Skip to content

Faith Quote by Mahatma Gandhi

“If we have lost faith in our vernaculars, it is a sign of want of faith in ourselves; it is the surest sign of decay. And no scheme of self-government, however benevolently or generously it may be bestowed upon us, will ever make us a self-governing nation, if we have no respect for the languages…” quote by Mahatma Gandhi
Download Open image
““If we have lost faith in our vernaculars, it is a sign of want of faith in ourselves; it is the surest sign of decay. And no scheme of self-government, however benevolently or generously it may be bestowed upon us, will ever make us a self-governing nation, if we have no respect for the languages our mothers speak.””

Mahatma Gandhi

About This Quote

Source Speech: Address to the Indian National Congress, 1930

Loss of faith in everyday language reflects a deeper loss of self‑confidence and cultural decay, undermining true self‑governance.

In simple terms: Neglecting mother tongues erodes identity and democratic spirit.

Key Takeaway

Preserve and respect native languages.

Themes

culture identity self‑governance language decay

Mood

reflective concerned

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • education curricula
  • community events
  • family language practices
  • policy advocacy

Key Concepts

cultural continuity linguistic rights national identity

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does language shape personal confidence?
  • What steps can protect mother tongues today?
A Different Perspective

Even with respect for language, other social factors also affect self‑governance.

2.5 out of 5 (6 ratings)

More by Mahatma Gandhi

Explore all 3,284 Mahatma Gandhi quotes

More Faith quotes

Browse all 37,796 Faith quotes