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Important Quotes for UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam General Studies and Essay Papers

Using quotes from revered personalities to emphasise your point adds a lot of value to your answers in the IAS exam. With the introduction of the GS 4 paper (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) and the changing nature of the Essay paper (UPSC mains 2018 Essay paper had four topics related to quotes/philosophy/character), it has become quite necessary to include some relevant quotes in the answers.

For the UPSC Exam , selecting quotes is important as quoting some celebrity/non-entity is likely to do more harm than good. During the preparation phase, an IAS aspirant can either classify quotes based on the source or organise them under broad pertinent categories such as education, Justice, etc.

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In this article, we have compiled a list of quotes which are important from the UPSC syllabus point of view. Also, the two ways to categorise the quotes for quick revision are illustrated below. Candidates are advised to use the approach that suits their study process.

Important Quotes for UPSC GS and Essay

  • Issue-based categories

The list given above is just a brief example. Aspirants should identify issues/keywords and make their list of UPSC relevant quotes.

  • Quotes categorised by author/personality

Although comprehensive, the table of odd quotes above is by no means exhaustive. IAS aspirants should go through UPSC mains GS and essay papers from past years to understand how these quotes can come in handy and then compile and categorise their own lists.

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30 Best Quotes for Essay Writing

December 10, 2023 by Sandeep

The essay is an independent, educational, and scientific student research. In writing this paper, students master the methods and gain the ability to conduct research. In addition, essay writing helps form the student’s creative thinking, test the skills of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting literature, and formulate conclusions and suggestions.

Successful essay writing depends on strict adherence to the basic requirements. These requirements relate primarily to the scientific level of the work, its content, structure, form of presentation of the material, and design. The teacher may not accept works in violation of state standards and established requirements. Inconsistencies in the design can significantly affect the final evaluation of the work. The student’s compliance with all the requirements for writing and design of the essay instills certain skills in conducting research, which will be useful in creating other types of papers.

All of the above points are important to gain the ability to complete an essay. However, this is not an as simple type of student paper as it may seem at first glance. Students often have difficulty in both essay writing and designing. Fortunately, today everyone can find someone to write a paper online. It is only necessary to pay the set price. The best writers work for an online company DoMyEssay. To get their help, you should visit the site and request, “Please, do an essay for me.” The high quality and reliability of writing services are guaranteed for everyone.

Requirements for Quotes & References in Essay Writing

A compulsory component of any scientific work is a scientific citation. It is essential to cite the source from which the materials or individual results are borrowed or the ideas and conclusions based on which the problems, tasks, issues to which the work is devoted are developed. Such links make it possible to find relevant sources, check the accuracy of citations, obtain the necessary information about these sources.

The use of references in essays is mandatory and is used in the following cases:

  • When quoting fragments of text, formulas, tables, illustrations;
  • When paraphrasing, non-verbal reproduction of a fragment of another’s text;
  • When analyzing the content of other publications in the text;
  • When referring to other publications where the material to be discussed is more complete.

The absence of a link is a copyright infringement, and an incorrect link is considered a serious error. All sources cited in the list of references must be indicated in the text of the paper.

Importance of Correct Citation in Student Papers

The importance of citation is in the need to demonstrate the breadth of research and interest in the publications of other authors, to confirm own arguments with statements from other sources. Text borrowed from other sources is used for this purpose.

Here are three main functions that quotes perform in essay writing :

  • Places your work in context, creates dialogue;
  • Pay tribute to the previous work that formed the basis of your research;
  • Maintains the authenticity and accuracy of scientific literature.

List of Helpful Quotes You Can Use in Your Essay Writing

Below is a list of 30 quotes you can use in your essay writing:

  • The simplest example is more convincing than the most eloquent sermon (Lucius Annec Seneca);
  • It is not people who need rules, but rules need people (S. Dube);
  • The one who is no longer able to serve as anything serves as a good example (Andre Siegfried);
  • Take an example from your elders, while they behave approximately (Jerzy Leszczynski);
  • The need to set a good example for your children robs middle-aged people of all pleasure (William Feder);
  • Remember: sooner or later, your son will follow your example and not your advice (Pierre Corneille);
  • An example is stronger than a threat (Pierre Corneille);
  • Bad examples are stronger than good rules (Joey Locke);
  • You only have one life. You have to live it as fully as possible (Jojo Moyes);
  • When life is good, there is no need to argue about it (Ray Bradbury);
  • There are moments in life that change us once and for all (Jeffrey Deaver);
  • The reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The person who never reads experiences only one (George Martin);
  • On our path in life, we will meet everyone who is destined to meet us (Charles Dickens);
  • What is the sense of life? Serve others and do good (Aristotle);
  • Those who illuminate the lives of others will not be left without light themselves (James Matthew Barry);
  • In general, I live without hesitation, so I always have fun (Francis Scott Fitzgerald);
  • An example is always more powerful than a sermon (Samuel Johnson);
  • When it comes to budget, everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die (Jean Chrétien);
  • Violating our duty, thereby we violate our rights (Jean-Jacques Rousseau);
  • You cannot talk about the budget without knowing approximately the figures of its income and expenses (Theodor Herzl);
  • Civilization road paved with tax receipts (Andrew McKenzie);
  • If you know how to spend less than you get, then you have the Philosopher’s Stone (Benjamin Franklin);
  • Only two incentives make people work: the thirst for wages and the fear of losing them (Henry Ford);
  • There is no perfection in the world (Antoine de Saint-Exupery);
  • You are forever responsible for the one you tamed (Antoine de Saint-Exupery);
  • It’s good where we are not (Antoine de Saint-Exupery);
  • All adults were children at first, only a few of them remember this (Antoine de Saint-Exupery);
  • Live and learn (Lucius Annec Seneca);
  • The end justifies the means (Ignatius de Loyola);
  • Truth is in wine (Pliny the Elder).

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Abhiyan store, abhiyan pedia, quotes for essay and ethics: upsc, quotes for upsc examinations-essay and ethics.

Relevant Quotes are always improve the quality of your Essay and Ethics Papers if used appropriately. It also tells the examiner that you have grasped the core idea of the Essay Topic. Having said that, we often forcefully use the quotations which becomes counter-productive. Sometimes we feel that we have memorized them with so much difficulty and hence if we do not use them, it would be huge waste of effort. Quotations for High Scoring Papers like Essay and Ethics are like ammunition that you need to keep in your back-pocket but use only when it is appropriate. Facts & Figures for UPSC: Click Here

“It is a fine thing to be honest, but it is also very important to be right.”

– Winston Churchill

“We must make the world honest before we can honestly say to our children that honesty is the best policy.”

– George Bernard Shaw

“ Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful. ”

– Samuel Johnson

“The person who is slowest in making a promise is most faithful in its performance.”

– Jean Jacques Rousseau

“It is better for a city to be governed by a good man than even by good laws”- Aristotle

“When Men are Pure , Laws are Useless: When Men are Corrupt , Laws are Broken”- Former British PM-Benjamin

“Knowledge is Virtue and Knowledge Promotes Virtue”-Socrates 

“Corruption is a direct child of inadequate probity” as was put more eloquently by the English Historian Edward Gibbon in his Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, in which he wrote “Corruption is the infallible symptom of liberty”  

A basic concept in ethics is fairness, which the Greek philosopher Aristotle stated as “ Equals should be treated equally and unequals unequally ”.

