N. R. Narayana Murthy Quotes

Powerful N. R. Narayana Murthy for Daily Growth

About N. R. Narayana Murthy

Narenagara Raghuram (N.R.) Narayana Murthy, born on August 19, 1936, in Hulikave, Karnataka, India, is a pioneering entrepreneur, computer scientist, and philanthropist, best known as the co-founder of Infosys Limited, one of India's most successful global IT companies. Raised in a humble environment, Murthy's early life was marked by hardship and determination. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) at Surathkal, and later obtained a Master of Philosophy degree in Physics from the University of Mysore. In 1976, Murthy co-founded Infosys along with seven other colleagues, starting operations from a 10x10 room with an initial investment of INR 10,000 ($200). The company's success story is remarkable; today, it is a multinational corporation with over 230,000 employees. Throughout his career, Murthy has been influential in advocating for ethics and social responsibility in the business world. He implemented several groundbreaking policies at Infosys, including the 'Employee Stock Ownership Plan', which granted a portion of company equity to every employee, ensuring a sense of ownership and commitment. Murthy is also noted for his philanthropic efforts. In 2013, he and his wife, Sudha Murthy, pledged to give away at least 75% of their wealth to various charitable causes through the Murthy Classical Library of India. His awards and recognitions include the Padma Bhushan in 1998 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2007, both among the highest civilian honors in India. In 2006, Time Magazine named him as one of the Asian Heroes for his contributions to society. Quotes from Murthy encapsulate his spirit of perseverance and dedication: "If you want to walk on sunshine, you must rise with the sun." and "Success is when to whatever you turn your hand, you can make a success of it." These sentiments echo through the lives he has touched and the businesses he has inspired.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"If you can manage a large company like IBM or Microsoft with just 1% of your ability, you can run a small or medium enterprise with 100% of your ability."

This quote suggests that the skills required to lead a multinational corporation are vast and complex. If an individual possesses even a fraction of these skills (1%) needed to manage a large company like IBM or Microsoft, they have all the capabilities necessary (100%) to successfully run a smaller or medium-sized enterprise. In essence, it implies that leading a smaller business requires fewer overall skills compared to managing a corporation; however, the individual must apply their full abilities to excel in this setting.


"An uneducated man is not worthwhile in society, but an educated man is still not worthy if he does not act."

This quote emphasizes that while education is essential for personal growth and societal development, it's equally important to apply the knowledge gained from education in meaningful ways. An individual who has formal education yet remains idle or unproductive is not truly fulfilling their potential or contributing to society as they should be. Education without action lacks purpose and value.


"Wealth cannot bring happiness, but lack of wealth can certainly create misery."

This quote emphasizes that wealth does not inherently lead to happiness, yet a lack of it can undoubtedly lead to misery. Wealth is not the sole determinant of happiness because there are other essential aspects in life, such as relationships, personal growth, and overall well-being, which contribute significantly to our happiness. On the contrary, when someone lacks wealth, they may experience hardships that can lead to feelings of distress, unhappiness, and a sense of being trapped in poverty's cycle. In essence, this quote encourages people not to chase wealth for the sake of happiness but rather focus on maintaining a balanced lifestyle where material possessions do not overshadow personal growth, relationships, and overall well-being.


"The golden rule for achieving success in business whether it's a start-up or a large enterprise is to give first and expect nothing in return."

This quote by N.R. Narayana Murthy emphasizes the importance of selflessness and generosity as key principles for achieving success in business. In other words, the more value one gives (in terms of services, resources, knowledge, or opportunities) to others without expecting immediate return, the greater the chances of long-term success. This approach fosters trust, loyalty, and goodwill among partners, customers, and employees – which are essential for any business to thrive. It's a philosophy that encourages entrepreneurs to focus on serving others first, knowing that their own success will follow in time.


"I firmly believe that every individual has a responsibility to the society and should do something useful for the society as a whole."

This quote by N. R. Narayana Murthy emphasizes that each person has an obligation or duty towards society. He suggests that everyone should strive to contribute positively to society as a whole, implying that selfless actions for the betterment of society are essential components of personal responsibility and fulfillment. The message encourages individuals to look beyond their own interests and engage in activities that uplift and benefit others, fostering a spirit of collective progress and social responsibility.


