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31 Quotes By R. K. Narayan Whose Words Weave A Spell On Readers

Famous As: Indian Author Known for His known for His Work Set in the Fictional South Indian Town of Malgudi
Born On: October 10, 1906
Died On: May 13, 2001
Born In: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Died At Age: 94

R. K. Narayan was a celebrated Indian writer. He was known for his work set in the fictional town of ‘Malgudi,’ in South India. He was a recipient of the ‘Padma Bhushan,’ the third-highest civilian award of India. He did not win the ‘Nobel Prize in Literature,’ despite being nominated multiple times. The ‘American Academy of Arts and Letters’ elected him as an honorary member in 1982. He also received the ‘Padma Vibhushan’ a year before his death. Some of his illustrious works include ‘The English Teacher,’ ‘The Bachelor of Arts,’ ‘The Financial Expert,’ ‘Swami and Friends,’ ‘Next Sunday,’ ‘My Dateless Diary,’ amongst various others. Go through our collection of famous quotes by R. K. Narayan, which has been extracted from his writings, books, interviews, novels, stories, etc. 

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Life is about making right things and going on..

Life is about making right things and going on..

R. K. Narayan
Friendship was another illusion like love, though it did not reach the same mad heights. People pretended that they were friends, when the fact was they were brought together by force of circumstances.

Friendship was another illusion like love, though it did not reach the same mad heights. People pretended that they were friends, when the fact was they were brought together by force of circumstances.

R. K. Narayan
You become writer by writing. It is a yoga.

You become writer by writing. It is a yoga.

R. K. Narayan
This is my child. I planted it. I saw it grow. I loved it. Don't cut it down...

This is my child. I planted it. I saw it grow. I loved it. Don't cut it down...

R. K. Narayan
We always question the bonafides of the man who tells us unpleasant facts.

We always question the bonafides of the man who tells us unpleasant facts.

R. K. Narayan
No one ever accepts criticism so cheerfully. Neither the man who utters it nor the man who invites it really means it.

No one ever accepts criticism so cheerfully. Neither the man who utters it nor the man who invites it really means it.

R. K. Narayan
All the jarring, rattling and clanking, spurting and hissing of the moving train of the train dissolved in the distance into something that was half a sob and half a sigh.

All the jarring, rattling and clanking, spurting and hissing of the moving train of the train dissolved in the distance into something that was half a sob and half a sigh.

R. K. Narayan
Certain things acquired an evil complexion if phrased, but remained harmless in the mind.

Certain things acquired an evil complexion if phrased, but remained harmless in the mind.

R. K. Narayan
How can two living entities possessing intelligence and judgement ever be tied together for a lifetime?

How can two living entities possessing intelligence and judgement ever be tied together for a lifetime?

R. K. Narayan
I came in several times and spoke, but perhaps you were asleep when I thought you were awake.'
'You are very considerate to explain it this way,' Sugreeva said, 'but I was drunk

I came in several times and spoke, but perhaps you were asleep when I thought you were awake.' 'You are very considerate to explain it this way,' Sugreeva said, 'but I was drunk

R. K. Narayan
Death and its associates, after the initial shock, produce callousness.

Death and its associates, after the initial shock, produce callousness.

R. K. Narayan
Do you realize how few ever really understand how fortunate they are in their circumstances?

Do you realize how few ever really understand how fortunate they are in their circumstances?

R. K. Narayan
You threw a stone into a gutter it would only spurt filth in your face.

You threw a stone into a gutter it would only spurt filth in your face.

R. K. Narayan
The sun set beyond thesea, so says the poet - and when a poet mentions a sea, we have to accept it; no harm in letting a poet describe his vision, no need to question his geography.

The sun set beyond thesea, so says the poet - and when a poet mentions a sea, we have to accept it; no harm in letting a poet describe his vision, no need to question his geography.

R. K. Narayan
If he(Mani) were Swaminathan, he would have closed the whole incident at the beginning by hurling an ink-bottle, if nothing bigger was available, at the teacher.

If he(Mani) were Swaminathan, he would have closed the whole incident at the beginning by hurling an ink-bottle, if nothing bigger was available, at the teacher.

R. K. Narayan
The compartment built to ‘seat 8 passengers; 4 British Troops, or 6 Indian Troops’ now carried only nine.

The compartment built to ‘seat 8 passengers; 4 British Troops, or 6 Indian Troops’ now carried only nine.

R. K. Narayan
It seems to me that we generally do not have a correct measure of our own wisdom.

It seems to me that we generally do not have a correct measure of our own wisdom.

R. K. Narayan
Past is gone, present is going, and tomorrow is day after tomorrow’s yesterday. So why worry about anything? God is in all this.

Past is gone, present is going, and tomorrow is day after tomorrow’s yesterday. So why worry about anything? God is in all this.

R. K. Narayan
The only trouble was that the scripture master, Mr. Ebenzar, was a fanatic.

The only trouble was that the scripture master, Mr. Ebenzar, was a fanatic.

R. K. Narayan
The sun set beyond the sea, so says the poet—and when a poet mentions a sea, we have to accept it. No harm in letting a poet describe his vision, no need to question his geography.

The sun set beyond the sea, so says the poet—and when a poet mentions a sea, we have to accept it. No harm in letting a poet describe his vision, no need to question his geography.

R. K. Narayan
What can we do with a creature who returns to his doom with such a free heart?

What can we do with a creature who returns to his doom with such a free heart?

R. K. Narayan
But it was like hiding a corpse. I’ve come to the conclusion that nothing in this world can be hidden or suppressed. All such attempts are like holding an umbrella to conceal the sun.

But it was like hiding a corpse. I’ve come to the conclusion that nothing in this world can be hidden or suppressed. All such attempts are like holding an umbrella to conceal the sun.

R. K. Narayan
By the twelfth day of his fast, Raju himself has become a tourist attraction. Before an enormous crowd and an American television crew, the starving man is helped down to the drought-stricken river to pray:

By the twelfth day of his fast, Raju himself has become a tourist attraction. Before an enormous crowd and an American television crew, the starving man is helped down to the drought-stricken river to pray:

R. K. Narayan
But you are not my wife. You are a woman who will go to bed with anyone who flatters your antics. That’s

But you are not my wife. You are a woman who will go to bed with anyone who flatters your antics. That’s

R. K. Narayan
The unbeaten brat will remain unlearned,

The unbeaten brat will remain unlearned,

R. K. Narayan
If you threw a stone into a gutter it would only spurt filth in your face.

If you threw a stone into a gutter it would only spurt filth in your face.

R. K. Narayan
The gods grow jealous of too much contentment anywhere, and they show their displeasure all of a sudden.

The gods grow jealous of too much contentment anywhere, and they show their displeasure all of a sudden.

R. K. Narayan
But there is this peculiarity about heat: it appears to affect only those that think of it.

But there is this peculiarity about heat: it appears to affect only those that think of it.

R. K. Narayan
Even when you realize that the one before you is an enemy and must be treated sternly, do not hurt with words.

Even when you realize that the one before you is an enemy and must be treated sternly, do not hurt with words.

R. K. Narayan
It is stimulating to live in a society that is not standardized or mechanized, and is free from monotony.

It is stimulating to live in a society that is not standardized or mechanized, and is free from monotony.

R. K. Narayan