The classical formula for justice, according to Plato and Aristotle, is that “an action is just when it offers each individual his or her due.”

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s quotes

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

“We will be remembered only if we give to our younger generation a prosperous and safe India, resulting out of economic prosperity coupled with civilizational heritage”

If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds , I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher”

“Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enoug h”

“All of us do not have equal talent. But , all of us have an equal opportunity to develop our talents”

“ Don’t take rest after your first victory because if you fail in second, more lips are waiting to say that your first victory was just luck.”

“Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action”

“If you fail, never give up because FAIL means “First Attempt In Learning”

Peace and Justice are two sides of the same coin

Dwight D.Eisenhower

Blind belief in authority is the greatest enemy of truth

Albert Einstein

Honesty is the first chapter in the book of Wisdom

Thomas Jefferson

Rabindranath Tagore once said, “ You cannot cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water ”.

Tagore was not only a man of words but also a man of action , who put his theory of education into practice by starting an Ashram school in 1901 at Shantiniketan. Twenty years later, he founded the Visva-Bharati. It became a central university in 1951 with the prime minister as its Chancellor.

“Since wars begin in the minds of men and women, it is in the minds of men and women that the defences of peace must be constructed” – UNESCO

Climate change and environmental degradation undermine the rights of every child.

Children are the least responsible for climate change, yet they will bear the greatest burden of its impact.

“The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.”

– Mahatma Gandhi

“A right delayed is a right denied.”

Martin Luther King

“The great secret of true success, of true happiness, is this: the man or woman who asks for no return, the perfectly unselfish person , is the most successful.”

Swami Vivekananda

“ By education , I mean an all-round drawing of the best in child and man in body, mind and spirit”.

Mahatma Gandhi

“ Democracy is not law of the majority but protection of the minority.”

– Albert Camus ________ “In a democracy, the individual enjoys not only the ultimate power, but carries the ultimate responsibility.”

– Norman Cousins

Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many; the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden.

——Plato (Phaedrus)

“Open your arms to change but don’t let go of your values”

-Dalai Lama

Many years after Chanakya came Sun Tzu who had said, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Chanakya had said, “ If the enemy is more powerful then he can be defeated by behaving like him ”.

“In law a man is guilty when he violates the rights of others. In ethics he is guilty if he only thinks of doing so.”

Immanuel Kant

“ Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength”

– Dalai Lama

“ Economic growth without investment in human development is unsustainable and unethical.” – Amartya Sen

“ Sustainable development and climate change are two sides of the same coin” — BAN KI MOON

“You cannot have peace without security, and you cannot have security without inclusive development.” -KOFI ANNAN

True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice. – Martin Luther King

American abolitionist, Wendell Phillips, in 1852, said, “Revolutions are not made; they come. A revolution is as natural a growth as an oak. It comes out of the past. Its foundations are laid far back.”

Wendell Phillips said in 1852, “What gunpowder did for war, the printing press has done for the mind, and the statesman is no longer clad in the steel of special education, but every reading man is his judge.”

“When we revolt it’s not for a particular culture. We revolt simply because, for many reasons, we can no longer breathe”. — Frantz Fanon

In his book The Discovery of India Jawaharlal Nehru says that Indian unity is not something imposed from the outside but rather, “It was something deeper and within its fold, the widest tolerance of belief and custom was practised and every variety acknowledged and even encouraged.”

After food for the body is taken care of, we should provide food for the mind.

The Greek philosopher Plutarch believed, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

In his popular lecture series, The School and Society, the American philosopher and education reformer John Dewey says, “the chief difference between savagery and civilisation is not in the naked nature which each faces, but social heredity and social medium”.

Thomas Jefferson goes: “We… do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.”

Everything comes to us that belongs to us if we create the capacity to receive it.

Rabindranath Tagore

Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar: “Bravery, respect, dignified conduct and reliability are the defining characteristics of any army.”

Buddha as saying, “ Courage is related to conviction , courage is mercy and compassion, courage is that which makes us stand on the side of truth and do that which is right.”

With Saint Thomas we associate humility . He rightly said “Humility which is a virtue, is always fruitful in good works”

Nobel laureate and author Octavio Paz has said modernisation can only begin by being a critique of our past.

Albert Einstein once said, “ The strength of the Constitution lies entirely in the determination of each Citizen to defend it.”

Child slavery is a crime against humanity. Humanity itself is at stake here. A lot of work still remains, but I will see the end of child labour in my lifetime. –

Nobel prize winner Kailash Satyarthi

Child labour and poverty are inevitably bound together and if you continue to use the labour of children as the treatment for the social disease of poverty, you will have both poverty and child labour to the end of time. –

Grace Abbott

“Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing”.

In the same way, India’s trade policy must be an informed choice.

Swami Vivekananda used to say- “An ideal person is the one who is active even in absolute quietness and experiences complete peace even in extreme turbulent phases”.

Saint Thiruvalluvar said over 2,000 years ago: “Fate’s strength, one’s strength, the adversary’s strength, allies’ strength, weigh all these and decide your course of action” (Kural 471).

Time of crisis is time for empathy.

In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, this is time to “recall the face of the poorest and weakest man you have seen and ask yourself if this step you contemplate is going to be any use to him.”

To quote Mahatma Gandhi: “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.”

A strong foundation for a self-reliant and healthy India lies on Make in India, Innovate in India and Collaborate in India.

Remember, Mahatma Gandhi had said: “India’s dignity cannot be saved if misgovernment and corruption flourish. I mention corruption because misgovernment and corruption always go together.”

Mahatma Gandhi said that unless people in India’s villages have economic and social freedom , India cannot be a free country.

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in a harmony”

— MAHATMA GANDHI

“Be truthful, gentle and fearless”

“Heart is a very good fertilizer; anything we plant love, fear, hate, hope, revenge, jealousy-surely grows and bears fruit. We have to decide what to harvest”

— SWAMI VIVEKANAND

“We must become the change we want to see”

“To believe in something, and not live it, is dishonest”

“ Poverty ,” Gandhi once said, “is the worst form of violence.”

Mahatma Gandhi said, “ When ridicule fail s to kill a movement it begins to command respect”.

“ Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed”. –

Mahatma Gandhi.

“Martin Luther King’s memorable observation that ‘ a riot is the language of the unheard’ applies as much today.

India has to be transformed into a developed nation, a prosperous nation and a healthy nation , with a value system.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Let remember the words of Mahatma Gandhi who said, “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members”.

“ Freedom is secured not by the fulfilling of one’s desires, but by the removal of desire.” –Epictetus

Courage calls for taking risks, feeling fear and aiming at an honourable outcome

We live in a society fascinated by courage and celebrates bravery, with children raised on a diet of heroic stories. In Plato’s Laches, Socrates defines courage broadly, to encompass even everyday activities. On the other hand, Aristotle in Nicomachean Ethics confines courage to valour in the battlefield.

As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “When the Panchayat Raj is established, public opinion will do what violence can never do”.

At this time, we recall the words of Martin Luther King Jr. who said: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.

In an interview to the New York Times in 1988, author and Nobel laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez said: “Plagues are like imponderable dangers that surprise people. They seem to have the quality of destiny.”