Entrepreneurship is all about an idea that creates differentiated business value to one's customers. You must be able to convince your customers about the benefits that association with you or your products will give them. People are ready to pay if they are convinced about your services or products.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Benefits, Differentiated, Association

All developmental activities for the common man such as education, healthcare, shelter and food distribution should be handled by reputed private sector institutions. It should be a competitive market in order to prevent the formation of monopolies.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Private, Developmental, Institutions

When you run a part of the relay and pass on the baton, there is no sense of unfinished business in your mind. There is just the sense of having done your part to the best of your ability. That is it. The hope is to pass on the baton to somebody who will run faster and run a better marathon.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Run, No Sense, Part, Marathon

Often times I have been asked about the attributes for success, and I have said that you need two attributes for succeeding as an entrepreneur: one, courage, second, luck.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Luck, Need, Been, Asked

Although we have enough healthcare support, often it doesn't reach the poor and needy. In this scenario, technology is the best solution.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Best, Reach, Often, Scenario

Engineering or technology is all about using the power of science to make life better for people, to reduce cost, to improve comfort, to improve productivity, etc.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Cost, Reduce, Using, Etc

We all, as engineers, doctors, have a big responsibility to bring smiles on the faces of suffering humanity.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Big, Big Responsibility, Doctors

Rahul Gandhi is very idealistic and a very decent human being. He has real concerns for the downtrodden.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Human Being, Very, Decent, Idealistic

I think people like Bill Gates, who have given away enormous sums of money, are shining examples for all of us to follow.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Think, I Think, Given, Shining

I have known Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla for a long time. He is a good man. He is a decent man.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Good, Decent, Mr, A Good Man

If England became a world power, it was because of the industrial revolution.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

England, Industrial, Became, World Power

I am what we call a 'karma yogi' in Sanskrit. A karma yogi is somebody who believes in data. I collect a lot of data.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Karma, Data, Am, Yogi

If longevity is the best index to measure a company, a basic requirement is the ability of the corporation to generate new and new leaders.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Best, Corporation, New, Generate

My personal view is that organisations have a capacity to throw up extraordinary leaders to suit the occasion.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Extraordinary, Occasion, Organisations

To me, patriotism is about working ethically and wholeheartedly in our chosen field.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Me, Field, Ethically, Wholeheartedly

Growth is painful. Change is painful. But, nothing is as painful as staying stuck where you do not belong.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Change, Nothing, Belong, Stuck

I have no desire to enter politics. Because I am not suited for that.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

I Am, Politics, Desire, Suited

I want Infosys to be a company which is globally respected and in where people belonging to different nationalities, races and religious beliefs will work with intense competition but utmost courtesy, dignity and co-operation in adding greater value to our stakeholders day after day.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Religious, Globally, Respected

I've always enjoyed mathematics. It is the most precise and concise way of expressing any idea.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Mathematics, Always, Most, Concise

Mahatma Gandhi was someone who demonstrated the tremendous power of leadership by example.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Leadership, Power, Someone, Gandhi

The world expects India to be one of the leaders in solving the problems of politics and economics. India sits at the high table in most major multilateral deliberations. What India says is heard with attention and seriousness.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Politics, Leaders, Solving, Expects

I have always looked at my competencies before accepting any responsibility.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Always, Before, Looked, Accepting

The unique instrument to eradicate poverty and usher in prosperity is our youth.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Unique, Eradicate, Usher

Infosys demonstrated to the world that an Indian company could implement standards of quality, operations, finance that compare with the best. That is a legacy I am happy with.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Legacy, I Am Happy, Compare, Indian

Investment in training is a huge necessity for knowledge-based corporations.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Training, Investment, Huge, Knowledge-Based

The primary difference that I have found between the system of education in India and other countries, particularly the U.S., is that they focus on problem solving and relating theories to reality around them. These two things are lacking in the education system in India.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Education, Other, Solving, Primary

Any mechanism that will ensure benefits to consumer, any mechanism that will ensure that we do not waste food grains, any mechanism that helps the poorest of the poor is a welcome step.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Waste, Benefits, Ensure, Consumer

In order to improve healthcare, we'll have to spend more on it, increase accountability and decentralize services, enforce standards and reinstate people's faith in it.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Faith, More, Services, Enforce

I think, at the end of the day, you have to reduce friction to businesses, ideally to zero, so that more and more entrepreneurs can create more and more jobs with higher and higher disposable income.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

Think, Income, Reduce, Businesses

I think, my own personal view is there should be higher and higher levels of autonomy; government should not interfere in setting up colleges, in running colleges. The market, the society will decide which is a good university, which is not a good university, rather than government mandating.

- N. R. Narayana Murthy

University, I Think, Rather, Interfere

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