Have you ever encountered a quote that moved you to think more deeply about something or motivated you to start walking another path in life? Quotes can be very influential, spurring individuals and even entire communities into action.
Quotes from different language backgrounds reflect the socio-cultural norms and values of different nations. Luckily for you as a language learner, the Urdu language in particular is quite rich in the field of quotes, with many Pakistani people opting to express themselves through popular Urdu quotes when the situation allows for it.
In this article, you’ll learn a variety of Urdu quotes on life, as well as life’s many aspects and experiences.
Are you ready? Then let’s get to it.
Table of Contents
- Quotes About Wisdom
- Quotes About Struggle and Success
- Quotes About Life
- Quotes About Time
- Quotes About Love
- Quotes About Family and Friends
- Some Funny Quotes
- Conclusion
1. Quotes About Wisdom
In Pakistani society, wisdom and foolishness are common topics of conversation. Here are a few Urdu quotes that touch on the topic!
#1
(ہم تعلیم خرید سکتے ہیں لیکن عقل خدا کا عطا کردہ تحفہ ہے۔ (سعادت حسن منٹو
hum taleem khareed sakte hain lekin aqal khuda ka ata karda tohfa hai. (Saadat Hasan Manto)
“We can buy education, but wisdom is the gift of God.” (Saadat Hasan Manto)
This quote by Saadat Hasan Manto—a famous Pakistani short story writer—indicates that wisdom and education are not one and the same, and that wisdom is far superior to education. While you can buy education, true wisdom is endowed by God Almighty.
#2
عقلمند ہے وہ شخص جو انجام سوچ کر کام کرے۔ (حضرت علی)
Aqal mand hai woh shakhs jo anjaam soch kar kaam kare. (Hazrat Ali)
“Wise is the person who thinks about the result before doing something.” (Hazrat Ali)
This is an Islamic quote by Hazrat Ali, the fourth caliph of Islam. It highlights the foresightedness of a sage, and it can be used to compliment someone who anticipates the aftermath of a deed—or to admonish those who act without thought of the future. It’s a near equivalent of the English quote, “Think before you leap.”
#3
مصیبت اگر انسان کو دولتمند نہیں تو عقلمند ضرور بنا دیتی ہے۔
museebat agar insaan ko dolatmand nahi to aqal mand zaroor bana deti hai.
“Adversity makes a person wise if not wealthy.”
You can use this particular quote to console someone who is facing hard times.
#4
عقلمند اپنے عیب خود دیکھتا ہے اور بیوقوف کے عیب دنیا دیکھتی ہے۔ (شیخ سعدی)
Aqal mand apne aib ko khud dekhta hai aur bewaqoof ka aaeb dunya dekhti hai. (Sheikh Saadi)
“A wise person looks at his vices himself and the vices of fools are seen by others.” (Sheikh Saadi)
This quote is by Sheikh Saadi, another renowned Muslim scholar. You can use it to ridicule a foolish person who is unable to identify their vices, or to applaud someone for their ability to do so.
2. Quotes About Struggle and Success
Spend enough time in Pakistan, and you’re likely to hear a few inspirational quotes in Urdu. Life can get tough, and these uplifting words can make all the difference.
- → If you enjoy these quotes and want more, make sure you visit our vocabulary lists of the Top 10 Inspirational Urdu Quotes and the Top 11 Urdu Quotes About Success!
#5
انسان کے لئے وہی کچھ ہے جس کے لئے وہ کوشش کرے۔ (القرآن)
insaan ke liye wohi kuch hai jis ke liye wo koshish kare. (Al-Quraan)
“A man gets only what he strives for.” (Al-Quraan)
This quote is perfect for boosting someone’s morale! The quote also takes precedence over the others in this section because of its religious background, being taken from The Holy Quran.
#6
محنت اتنی خاموشی سے کرو کہ تمھاری کامیابی شور مچا دے۔
mehnat itni khamoshi se karo ke tumhari kamyabi shor macha de.
“Work hard in silence and let your success make the noise.”
This Urdu quote is a near equivalent of the English saying, “Actions speak louder than words.” It indicates that if you keep working hard, a day will come when your success becomes obvious to others.