“Geographical proximity to justice is an important component of access to justice”

In India, there is no dearth of hype and hyperbole. Swami Vivekananda had once said, “an ounce of practice is worth twenty-thousand tonnes of big talk”.

Our oceans keep our economy and our lives above the waves . In the post-COVID-19 era, we must use the years ahead to steer our collective fleets toward sustainable oceans.

“ Freedom of individual development is the basis of democracy ,” observed the Commission (1948-49) appointed by the Government of India “to report on Indian University Education and suggest improvements and extensions that may be desirable to suit present and future”.

It had among its members Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and was cited by then Chief Justice of India, B.N. Kirpal, in the judgment in T.M.A. Pai Foundation & Ors vs State Of Karnataka & Ors (2002).

Winston Churchill, “ Never let a good crisis go to waste!

Rabindranath Tagore once said, “Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark”.

The darkness that looms over the world at this moment is the curse of the COVID-19 pandemic, while the bird of human freedom finds itself caged under lockdown, unable to fly.

Enthused by the beacon of hope, human beings will soon start picking up the pieces of a shared future for humanity , but perhaps, it will only be to find a new, unfamiliar world order with far-reaching consequences for us that transcend society, politics and economy.

For Other Important Quotes: Click here (Brainy Quote)

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Important Quotations for UPSC Essay Paper

Quotations for UPSC Essay Paper

Importance of Quotes for UPSC Essay Writing

Relevant quotations, though not necessary, always improve the quality of your Essay if used appropriately. It also tells the examiner that you have grasped the core idea of the Essay Topic. Having said that, we often forcefully use the quotations which becomes counter-productive. Sometimes we feel that we have memorized them with so much difficulty and hence if we do not use them, it would be huge waste of effort.

So Quotations for UPSC Essay are like ammunition that you need to keep in your back-pocket but use only when it is appropriate. I had made a list of quotations for the Essay Paper just a couple of days before the exam day and memorized them. Here is the list of UPSC Essay Quotations the I had prepared.

You can also download quotes for UPSC essay pdf format. Link for PDF download is given at the bottom.

Quotations on Education

  • “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”  Nelson Mandela
  • “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”  Mahatma Gandhi
  • “Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.”  Margaret Mead
  • “I have never let my schooling interfere with my Education.”  Mark Twain
  • “Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learnt in school.”  Einstein
  • “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”  Aristotle
  • “Education is the manifestation of perfection already in man.”  Swami Vivekananda

Quotations on Science and Religion

  • “All thinking men are atheists.”  Ernst Hemingway 
  • “Atheism is so senseless and odious to mankind…”  Issac Newton
  • “The notion that Science and Spirituality are somehow mutually exclusive does a disservice to both.”  Carl Sagan
  • “Science without Religion is lame and Religion without Science is blind”  Einstein
  • “What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.”  Christopher Hitchens

Quotes on Democracy

  • “The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.”  Churchill
  • “The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so much dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy”  Montesquieu
  • “The ballot is stronger than the bullet.”  Abraham Lincoln
  • “There cannot be daily democracy without daily citizenship.”  Ralph Nader
  • ” I understand democracy as something that gives the weak the same chance as the strong.”  Mahatma Gandhi
  • “Democracy is not law of the majority but protection of the minority.”  Albert Camus
  • “In a democracy, the individual enjoys not only the ultimate power, but carries the ultimate responsibility.”  Norman Cousins

Quotes on Materialism/Consumerism

  • “A fellow who is ashamed merely of shabby clothing or modest meals is not even worth conversing with.”  Confucius
  • “To live fully, we must use things and love people, not love things and use people.”  Powell John
  • “The world has enough for everyone’s need but not enough for everyone’s greed.”  Mahatma Gandhi
  • “If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there would be peace.”  John Lennon

Quotations on Peace/Justice

  • “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” William Gladstone
  • “Peace and Justice are two sides of the same coin.”  Eisenhower
  • “Poverty is the worst form of violence.”  Mahatma Gandhi

Quotes by Mahatma Gandhi

  • “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
  • “Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony.”
  • “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.”
  • “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win”
  • “Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory.”
  • “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from indomitable will.”
  • “The good man is the friend of all living things.”
  • “Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit.”
  • “The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
  • “I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people.”
  • “There are people in the world, so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.”
  • “Violent means will give violent freedom.”
  • “There is higher courts than courts of justice and that is conscience.”
  • “To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonesty.”
  • “A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.”

Quotes on Women Empowerment

  • “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman” Margaret Thatcher
  • “There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.” Kofi Annan
  • “Educate a man and you educate an individual. Educate a woman and you educate a family.” A. Cripps
  • “I think women are foolish to pretend they are equal to men, they are far superior and always have been.” William Golding
  • “If women are expected to do the same work as men, we must teach them the same things.” Plato
  • “Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world.” Hillary Clinton
  • “There is no hope for that family or country where there is no estimation of women, where they live in sadness. For this reason, they have to be raised first.” Swami Vivekananda

Quotes on Freedom of Speech, Liberty

  • “People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.” Soren Kierkegaard
  • “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”  Benjamin Franklin
  • “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”  George Orwell
  • “Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.” George B. Shaw
  • “When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.” Thomas Jefferson

By no means this is any exhaustive list. But I also need to tell you two things. One is that I could use 3 quotations from this list in the first essay. Second, I didn’t use any quote for the second essay.

READ: Sample Essay Written by IAS Topper (Score:164)

7 thoughts on “Important Quotations for UPSC Essay Paper”

Sir, please update with quotation of a new topic- “Science and technology”. I would be grateful to you.

Great initiative…. Thank you…

Thank u so much 🙂

APPRECIABLE. KEEP IT UP. THANKS.

Thank you so much sir.

Please send some essays of toppers

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UPSC Essentials | Expert talk — ‘Don’t be afraid of Essays on philosophical quotes’: DU Philosophy Prof

With upsc mains 2023 just a few days away, you might be still worried about your strategies for tackling the philosophical quotes based essays. upsc essentials interviews professor pratibha sharma to understand what is a 'good' philosophical essay..

quotes essay upsc

There is a pleasure in philosophy which every aspirant feels, until it appears as an unavoidable component of the UPSC CSE Essay paper. Is it so? In the past few years, the Essay paper of UPSC CSE has started focussing completely on philosophical quotes. This shift in trend has become a big challenge for aspirants in their UPSC journey. Manas Srivastava talks to Prof. Pratibha Sharma of Miranda House who weighs in on many fears of aspirants regarding philosophical quotes that aspirants may find relevant to kick start their Essay preparation.

About our Expert: Professor Pratibha Sharma teaches philosophy in Miranda House ( Delhi University), and is currently the Teacher-in-Charge of the Philosophy department.

quotes essay upsc

Dear future bureaucrats don’t be afraid of philosophy.

Manas: In the past few years, UPSC has started asking Essay topics on Philosophical quotes. Many aspirants do not study Philosophy as a subject before UPSC preparation. This makes the Essay paper challenging for them. What would you say about this ‘fear’ of philosophical quotes among aspirants?

