Last week, I finished reading Who Will Cry When You Die? by Robin Sharma, a widely acclaimed book known for its practical life lessons and motivational insights. The book resonates with millions of readers worldwide, and now that I have experienced it firsthand, I wish I had read it earlier in life. Its impact is both immediate and enduring.
Reading this book also brought to mind a former colleague and friend from VIT, Pune—Ms. Pallavi Sandav. She was an avid reader, known for her consistently positive outlook and the vitality she brought to every interaction. Her approach to life mirrored many of the principles outlined in this book: presence, purpose, and positivity.
The book offers concise, thought-provoking reflections designed to be incorporated into daily life. These insights are not merely philosophical; they are actionable suggestions for personal development and emotional well-being.
My Favorite Quotes:
While numerous websites and blogs have compiled exhaustive lists of quotes from the book, I would like to share a few that personally resonated with me. Though simple in phrasing, they carry significant depth:
- Learn to Be Silent
- Forgiving someone who has wronged you is actually a selfish act rather than a selfless one.
- Kindness, quite simply, is the rent we must pay for the space we occupy on this planet.
- “Sleep is like a drug,” he explained. “Take too much at a time and it makes you dopey. You lose time, vitality, and opportunities.”
- You will never be able to eliminate a weakness you don’t even know about. The first step to eliminating a negative habit is to become aware of it.
- Anyone can become angry — that’s easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way — that is not easy,” taught Aristotle.
- Who cares what others think when you know that what you are doing is the right thing to do?
- We see the world, not as it is, but as we are.
- Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it.
- How high you will rise in your life will be determined not by how hard you work but by how well you think.
- We have two ears and one mouth for a reason: to listen twice as much as we speak.
- The tougher you are on yourself, the easier life will be on you.
- The first step to eliminating a negative habit is to become aware of it.
- We all have a deep-seated need to feel important.
- The smallest of actions is always better than the boldest of intentions.
- Don’t rehearse the activities of your day while you are lying in bed trying to get to sleep. Don’t eat after 8 P.M. (If you have to eat something, have soup.) Don’t watch the news before you go to sleep. Don’t read in bed.
- All man’s miseries derive from not being able to sit quietly in a room alone.
- Would you really want to live in a world where everyone looked, acted, and thought exactly as you do?
Final Thoughts
Taken together, these quotes reflect a philosophy rooted in self-awareness, discipline, humility, and meaningful action. They serve not only as reminders of the values that shape a purposeful life but also as practical guidelines for daily conduct. In a world often marked by distraction and haste, the insights offered in Who Will Cry When You Die? encourage a more deliberate, thoughtful, and compassionate way of being—both with oneself and with others.