#7
بڑی منزلوں کے مسافر چھوٹا دل نہیں رکھتے۔ (وااصف علی واصف)
badhi manzilon ke musafir chota dil nahi rakhte. (Wasif Ali Wasif)
“Those destined for greater destinations keep a bigger heart.” (Wasif Ali Wasif)
This quote is a near equivalent of, “Not failure, but low aim, is a crime.” It comes from the pen of famous Urdu scholar Wasif Ali Wasif. It means that one should never aim for lower goals and to keep the target and objectives high.
#8
ذرا نم ہو تو یہ مٹی بڑی ذرخیز ہے ساقی (علامہ اقبال)
zara num ho to yeh matti bari zarkhez hai saqi.(Allama Iqbal)
“This soil is very fertile; just a drop of water is needed.” (Allama Iqbal)
This quote was penned by the national poet of Pakistan, Doctor Allama Muhammad Iqbal. It describes the presence of potential talent in someone that, with only a little circumstantial prompting, will grow into something spectacular. It’s used when someone with limited resources brings extraordinary achievements.
3. Quotes About Life
The world over, people have been trying to pinpoint the meaning of life and our existence. Read through these thought-provoking quotes about life in Urdu to gain some cultural perspective on how Pakistanis view this phenomenon.
#9
زندگی خود راستے بناتی ہے، راستے زندگی نہیں بناتے۔ (سعادت حسن منٹو)
zindagi khud raaste banati hai, raaste zindagi nahi banate. (Saadat Hasan Manto)
“Life determines its course, courses do not determine life.” (Saadat Hasan Manto)
Saadat Hasan Manto’s quote refers to life as the driving force in determining one’s course. It doesn’t matter which way you choose to go, because life has its plans to execute.
#10
زندگی ریاضی کا سوال نہیں جس کا جواب معلوم ہو سکے۔ (واصف علی واصف)
zindagi riyazi ka sawal nahi jis ka jawab maloom ho sake.(Wasif Ali Wasif)
“Life is not a question of mathematics where the answer must be known.” (Wasif Ali Wasif)
This quote explains the enigmatic nature of life. It emphasizes that life is not a mathematical problem that has a definite answer. You can use this quote whenever you’re facing inexplicable circumstances.
#11
زندگی جبرِ مسلسل کی طرح کاٹی ہے جانے کس جرم کی پائی ہے سزا یاد نہیں (ساغر صدیقی)
zindagi jabre musalsal ki tarah kaati hai jaane kis jurm ki paayi hai saza yaad nahi. (Saghar Siddiqui)
“I have spent my life like a continuous coercion; I don’t know why I have been punished.” (Saghar Siddiqui)
In Pakistan, people often quote poetic couplets in conversation. This couplet is from the very famous Urdu poet Saghir Siddiqui. It speaks of the tyranny of life, with the poet crying about his continuous sufferings and lamenting for his punishment of an unknown crime. You can use this couplet to comment on the sufferings of someone else or to underline your own sufferings.
#12
زندگی ہے یا کوئی طوفان ہے
zindagi hai ya koi toofan hai
“Is it my life or some kind of a storm?”
This is another popular couplet, often used to comment on the cruelty of life.
4. Quotes About Time
Time is priceless, and Pakistanis have quite a lot to say on the matter. Read through the following Urdu quotes about time to gain some cultural perspective!
#13
وقت اچھا بھی آئے گا ناصر غم نہ کر زندگی پڑی ہے ابھی (ناصر کاظمی)
waqt acha bhi aaye gaa nasir gham na kar zindagi parhi hai abhi. (Nasir Kazmi)
“The time will change (Mr. Nasir), there is still a long way to go in this life.” (Nasir Kazmi)
The well-renowned Pakistani poet Nasir Kazmi penned this couplet, in which he forbids sorrow and states that the good times will soon follow, and that life is very long. You can use this quote whenever you want someone to be more hopeful and optimistic.
#14
وقت تو وقت پر بدلتا ہے لیکن انسان کسی بھی وقت بدل سکتا ہے۔
waqt to waqt per badalta hai lekin insaan kisi bhi waqt badal sakta hai.
“Time changes at its time but a person can change any time.”
This Urdu quote is used to complain about the transient nature of human beings. It accentuates the fact that time changes over a specified period, but human beings are fickle and may change spontaneously. You can use this quote when someone betrays or disappoints you.