Prof. Pratibha Sharma: Let’s begin by understanding that the great philosophers whose quotes you encounter in your question papers come from different disciplines themselves. Descartes, Leibniz and Whitehead were mathematicians. Plato was a polymath. Students of political science must have read about John Rawls. Similarly, B.G. Tilak, Rabindranath Tagore, Madan Mohan Malviya, Mahatma Gandhi, and many others were not philosophy students in particular. Their thoughts, words, and lives became important for philosophy and hence they are known as great philosophers. So, to say that one has to be an academic philosopher to understand philosophical quotes is not true.

Don’t be afraid of philosophy and philosophical quotes. Philosophers are not strangers to you. In fact, everyone is a philosopher from within. Try to awaken that philosopher within you.

Also, I am not surprised that UPSC has started giving more weightage to philosophical quotes in essays. Philosophy is important in every aspect of life. You must have noticed that every institution has an ethics committee nowadays. Philosophy is the basis for Ethics. Even UPSC has introduced a paper on Ethics as its compulsory paper in the mains examination. This speaks volumes of the relevance of philosophy in not only your exams but also in life in general.

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JUST FYI: The essay paper is a compulsory paper in UPSC CSE (Main) Examination and plays a crucial part in the selection process. It is divided into two sections, each consisting of four topics. Candidates are required to write two essays in three hours of time. The essays carry a total of 250 marks (125 each). The word limit for each essay is 1000- 1200 words. The syllabus of essay paper is not well defined by UPSC in comparison to other GS papers. 

Manas: One assumes that many philosophy teachers must be evaluating Essay papers with questions on Philosophical quotes. If you had to evaluate Essays for UPSC exams, what would have been your parameters for evaluation or what is a ‘good’ essay according to you?

Prof. Pratibha Sharma: Firstly, an examiner knows that aspirants are not necessarily from a philosophical background. So, that clarity is there in the mind of the examiner. Having said that, a good essay may have the following elements:

1. Better understanding of the quote

2. Proper elaboration of quotes based on ideology, thinkers, and examples

3. Right language and expressions

4. Multidimensional approach

5. Linked to contemporary times- making it more relevant

Regarding all these points, I must mention that one who aspires to be an IAS officer should have some basic skills in writing and expressing their views. One doesn’t need to use difficult words but the right expressions.

Manas: The point where you mentioned thinkers and ideology brings us to a question of sources. Does it mean that aspirants should start reading several philosophy books for Essays? If yes, which ones?

Prof. Pratibha Sharma: No, reading too many books on Philosophy for a few months or a year won’t help. This is knowledge that is acquired over some time. I will suggest they make wise use of the Internet and become aware of some important ideologies, quotes, and thinkers. They will find them relevant in Ethics paper too which is very much connected to philosophy.

However, if anyone wants to read a book I suggest they take any ‘Introduction to Philosophy’ which covers all major themes.

Manas: You have also mentioned the ‘Multidimensional approach’ in an Essay. What do you mean by that?

Prof. Pratibha Sharma: Students must understand an important aspect of multidimensional approach. In ancient times there used to be no real distinction between various subjects. People believed that nothing could be studied in isolation. This was called multidisciplinary approach which nowadays, in academics, is called interdisciplinarity. Specifically about Philosophy, we should know that it teaches us not to be judgmental. This means that one must be aware of various options, perspectives and points of view, theories, etc. For example, democracy is just one form of government. One needs to be aware of other forms of government to conclude that which is the best form of government. If one is partial, he or she is not tolerant. That is neither good for your essay paper nor as a citizen and a human being.

Manas: Interestingly,  you mentioned linking the quote to contemporary times. Can you please elaborate?

Prof. Pratibha Sharma: Most of the quotes are from thinkers. These thinkers are ‘eternal thinkers’. Their words are relevant even today. Therefore, students should remember this aspect in their essays too. These quotes may be rooted in some time and space but linking them to contemporary times may make essays more relevant.

Manas: Are there any ‘boundaries’ for essays based on philosophical quotes as they seem open-ended?

Prof. Pratibha Sharma: Regarding limitations, I would like to mention that data is not so important in such essays. Students, for example, can refer to ‘changing trends’ but don’t write like a social scientist. One may refer to theories while answering, for example, a question on happiness. But do not be judgmental. Essays should not have a partial approach; try to show multiple perspectives and not stick to one stand. Sometimes students aren’t very good with the ideas of thinkers. They should know at least some important ones and can write good examples to support their points.

Manas: Why should future bureaucrats and administrators have some sense of Philosophy?

Prof. Pratibha Sharma: Let’s answer this question in the language of Philosophy itself. Plato talked about the ‘ Philosopher King’ in The Republic . According to this idea, the best form of government is that in which philosophers rule. In present times, a philosopher is an articulated person who has a better understanding of diverse issues and he is not judgemental. These are two qualities that are required in an able administrator. Therefore, not only attempt to study Philosophy but also imbibe it. Philosophy helps to analyse issues from different perspectives before coming to a conclusion. Critical thinking, logical reasoning, and ethics, all are part of Philosophy. Isn’t it a part of the job of an administrator working in the field to apply all of these?

I believe students should know about one such personality who was known as the Indian Philosopher King (especially in the Philosophy circle) and went on to become the President of India — Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. His contribution to our country is immense. Students must read about him. They will get an answer to the above question.

Manas: You are a Philosophy teacher. I am sure you must have a favourite quote that you think is very important to your life…

Prof. Pratibha Sharma: One philosophical quote that is very close to my heart is:

I know that I don’t know ~ Socrates

One is wise because at least he or she knows what he or she doesn’t know. At least, I recognise my ignorance. As I recognise my ignorance, I will like to learn and know more. There is an element of ‘inquisitiveness’.

Manas: I think your favourite quote can be a good point to ponder for aspirants. UPSC aspirants must try as a sample essay question.

(Answer in the comment box or through your email)

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UPSC Topper Rushikesh Reddy Shares His Entire Notes for Aspirants Who Prepare by Self-Study

Last updated on September 29, 2023 by Alex Andrews George

Rushikesh Reddy - UPSC Toppers Notes

Rushikesh Reddy, the young engineer from IIT Delhi who secured All India Rank 95 in UPSC Civil Services Examination 2019-20 is extra-ordinary in many ways. He deeply wishes to give back to society in ways he could.

By an unparallel gesture, Rushikesh shared all the online notes made by him during the last 5 years of his preparation to be freely downloaded by fellow aspirants who prepare online by self-study.

The notes are available for free download as PDF (e-book) from the ClearIAS Store .

An online student of ClearIAS, Rushikesh Reddy expects his allocation to be in the Indian Police Service (IPS).

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Rushikesh Reddy Notes: UPSC Prelims Quick Revision Material (PDF)

The UPSC Prelims Quick Revision Material (PDF) is a compilation of highly useful information (prepared in point format) for the Preliminary Examination. This material primarily covers NCERTs, online economy lectures, and questions from various test series attempted by Rushikesh.

You can click here to download the PDF for FREE.

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Rushikesh says that the notes (Prelims) are not exhaustive. Apart from the notes, Rushikesh advises aspirants to refer to textbooks covering static areas like Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth, Environment by Sankar etc. He also recommends learning from websites like CCRT for culture topics. He suggests using the notes only for quick preparation of NCERTs or last-minute revision.

