by a family of wolves. As every fable story has a good and evil, so does this book, in this story Sher Khan, the tiger is the evil. The other characters, Bagheera the panther and Baloo the bear, constantly watch over Mowgli in order to save him from the bloodthirsty clutches of Sher Khan. Enjoy the musical delight of ‘The Jungle Book’ through our selected list of Kipling quotes.27. “Now this is the Law of the Jungle - as old and as true as the sky; And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die. As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk the Law runneth forward and back - For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack."-Rudyard Kipling,  1895, ‘The Law Of The Jungle’.28.  “Many of the wolves that looked thee over when thou wast brought to the Council first are old too, and the young wolves believe, as Shere Khan has taught them, that a man-cub has no place with the Pack.”-Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Jungle Book’.29. “And he grew and grew strong as a boy must grow who does not know that he is learning any lessons, and who has nothing in the world to think of except things to eat.”-Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Jungle Book’.30. “To each his own fear.”-Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Jungle Book’.31. “I speak for the man’s cub. There is no harm in a man’s cub. I have no gift of words, but I speak the truth. Let him run with the Pack, and be entered with the others. I myself will teach him.”-Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Jungle Book’.32. “The jungle is shut to me, and I must forget your talk and your companionship, but I will be more merciful than ye are. Because I was all but your brother in blood, I promise that when I am a man among men I will not betray ye to men as ye have betrayed me.”-Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Jungle Book’.33. “Men and their cubs are very wise. He may be a help in time.”-Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Jungle Book’.34. “What is the Law of the Jungle?”-Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Jungle Book’.35. “For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Jungle Book’.36. “Now, don’t be angry after you’ve been afraid. That’s the worst kind of cowardice.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Jungle Book’.37.“One of the beauties of Jungle Law is that punishment settles all scores. There is no nagging afterward.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Jungle Book’.38. “[…]don’t give way to hating,And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Jungle Book’.39. “Madness is the most disgraceful thing that can overtake a wild creature.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Jungle Book’.40. “Better he should be bruised from head to foot by me who love him than that he should come to harm through ignorance,”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Jungle Book’.Rudyard Kipling Quotes On IndiaHere’s a list of some Rudyard Kipling quotes on his birthplace. These quotes reveal old attitudes towards the Indian subcontinent.41. “Asia is not going to be civilized after the methods of the West. There is too much Asia and she is too old.”- Rudyard Kipling.42. “There are few things sweeter in this world than the guileless, hotheaded, intemperate, open admiration of a junior.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘Indian Tales’.43. “When little boys have learned a new bad word they are never happy till they have chalked it up on a door. And this also is Literature.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘Indian Tales’.44. “If your mirror be broken, look into still water; but have a care that you do not fall in. —Hindu Proverb.”―Hindu Proverb quoted by Rudyard Kipling, ‘Indian Tales’.45. “Heatherlegh is the dearest doctor that ever was, and his invariable prescription to all his patients is, “lie low, go slow, and keep cool.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘Indian Tales’.46. “Me! Me that taught you how for to walk abroad like a man—whin you was a dhirty little, fish-backed little, whimperin’ little recruity. As you are now, Stanley Orth’ris!"― Rudyard Kipling, ‘Indian Tales’.47. “That was our first step toward better acquaintance.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘Indian Tales’.48. “You that think ye know things, answer me that. But I found no answer. I was wondering how long Ortheris, in the bank of the river, would hold out, and whether I should be forced to help him to desert, as I had given my word.”― Rudyard Kipling,’ Indian Tales’.The Best Of Rudyard Kipling QuotesFind some of the best Rudyard Kipling quotes here.49. “I never made a mistake in my life; at least, never one that I couldn’t explain away afterwards."-Rudyard Kipling.50. “If you can keep your head when all about youAre losing theirs and blaming it on you,If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,But make allowance for their doubting too;!”– Rudyard Kipling.51. “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.”– Rudyard Kipling.52. “If you can walk with the crowd and keep your virtue, or walk with Kings-nor lose the common touch; If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much.”  – Rudyard Kipling.53. “We’re all islands shouting lies to each other across seas of misunderstanding.”  – Rudyard Kipling.54. “I am the Cat who walks by himself, and all places are alike to me.”  – Rudyard Kipling.55. “I keep six honest serving men (they taught me all I knew); Theirs names are What and Why and When And How And Where and Who.”  – Rudyard Kipling.56. “I am, by calling, a dealer in words; and words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.”  – Rudyard Kipling.57. “You must learn to forgive a man when he’s in love. He’s always a nuisance.”– Rudyard Kipling.58. “For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.”– Rudyard Kipling.59. “War is an ill thing, as I surely know. But ‘t would be an ill world for weaponless dreamers if evil men were not now and then slain.”– Rudyard Kipling.Rudyard Kipling Quotes Poems QuotesKipling’s poetry echoes the romantic and patriotic voices. We have selected this section of Rudyard Kipling quotes taking lines from the poem ‘If’. You will come across quotes including, “If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run”, and “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same;” from the poems in this section. If you are a poetry enthusiast these Kipling quotes will surely catch your attention.60. “Far-called, our navies melt away;On dune and headland sinks the fire:Lo, all our pomp of yesterdayIs one with Nineveh and Tyre!Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,Lest we forget—lest we forget!"-Kipling, ‘Recessional’.61. “An’ if sometimes our conduck isn’t all your fancy paints,Why, single men in barricks don’t grow into plaster saints;"-Kipling, ‘Tommy’.62. “An’ they talks a lot o’ lovin’, but wot do they understand?“Rudyard Kipling, ‘Mandalay’.63. “If you can dream - and not make dreams your master,If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster “-Rudyard Kipling, ‘If’.64. “If you can make one heap of all your winningsAnd risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,And lose, and start again at your beginningsAnd never breathe a word about your loss;"-Kipling, 1865-1936, ‘If’.65. “If you can fill the unforgiving minuteWith sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,And - which is more - you’ll be a Man, my son!"-Rudyard Kipling, ‘If’.66. “If you can force your heart and nerve and sinewTo serve your turn long after they are gone,And so hold on when there is nothing in youExcept the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’"-Rudyard Kipling, ‘If’.67. “If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spokenTwisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:"-Rudyard Kipling, ‘If’.Timeless Rudyard Kipling QuotesBrowse through some of our best Kipling quotes.68. “Of course the Man was wild too. He was dreadfully wild. He didn’t even begin to be tame till he met the Woman, and she told him that she did not like living in his wild ways."― Rudyard Kipling, ‘Just So Stories’.69. “I have struck a city - a real city - and they call it Chicago. The other places don’t count. Having seen it, I urgently desire never to see it again.”― Rudyard Kipling.70. “Everyone is more or less mad on one point.”― Rudyard Kipling.71. “It is not a good fancy,’ said the llama. ‘What profit to kill men?’ Very little - as I know; but if evil men were not now and then slain it would not be a good world for weaponless dreamers.”- Rudyard Kipling, ‘Kim’.72. “God help us for we knew the worst too young.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Light That Failed’.73. “They are fools who kiss and tell’–Wisely has the poet sung.Man may hold all sorts of postsIf he’ll only hold his tongue.”― Rudyard Kipling.74. “Now India is a place beyond all others where one must not take things too seriously—the midday sun always excepted.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘Plain Tales From The Hills’.75. “Good Lord! who can account for the fathomless folly of the public?”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Light That Failed’.76. “More men are killed by overwork than the importance of the world justifies.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Phantom Rickshaw And Other Ghost Stories’.77. “Fiction is Truth’s elder sister. Obviously. No one in the world knew what truth was till someone had told a story.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘Writings On Writing’.78. “Follow the dream, and always the dream, and only the dream.”― Rudyard Kipling.79. “No need to listen for the fall. This is the world’s end.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘Kim’.80. “Many wear the robes, but few walk the Way.”― Rudyard Kipling.81. “It does not matter what people think of a man after his death.”― Joseph Rudyard Kipling, ‘Captains Courageous’.82. “It takes a great deal of Christianity to wipe out uncivilised Eastern instincts, such as falling in love at first sight.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘Plain Tales From The Hills’.83. “If you hit a pony over the nose at the outset of your acquaintance, he may not love you but he will take a deep interest in your movements ever afterwards”― Rudyard Kipling.84. “If I want a crown I must go and hunt it for myself.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Man Who Would Be King’.85. “Whatever he knows of his weaknesses, Private Mulvaney is wholly ignorant of his strength.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘Soldiers Three’.86. “We have forty million reasons for failure, but not a single excuse”-Rudyard Kipling.87. “India was awake, and Kim was in the middle of it, more awake and more excited than anyone, chewing on a twig that he would presently use as a toothbrush; for he borrowed right- and left-handedly from all the customs of the country he knew and loved.”― Rudyard Kipling, ‘Kim’.88. “Too much work and too much energy kill a man just as effectively as too much-assorted vice or too much drink”― Rudyard Kipling.More Rudyard Kipling QuotesThese Rudyard Kipling quotes complete our list.89. “Often and often afterward, the beloved Aunt would ask me why I had never told anyone how I was being treated. Children tell little more than animals, for what comes to them they accept as eternally established.”- Rudyard Kipling.90. “Gentlemen-Rankers out on the spree,Damned from here to Eternity.”- Rudyard Kipling.91. “God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.”- Rudyard Kipling.92. “It’s clever, but is it Art?”- Rudyard Kipling.93. “But a fool must follow his natural bent(Even as you and I!).”- Rudyard Kipling.94. “Never praise a sister to a sister in the hope of your compliments reaching the proper ears.”- Rudyard Kipling.95. “All the people like us are we, and everyone else is They.”- Rudyard Kipling, ‘We And They’.96. “How very little, since things were made,Things have altered in the building trade.”- Rudyard Kipling.97.“Confound Romance!… And all unseenRomance brought up the nine-fifteen.”- Rudyard Kipling.98. “Gardens are not made by singing ‘Oh how beautiful’ and sitting in the shade.”- Rudyard Kipling.99. “Youth had been a habit of hers for so long that she could not part with it.”- Rudyard Kipling.100. “If you don’t get what you want, it’s a sign either that you did not seriously want it or that you tried to bargain over the price.”- Rudyard Kipling.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Rudyard Kipling quotes then why not take a look at these W. B. Yeats, or William Wordsworth quotes too?

Rudyard Kipling was an acclaimed English writer, novelist and poet.