#15
مشکل وقت سبھی پر آتا ہے کوئی بکھر جاتا ہے کوئی نکھر جاتا ہے۔
mushkil waqt sabhi per aata hai koi bikhar jaata hai koi nikhar jaata hai
“Everyone passes through hard times; some get scattered while the others survive to shine.”
This is the type of quote a leader may use to console an audience and encourage them to pass through an ordeal with dignity to come out victorious.
#16
وقت، اعتبار اور عزت ایسے پرندے ہیں جو اڑ جائیں تو واپس نہیں آتے۔
waqt, aitbaar aur izzat aisay parinde hain jo udh jayain to wapas nahi aate.
“Time, trust, and respect are like those birds that do not return after they fly away once.”
This quote means that you can trust someone only once; after you have been betrayed or let down, that trust vanishes forever.
5. Quotes About Love
Love is universal, and you’ll find a huge collection of love quotes in the Urdu language. Here are just a few of our favorites.
- → If you want to learn more bittersweet words on love and romance, visit our vocabulary lists of Urdu Quotes About Love and Urdu Breakup Quotes!
#17
مانگی ہوئی محبت کا مزہ بگڑی ہوئی شراب جیسا ہوتا ہے۔ (بانو قدسیہ)
mangi hui mohabbat ka maza bigdhi hui sharaab jaisa hota hai. (Bano Qudsia)
“If you beg for love, it will taste like a spoiled wine.” (Bano Qudsia)
This Urdu quote on love is often used to admonish someone who is ready to start begging for love. It reminds that person of how distasteful such love is.
#18
ستاروں سے آگے جہاں اور بھی ہیں ابھی عشق کے امتحاں اور بھی ہیں (علامہ اقبال)
sitaron se aagey jahan aur bhi hain abhi ishq ke imtihaan aur bhi hain. (Allama Iqbal)
“There are other worlds beyond the stars, and there are still more tests to go in love.” (Allama Iqbal)
Pakistanis often utter this couplet when they see a lover struggling in a romantic relationship.
#19
زمین کے سفر میں اگر کوئی چیز آسمانی ہے تو وہ محبت ہے۔
zameen ke safar mei agar koi cheez aasmani hai to woh mohabbat hai.
“The only heavenly thing in this journey of earth is love.”
This quote touches on the heavenly nature of love and declares it to be something that doesn’t actually belong on earth.
#20
عشق ایک مرض ہے اور جب تک طول نہ پکڑے، مرض نہیں ہوتا۔ محض ایک مذاق ہوتا ہے۔ (سعادت حسن منٹو)
ishq ek marz hai aur jab tak tool na pakdhe marz nahi hota. Mahaz ek mazaaq hota hai. (Saadat Hasan Manto)
“Love is a disease and if it is not protracted it is just a joke.” (Saadat Hasan Manto)
This phrase differentiates between temporary infatuation and the permanence of real love. It suggests that only long-term love is real.
#21
محبت لین دین نہیں محبت صرف دین ہے۔ (ممتاز مفتی)
mohabbat lein dein nahi mohabbat sirf dein hai. (Mumtaz Mufti)
“Love is not give and take, it is only to give.” (Mumtaz Mufti)
Mumtaz Mufti was a highly celebrated Urdu novelist and short story writer. In this quote, he clarifies that love is not a deal that involves giving and taking, but rather one that calls for sacrifice.
6. Quotes About Family and Friends
Love of family and friends is an inseparable part of human nature. Let’s go over a few Urdu quotes on friendship and family to help you gain some cultural insight into how Pakistanis view these topics.
- → Also check out our vocabulary lists of the Top 10 Urdu Quotes About Friendship and the Top 10 Urdu Quotes About Family!
#22
ہر اس دوست پر بھروسہ کرو جو مشکل میں تمھارے کام آیا ہو۔ (حضرت علی)
her uss dost par bharosa karo jo mushkil mei tumhare kaam aya ho. (Hazrat Ali)
“Trust every friend who helped you in hard times.” (Hazrat Ali)
Here’s another Islamic quote by Hazrat Ali, the fourth caliph of Islam. It guides us to trust a friend who remains helpful in difficult situations.
#23
رشتے نبھانے کا ظرف نہ ہو تو رشتے بنانے سے پرہیز کریں۔
rishte nibhane ka zarf na ho to rishte banane se perhez karain.