Rushikesh Reddy Notes: UPSC Essay Value Addition Material (PDF)

The UPSC Essay Value Addition Material (PDF) is a compilation of important quotes and data which can be used in the Essay Paper in Civil Services Main Examination. The PDF also contains interesting examples and anecdotes. The points in this PDF can add value to your essays and is a must-read for every aspirant.

Rushikesh Reddy Notes: UPSC Mains Value Addition Material – Useful Data (PDF)

The UPSC Mains Value Addition Material (PDF) is a compilation of useful data (statistics) which can add value to General Studies answers of Civil Services Main Examination. Use of data (statistics) can help you prove your stand in General Studies answers, and thus can boost your marks.

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Rushikesh Reddy had previously shared his notes for UPSC Mains General Studies . Those notes are available on InsightsonIndia.com, another website Rushikesh Reddy used for his preparation.

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Read the topper’s interview of Rushikesh Reddy with ClearIAS to understand his preparation strategies.

‘There is no such secret for success’ says Rushikesh. He feels that consistent hard work with smart strategy worked for him to ace UPSC Exam . He worked for an average of 8-9 hrs every day and planned the preparation on a daily, and weekly basis and ensured that he stuck to those.

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Not every topper prepare such comprehensive notes as Rushikesh Reddy. And not every topper who prepare such notes will share those notes for FREE. One can imagine the value of these notes if commercialised. However, Rushikesh is different.

Rushikesh’s notes, without doubt, in future will be used by lakhs of aspirants who prepare online by self-study!

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This topper’s notes will give a new direction to beginners on how to prepare notes to secure a top rank in the UPSC Civil Services Exam.

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A trusted mentor and pioneer in online training , Alex's guidance, strategies, study-materials, and mock-exams have helped many aspirants to become IAS, IPS, and IFS officers.

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September 4, 2020 at 11:18 am

I need an exact syllabus of upsc for IAS..

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@Dr.lvlychaudhary – The syllabus for UPSC CSE can be accessed from the Menu section of ClearIAS website and App.

quotes essay upsc

September 5, 2020 at 4:36 pm

Yes I also needed

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September 4, 2020 at 5:54 pm

Dear sir, Very usefull. One of my request to you. My daughter is preparing for UPSC Civil services exam 2021. I’m unable to provide her Rs. 4999/- at a time to deposit it into on your online scheme. But I can deposit it Rs. 1000/- each month. Can you help my child to accept Rs. 1000/- each month, consecutively four months ? Thanks and regards. Nrusingha Narayan Dash. Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

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@ Nrusingha – Many banks offer EMI on this amount. You can see the EMI option once you click the payment button. ClearIAS does not offer direct instalment facility for the fees as the total amount is only Rs.4999. However, if you face any financial concerns, you can always write to our finance team ‘contactus[at]clearias.com’. They will surely help you.

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September 5, 2020 at 10:29 am

Sir / ma’am

Please provide me guidenes upsc. Suggest the best books and any help.

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@Ankita – The recommended books for UPSC Preparation can be accessed from the Menu Section of ClearIAS website/ClearIAS app.

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September 5, 2020 at 5:23 pm

The link for essay value addition contains same material as for Prelims Revision Kindly upload the appropriate file thanks

September 5, 2020 at 7:02 pm

@ R – The links are now updated. Thank you for pointing out.

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September 5, 2020 at 5:30 pm

Respected sir/ mam, Are these prelims specific notes of rushikesh sir cover the current topics for prelims 2020?

September 5, 2020 at 7:04 pm

@Fatima – It covers many current topics relavant for this year as well. Though extremely useful for quick revision, as Rushikesh himself says, don’t consider these notes as exhaustive. You need to read beyond.

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September 11, 2020 at 10:11 pm

Sir I am Santanu Mondal from Patanda panskura purba Medinipur West Bengal, I am a GDS Post master, I want to clear UPSC exam, please provide me syllabus of upsc, and which books is needed for the exam prelims as well as mains. How can I start… Which portion should be read carefully… Please guide me….

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@Santanu – All the above details can be accessed from ClearIAS Menu itself. All the best!

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August 9, 2021 at 7:06 pm

When will CCC of may june nd july 2021 ll get uploaded.?..it is already august now….

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UPSC Essay Topics - Important Essay Topics for UPSC Mains 2023

By vajiram & ravi.

Essay Course for UPSC

UPSC CSE Mains 2023 Essay Question Paper

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Understanding UPSC Essay Topics holds significant importance as it evaluates the candidate's ability to analyse, present arguments, and communicate effectively. In this article, we will explore the diverse range of UPSC essay topics, their significance, and essential tips to excel in this section. Get ready to enhance your writing and analytical skills and make a strong impression on the evaluators with well-crafted essays.

UPSC Essay Paper

The Essay paper in the UPSC Mains examination requires candidates to write multiple essays , each on a different topic, chosen from a given list of options. The essay topics for UPSC cover a wide range of issues, including social, economic, political, cultural, and philosophical aspects, both national and international.

The essay paper holds significant weightage in the UPSC Mains examination, contributing 250 marks out of the total 1750 marks . Scoring well in this section can have a considerable impact on the overall ranking and selection for the coveted civil services.

Weekly UPSC Essay Topics By Vajiram & Ravi

The UPSC Essay Paper is an opportunity for candidates to demonstrate their proficiency in expressing ideas and analysing complex issues. Vajiram & Ravi Pensive-Weekly Essay Writing Programme provides you with two Essay Topics every Saturday based on the previous year's question papers and the changing trends analysis. You can submit your Essay for peer evaluation on vajiramandravi.com. This will help you nourish your writing skills, give you clarity of thought, and build the capacity to express opinions in a logical and coherent manner.

Important Essay Topics for UPSC 2023

The purpose of the essay paper is to assess the candidate's ability to critically analyse a topic, present well-structured arguments, and communicate their ideas effectively. It also evaluates their knowledge of various issues, their clarity of thought, and their capacity to express opinions in a logical and coherent manner.

Some of the Important Essay Topics to prepare for the UPSC Mains Examination 2023 are:

  • Gender Equality
  • Environment/Urbanization
  • Economic Growth
  • Federalism/Decentralization
  • Agriculture
  • Economics 

UPSC Essay Topics on Philosophy

Every year, UPSC typically provides you with two or more essay topics centred around philosophical thoughts, Indian philosophical schools, or quotes from notable personalities. To effectively address these philosophical topics, you should refer to Philosophy Books to gain a foundational understanding. Here is a list of UPSC Essay Topics on Philosophy :

  • Everything comes to him, who hustles while he waits.
  • We are always blind as we want to be.
  • You cannot step twice in the same river.
  • A disciplined mind brings happiness.
  • The price of Greatness is Responsibility.
  • People would rather Believe than Know.
  • Mind - A beautiful Servant? Or a dangerous Master?

UPSC Essay Topics on Art and Culture

The UPSC Essay Topics related to Indian society, art, and culture cover a wide range of subjects, offering great diversity. To gain knowledge about the static content on these topics, you should rely on fundamental books on society, as recommended for the exam. Here is a list of UPSC Essay Topics on Indian Art and Culture :

  • Culture changes with economic development.
  • Culture is what we are, Civilization is what we have.
  • Social reform is a myth if places of worship are open only to all castes and not to all genders.
  • Impact of Globalization on Indian Art and Culture.
  • Caste System - India’s Enduring Curse.
  • Godmen - A Threat to Indian Art and Culture?

