Quotes from book
Wings of Fire

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Wings of Fire: An Autobiography of A P J Abdul Kalam , former President of India. It was written by Dr. Kalam and Arun Tiwari.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam photo

“A person with belief never grovels before anyone, whining and whimpering that it's all too much, that he lacks support, that he is being treated unfairly. Instead, such a person tackes problems head on and then affirms, 'As a child of God, I am greater than anything that can happen to me.”

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam book Wings of Fire

Source: Wings of Fire, p. 135 or p. 136 in certain university press editions.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam photo

“I have always been a religious person in the sense that I maintain a working partnership with God. I was aware that the best work required more ability than I possessed and therefore I needed help that only God could give me. I made a true estimate of my own ability, then raised it by 50 per cent and put myself in God's hands. In this partnership, I have always received all the power I needed, and in fact have actually felt it flowing through me. Today, I can affirm that the kingdom of God is within you in the form of this power, to help achieve your goals and realise your dreams.”

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam book Wings of Fire

Source: Wings of Fire, p. 49.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam photo

“Man needs his difficulties because they are necessary to enjoy success.”

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam book Wings of Fire

Source: Wings of Fire p. 90.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam photo

“My impression of the American people can be summarized by a quotation from Benjamin Franklin, "Those things that hurt instruct!" I realised that people in this part of the world meet their problems head on. They attempt to get out of them rather than suffer them.”

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam book Wings of Fire

Source: Wings of Fire, p. 38.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam photo

“I have always considered the price of perfection prohibitive and allowed mistakes as a part of the learning process. I prefer a dash of daring and persistence to perfection. I have always supported learning on the part of my team members by paying vigilant attention to each of their attempts, be they successful or unsuccessful.”

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam book Wings of Fire

Source: Wings of Fire, p. 58.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam photo

“I often read Khalil Gibran, and always find his words full of wisdom. "Bread baked without love is a bitter bread that feeds but half a man's hunger"—those who cannot work with their hearts achieve but a hollow, half-hearted success that breeds bitterness all around. If you are a writer who would secretly prefer to be a lawyer or a doctor, your written words will feed but half the hunger of your readers; if you are a teacher who would rather be a businessman, your instructions will meet but half the need for knowledge of your students; if you are a scientist who hates science, your performance will satisfy but half the needs of your mission.”

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam book Wings of Fire

Source: Wings of Fire, p. 45.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam photo

“Great dreams of great dreamers are always transcended.”

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam book Wings of Fire

Source: Wings of Fire, p. 161.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam photo

“To succeed in your mission, you must have single-minded devotion to your goal. Individuals like myself are often called 'workaholics.'”

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam book Wings of Fire

I question this term because that implies a pathological condition or an illness. If I do what I desire more than anything else in the world and which makes me happy, such work can never be an aberration.

p. 89
Wings of Fire