“If you do not know how to maintain relationships, avoid making them.”
You can use this phrase when a person is unable to meet your expectations regarding the maintenance of your relationship.
#24
تین رشتے تین وقتوں میں پہچانے جاتے ہیں۔ اولاد بڑھاپے میں، بیوی غربت میں، دوست مصیبت میں
teen rishte teen waqton mein pehchane jaate hain. Aulad budhapey mei, biwi ghurbat mei, dost musibat mein
“These three relations are tested three times. Children in your old age, wife in your poverty, and friends while you are in trouble.”
This quote emphasizes the need for caring children in old age, a cooperative wife in poverty, and a helpful friend in times of need.
#25
اچھے لوگوں کا ملنا ہی اچھے مستقبل کی ضمانت ہے۔
ache logon ka milna hi ache mustaqbil ki zamanat hai.
“Meeting good people is the guarantee of a good future.”
This quote can be used as an Urdu greeting upon meeting someone for the first time, especially if you see this person being in your future.
#26
کسی رشتے کو کتنی بھی محبت سے باندھا جائے لیکن اگر عزت اور لحاظ چلا جائے تو محبت بھی چلی جاتی ہے۔
kisi rishte ko kitni bhi mohabbat se bandha jaye lekin agar izzat aur lihaaz chala jaye to mohabbat bhi chali jati hai.
“It does not matter how much you love a relationship; if respect and forbearance departs, they take away the love with them.”
This Urdu quote highlights the importance of respect in maintaining a solid relationship.
#27
برے دوست سے بچو ایسا نہ ہو کہ وہ تمھارا تعارف بن جائے۔ (امام مالک)
burey dost say bacho aisa na ho ka woh tumhara taaruf ban jaaye. (Imam Malik)
“Avoid a bad friend lest he become your introduction.” (Imam Malik)
This is another Islamic quote from Imam Malik, asking us to refrain from being in the company of bad friends. It is nearly equivalent to the English adage, “A man is known by the company he keeps.”
7. Some Funny Quotes
To close, let’s digress from the serious business with some comic relief.
#28
سمجھدار آدمی نظر ہمیشہ نیچی اور نیت خراب رکھتا ہے۔ (مشتاق احمد یوسفی)
samajhdar aadmi nazar hamesha neechi aur niyyat kharab rakhta hai. (Mushtaq Ahmad Yousafi)
“A wise man always keeps his eyes down and intentions bad.” (Mushtaq Ahmad Yousafi)
This quote is often used in reference to a person who pretends to be noble but, inwardly, is lecherous.
#29
محبت انسان کو اندھا کر دیتی ہے اور پھر شادی یہ بینائی لوٹاتی ہے۔ (ڈاکٹر محمد یونس بٹ)
mohabbat insan ko andha kar deti hai aur phir shaadi yeh beenai lotathi hai. (Dr. Muhammd Younis Butt)
“Love makes a person blind, but his eyesight returns after marriage.” (Dr. Muhammd Younis Butt)
In Pakistan, many married men enjoy taunting their wives with this quote.
#30
خاوند کے لئے بیوی کو سمجھنا کوئی مشکل نہیں، بشرطیکہ وہ دوسرے کی ہو۔ (ڈاکٹر محمد یونس بٹ)
khawand ke liye biwi ko samjhna koi mushkil nahi, bashart ye k woh doosre ki ho. (Dr. Muhammd Younis Butt)
“It is not difficult for a man to know a wife, but the only pre-condition is someone else’s wife.” (Dr. Muhammd Younis Butt)
Now it’s the married women’s turn! They often use this quote to make fun of their husbands who fail to understand their own wives, but claim to understand the miseries of other women.
8. Conclusion
In this article, you learned several Urdu quotes about love and life in a variety of categories and gained lots of cultural insight that will further benefit your language studies.
Do you feel better placed to choose and use any of these quotes? Or do you have questions about something we covered? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Make sure to visit UrduPod101.com frequently to improve your Urdu language skills and gain total mastery! We provide you with resources on Urdu vocabulary, Urdu grammar, popular Urdu phrases and sentences, and so much more. We are a huge source of Urdu learning materials, aiming to fulfill your needs and facilitate your success—all of this on just one platform!
Very Happy Urdu Learning!