UPSC Essay Topics on Science and Technology

UPSC essay topics on Science and Technology can largely be addressed through current affairs. You may also benefit from consulting a Science and Technology Book for UPSC to compose a comprehensive and well-rounded essay. Here are some UPSC Essay Topics on Science and Technology:

  • Deglobalisation is good for the world.
  • Science is organised Knowledge. Wisdom is Organised life.
  • Technology is a Weapon against Poverty.
  • Prioritising Education Technology for Global Growth.
  • Technology is the silent factor in International Relations.
  • Scientific and Technological Progress cannot be equated with Human Progress.

UPSC Essay Topics on Education

Education stands as one of the preferred UPSC Essay Topics, with an essay related to this subject often appearing in the paper each year. To tackle this topic effectively, you should stay abreast of Current Affairs , incorporating significant changes and advancements in the field. Let's explore some of the Essay topics for UPSC centred around education:

  • Self Education is a lifelong curiosity.
  • Education Breeds Peace.
  • Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.
  • Education must also train one for quick, resolute and effective thinking.
  • Schooling is not Education.

UPSC Essay Topics on Polity and Governance

To comprehensively address Polity and Governance topics, you should acquire fundamental knowledge from Polity Books for UPSC and Current Affairs. These resources offer static information about relevant issues and their historical context, which proves valuable while writing UPSC Essay Topics on Polity. Here are some Essay Topics on Polity and Governance:

  • The Role of Politics in Development.
  • Should Youth in India Consider Politics as a Career?
  • Art, Freedom and Creativity will change society faster than politics.
  • The politics of Identity is the Politics of the Weak.
  • People should not be afraid of their Government. The Government should be afraid of its people.
  • Government Surveillance - Good or Bad?

UPSC Essay Topics on Economy

Essays concerning economic growth are frequently included in the Essay Paper. To tackle these topics effectively, you should refer to Economy Notes for UPSC to gain a comprehensive understanding. Once the fundamentals are grasped, you can enhance their essays by incorporating examples, data, and statistics to create a multidimensional perspective. Here is a list of UPSC Essay Topics on Economy:

  • We don't have to sacrifice a Strong Economy for a Healthy Environment.
  • India, a $5 trillion Economy - Dream or Reality?
  • Digital Economy: A leveller or a source of Economic Inequality?
  • Innovation is the key determinant of social welfare and economic growth.
  • Labour Reforms in India and its Role in Economic Growth.

UPSC Essay Topics on Social Issues

Social issues are a significant aspect of the UPSC essay paper, reflecting the candidates' understanding of societal challenges and their ability to propose viable solutions. These essays provide a platform for candidates to analyse, critique, and suggest measures for pressing social concerns. Topics related to social issues in the UPSC Essay paper may include:

  • Inclusivity and Plurality are the hallmarks of a Peaceful Society.
  • A Gender-sensitive Indian Society is a prerequisite for Women and Child Empowerment.
  • The weaker sections of Indian Society - are their Rights and Access to Justice getting Better?

Previous Year UPSC Essay Topics

Practising previous year's essay topics will help you become familiar with the UPSC exam pattern , word limit, and the types of essay questions frequently asked in the Mains Examination. Analysing past essay topics will also allow you to identify recurring themes and trends, enabling you to prioritise their preparation accordingly. Regular practice with past essay topics will instil confidence in you, helping you feel more comfortable and prepared for the actual exam.

  • Forests are the best case studies for economic excellence.
  • Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.
  • History is a series of victories won by the scientific man over the romantic man.
  • A ship in the harbour is safe, but that is not what a ship is for.
  • The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.
  • A smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities.
  • Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right.

Tips to Excel in UPSC Essay Paper

  • Understand the Topics: Thoroughly comprehend the essay topics, including the keywords and instructions. Choose a topic that aligns with your strengths and interests.
  • Plan and Structure: Devote some time to plan your essay. Create an outline and organise your thoughts in a structured manner, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
  • Be Objective: Present balanced arguments and avoid a biased or one-sided approach. Consider multiple perspectives and present a holistic view.
  • Provide Examples and Evidence: Support your arguments with relevant examples, data, quotes and evidence to strengthen your essay.
  • Maintain Clarity: Write in a clear and concise manner. Use simple language and avoid jargon or overly complex vocabulary.
  • Practice Regularly: Regular practice is essential to improve Essay writing skills. Write essays on diverse topics to enhance your versatility.
  • Time Management: Allocate appropriate time for planning, writing, and revising each essay to manage time effectively during the examination.
  • Revise and Edit: Review your essays for coherence, grammar, and structure. Make necessary edits to refine your work.

FAQs on UPSC Essay Topics

What are the important UPSC Essay Topics?

Here is a list of UPSC Essay Topics asked in Mains Examination previously:

  • Culture is what we are, civilization is what we have.
  • Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
  • What is research but a blind date with knowledge?
  • Best for an individual is not necessarily best for society.
  • Wisdom finds truth.
  • Ships don’t sink because of water around them, ships sink because of water that gets into them.
  • Patriarchy is the least noticed yet the most significant structure of social inequality.
  • Technology as the silent factor in international relations.

How do I Prepare for the UPSC Essay?

To prepare for the UPSC essay, focus on understanding the essay syllabus and past topics to identify recurring themes. Regularly practise writing essays on various topics to improve your writing skills and time management. Structure your essays with a clear introduction, main body, and conclusion.

Which is the best source to practise UPSC Essay Topics?

The best sources to prepare Essay for UPSC include official UPSC materials, newspapers, and magazines like The Hindu, Yojana , and Kurukshetra for current affairs, standard books on diverse subjects, government reports and publications, online platforms like PIB and PRS India, UPSC previous year papers for understanding the exam pattern, and regular practice of essay writing on various topics.

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Anecdotes, Facts, Examples for GS and Essay

sbhati

|   2 year(s) ago

This thread is meant to be a repository of interesting anecdotes/news articles/facts/examples/case studies which we can use in our essay and GS papers. In my experience, listing these things down somewhere is not enough to ensure that we are able to use them in the exam. Therefore let us discuss and debate so that we can internalize them.

quotes essay upsc

  • Most useful

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sbhati   .  

commented 2 year(s) ago

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sjerngal   .  

quotes essay upsc

nerdfighter   .  

I really love the opening sentences of Nivedita Menon's book 'Seeing like a Feminist'. You can steal it, with some modification, to begin some essay on Gender, Women, Caste Oppression, etc.

quotes essay upsc

sbhati said I will start. As per SIPRI, world spent $2 trillion on military in 2020. Jeffery Sachs estimates that we need around $3.5 trillion spread over 20 years to eliminate global poverty. So if we are able to cut down our military expenditures for few years we will have enough money to deal with problems such as poverty and climate change. A lesson for ethics in international relations?

The thing you wrote about writing & posting the stuff is not enough is so so true. We shall try to discuss when we get off time. I had made some good compilation on various book about poverty including Jeffery Sachs ka books. I'll try pen the crux of it down when I get some time. 

quotes essay upsc

Some fodder for Essays (Social Media & Democracy)

quotes essay upsc

sbhati said @nerdfighter  I think "stop, think and apply"  should be motto. The best thing would be if we are able to use such things in the next test or the practice answers we write. But I am myself struggling with this. I have read so much interesting stuff during the course of my preparation, but none of it reflects in my answers. 

Exactly. I actually read shit tonnes of books in college, more than I care to admit. But I did not have any recollection mechanism then. 

quotes essay upsc

Walter Lippman's Book 'Public Opinion'

For Lippman, the world was too complex for an ordinary individual to comprehend. In order to make sense of it, people carried a mental image of the world inside their heads. These pictures were what drove groups or individuals to act in society in the name of Public Opinion.

A strong democracy, therefore, needs institutions and media that help in creating the most accurate interpretations of the world in the minds of the people.

But this isn’t easy. Lippman was worried democracy relied on something so irrational as a public opinion that takes shape in the minds of poorly informed and easily manipulated people. For Lippman, policymakers and experts should use narratives for ‘manufacture of consent’ among people which enables public opinion to be channelled in a manner that’s consistent with what’s good for society. Lippman believed persuasion and the knowledge of how to create consent through ‘propaganda’ will change politics in the age of mass media. Walter Lippmann’s Public Opinion, published in 1922, is one of the most persuasive critique of democracy. Shortly after it was published, John Dewey, the great defender of democracy and the most important American philosopher of the era, called Lippmann’s book “the most effective indictment of democracy as currently conceived.”

(I'll edit this post as I get more time. This isn't very clear. Just copy pasted it from my notes for now)

Further Readings:

https://www.vox.com/2018/8/9/17540448/walter-lippmann-democracy-trump-brexit

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1919/11/the-basic-problem-of-democracy/569095/

chamomile's photo

chamomile   .  

This thread has become my favourite already! Sometimes it simply astonishes me that there are so many people around who have such depth of interest and knowledge in issues and topics. 

Keep sharing guys! If not for mains, these snippets in themselves are much more enlightening in general. 

quotes essay upsc

DM   .  

Narrow Corridor by Acemoglu & Robinson

quotes essay upsc

quotes essay upsc

sbhati said @nerdfighter  Is the "narrow corridor" meant to be the ideal state of things? (have not seen the video. it is too long :P)

Yes. And I will try to write down the summary soon. 

iOTA's photo

iOTA   .  

quotes essay upsc

Patootie   .  

quotes essay upsc

Patootie said For philosophical essays, I’ve found this YouTube channel “Academy of Ideas” pretty great. Scored 141 in essay last time, and a large part of one of the essays was influenced by this channel. 

More insights on what makes a good essay?

nerdfighter said » show previous quotes Patootie said For philosophical essays, I’ve found this YouTube channel “Academy of Ideas” pretty great. Scored 141 in essay last time, and a large part of one of the essays was influenced by this channel. 

Hi, I think scores may have been different if someone else valued it; so, some of the following , if not all, might be useless. I scored very poorly in all my essay mocks last time, but got decent feedback on forum. 

My learnings are as follows:

1. Adopting an argumentative method of writing the essay, as opposed to a method where you simply elaborate on the given topic may pay rich dividends. For instance, if I got a topic “There can be no social justice without economic prosperity but economic prosperity without social justice is meaningless”, I would broadly engage with the following ideas: a) Can there be social justice without economic prosperity; b) Is economic prosperity a precondition for social justice; c) Is economic prosperity without social justice meaningless or can economic prosperity be a gateway to greater social justice? Rather than adopting an approach where I would simply elaborate on the given topic by touching upon different topics, I adopted a style where I wasn’t afraid of going against the topic if I had cogent reasons to do so. Then of course, where it was apt, I did add in quotes, but only if I could connect it directly with the point I was making. For example, in the above topic, I remember using “The opposite of poverty is not wealth. The opposite of poverty is justice.” 

2. Presenting ideas and arguments, and having a logical flow to them rather than jumping around different dimensions of the same topic helps. 

3. Staying authentic. I felt presenting ideas that are internalised adds more value than giving a great number of facts or examples or quotes. 

4. A run of the mill essay can be boring. An essay which is a bit off beat can be high risk, but highly rewarding. Striking a conversation with the examiner helps, because majority of aspirants fail to do this. 

5. Pick a topic which you can connect with. Popular advice is to avoid philosophical essays as much as you can. I felt comfortable with them because they are open to interpretation. I wrote on the essay “Mindful manifesto is the catalyst to a tranquil self.” That topic, at least to my interpretation, struck I chord with where I was at that point in my life. So, I felt I could present my ideas well. 

6. Spending way too much time brainstorming can be counterproductive. Having a broad idea of the arguments you would engage with, and a reasonable idea about the specific points that you can quote on the way might be enough. If I spend too much time brainstorming, I overcomplicate. I think writing an essay gives you ideas along the way. Do use them because they might be your best ones. However, be careful not to deviate from the topic. 

7. What gets valued is your thought process, not your knowledge. 

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE IN UPSC MAINS 2022 for Foreign Policy & important things to remember for the Exam!

Here are a few quotes that you can use in the #UPSC Mains exam for #ForeignPolicy especially as introductions and conclusions.

1. “India’s multi-faith society is also an enormous contribution to global stability. In fact, that is what acts as a firewall preventing the spread of fundamentalism and radicalism from India’s West to its East.” S. Jaishankar

2.”If America is a melting-pot,then India is a thali,a selection of sumptuous dishes in different bowls.Each tastes different & doesn’t necessarily mix with the next,but they belong together on the same plate,& they complement each other in making the meal a satisfying repast.” – Shashi Tharoor

3. “Asia is being shaped largely by the outlook of the US, the power of China, the weight of Russia, the collectivism of ASEAN, the volatility of the Middle East and the rise of India.” S. Jaishankar

4. “South Asia is clearly among the least integrated regions of the world and being located at the centre of the Indian Ocean, its dysfunctionality affects that larger space directly.” S. Jaishankar

5 “While it can be asserted with some confidence that a combination of economics, technology and demographics will draw India and the West closer, the real difference would be made by politics and values. For it to succeed in good measure, India and the West must fit into each other’s scheme of the world.” S. Jaishankar

6. “India’s world view is consultative, democratic and equitable, but must find clearer expression.” S. Jaishankar

7. “The ethos of the Indian Ocean is a consultative one and in the long run, it is the people-centric initiatives and projects that are likely to be more sustainable.”

S. Jaishankar

8. “The life of most people on earth is better than it ever has been in history, and yet the sense of uncertainty, dissatisfaction, and anger has never seemed higher. By historical standards, the world today is much less inequitable, unfair, capriciously oppressive, murderous, and imperial than before. Paradoxically, deep racial, cultural, & ethnic panics are evident in all societies, including the most advanced. The tension & the dynamic continue between cosmopolitanism versus nostalgic reaction, between regimentation versus an open society.” Shivshankar M

9. “Asia is now physically tied together by infrastructure, trade, and investment. Globalisation means that the prosperity of east Asia depends and can be threatened by what happens in west Asia.”

Shivshankar Menon

10. “After all, Atmanirbhar Bharat does coexist with Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is a family).” S. Jaishankar

Here are a few things to remember if you are writing the #UPSC Mains 2022 tomorrow or in the future.

READ THE QUESTION(a few times!)

When we’re stressed, we tend to miss the finer details while reading. Keep calm & read the question and its sub-parts a few times(even while writing).

READ. UNDERSTAND. WRITE.

Don’t regret that you lost marks coz you didn’t read properly!

• BE AWARE OF THE TIME :

Remember to keep track of time. Carry a wrist watch. In Essays – keep a few minutes to brainstorm & only then start writing. It’s a race against time. There have been several talented individuals who haven’t cleared only coz they couldn’t complete!

•NO TIME FOR REGRETS:

Didn’t know a question? MOVE ON. Didn’t do well in ONE paper? MOVE ON. Remember there are several questions to make up for not knowing 1 or 2 questions & several papers to compete in.

MOVE FORWARD. NO TIME TO REGRET. BE TOUGH.

• USE YOUR COMMON SENSE :

Nobody knows everything- remember that. If there are questions that look puzzling, SMILE & USE YOUR PRESENCE OF MIND! Remember that you possess a lot of knowledge. Utilise it to write something sensible quickly.

Do not panic. Do not get STUCK.

• GIVE IT YOUR BEST:

Getting a chance to write the #UPSC Mains exam is a golden opportunity! You were one amongst the few thousands who qualified out of lakhs of aspirants.

Utilise this opportunity! Forget the rest, give it your best every single day in every paper.

• KEEP CALM :

Do not get overwhelmed by the exam. Be in complete control of your thoughts, emotions and responses. Do not fear it. If you don’t know something, move forward. Do not panic!

DO NOT DISCUSS YOUR PERFORMANCE with anyone. Don’t judge yourself either, not yet.

•ENJOY THIS OPPORTUNITY:

Enjoy the wonderful chance that you have been given. You have worked super hard to get this far. You have waited for several months/years! Enjoy every moment. It tests your physical & mental strength equally. Be tough.

Enjoy the process.

Team Insights IAS wishes every #UPSC aspirant writing the #UPSCMains Exam 2022 the very best of luck & good health!

#AceTheMains & be proud of yourself! You have come this far. Believe in yourself- you’ve got this!

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'Verbose, pointless': UPSC topper Aditya Srivastava's mock essay goes viral, but netizens are not impressed

Aditya srivastava, an alumnus of iit-kanpur, secured the first rank in the upsc civil services examination..

  • Updated Apr 18, 2024, 1:45 PM IST

quotes essay upsc

The essay starts by mentioning Oppenheimer's concept of the Manhattan Project and explores the interplay between logic and emotion.

IAS Topper Aditya Srivastava CSE AIR-1 Essay Mock Test Copy 👇 A Thread 🧵 pic.twitter.com/Y2SjL2Igff — UPSC NOTES (@UPSC_Notes) April 17, 2024

Despite the high expectations surrounding any content associated with the top-ranking civil servant aspirants, the reaction from netizens has been surprisingly mixed and unenthusiastic. Srivastava's essay failed to impress many of them.

The essay thread garnered substantial attention, accumulating 1.5 million views and sparking considerable engagement with over 7,000 likes and 2,000 shares. Yet, the consensus among viewers does not seem overwhelmingly positive.

Commenting on the thread one of the users wrote, "This is so worthless. Dumping Oppenheimer story in basic English - verbose & pointless."

This is so worthless. Dumping Oppenheimer story in basic english - verbose & pointless. Our priorities seem skewed when we test outdated skills in exams instead of nurturing critical thinkers and innovators. We urgently need to reassess this exam and the candidates. — Ishwar Singh (@IshwarBagga) April 18, 2024

Another user replied, "Fell asleep after reading 2 sentences, can imagine the quality of people who grade these troopers sorry toppers."

Fell Asleep after reading 2 sentences, can imagine the quality of people who grade these troopers sorry toppers — Munda Chan Varga (@munda53870363) April 18, 2024

Have a look at the other reactions here-

If he is AIR 1, then Lord Rama save this country. — Saurabh Srivastava 🇵🇸 (@sasri108) April 18, 2024
The answer seems exactly like ChatGPT answer when it hallucinates. — Sadhu baba (@dosnt_shar_food) April 17, 2024

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quotes essay upsc

UPSC 2023 topper Aditya Srivastava's mock essay copy goes viral, internet reacts

Upsc topper 2023 aditya srivastava's essay mock test copy has gone viral, sparking various reactions from the internet..

Listen to Story

UPSC 2023 topper Aditya Srivastava's mock essay copy goes viral, netizens react

  • UPSC topper Aditya Srivastava's essay mock test goes viral
  • Netizens debate essay's relevance in UPSC
  • Lucknow's Aditya Srivastava became UPSC 2023 topper

The UPSC 2023 results were recently announced, with Lucknow's Aditya Srivastava emerging as the IAS topper. As aspirants gear up for UPSC prelims 2024, many are eager to learn from the strategies of Aditya and other toppers. Aditya's essay mock test copy has gone viral, sparking various reactions from netizens. Some are questioning the relevance of the essay in UPSC CSE.

The essay, which begins with a reference to Oppenheimer's idea of the Manhattan Project, discusses the balance between logic and emotion--"A mind all logic is like a knife all blade, it makes the hand bleed that uses it."

IAS Topper Aditya Srivastava CSE AIR-1 Essay Mock Test Copy 👇 A Thread ðŸçµ pic.twitter.com/Y2SjL2Igff — UPSC NOTES (@UPSC_Notes) April 17, 2024

The Internet is giving the viral essay a mixed response. Some like the reference, while some are unhappy with the curation:

"Not at all impressed," a user commented.

"Salute to perfection," another user posted on X.

"Kids, the only thing matters is a good handwriting," another comment reads.

quotes essay upsc

UPSC 2023: Mock Essay Copy Of Topper Aditya Srivastava Goes Viral, Here’s Why

UPSC 2023: The UPSC 2023 results were recently announced, with Aditya Srivastava from Lucknow topping the exam. Overnight Aditya became an idol for several aspirants who wish to learn from his strategies. Following the UPSC result, Aditya has gained fame, and his essay mock test copy has gone viral on the internet, with netizens questioning its relevance in UPSC CSE.

The essay that has gone viral on the internet and begins with a reference to Oppenheimer's idea of the Manhattan Project, the movie discusses the balance between logic and emotion - "A mind all logic is like a knife all blade, it makes the hand bleed that uses it."

The essay was shared on X (formerly Twitter) handle with the name UPSC preparation and garnered mixed reactions with some are happy and others are unhappy with the curation.

Here are some interesting comments:

"Not at all impressed," a user commented.

"Salute to perfection," another user posted on X.

"Kids, the only thing matters is a good handwriting," another comment reads.

"It's a bizarre topic and equally bizarre response. Most unexpected.," another user posted on X.

UPSC 2023: Mock Essay Copy Of Topper Aditya Srivastava Goes Viral, Here’s Why

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    UPSC Quotes for Essay. Quotes for UPSC are pre-defined phrases given by famous authors on some particular issues. UPSC quotes can be applied in an essay only when it seems relevant. Suitable quotations can enhance the quality of essay writing for UPSC exam. It reveals to the examiner that a candidate has caught the core vision of the essay topic.

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    Essay Paper of UPSC CSE 2021 shocked most aspirants with unconventional questions. Please find the questions in the Essay Paper of UPSC 2021. ... This essay topic was a quote going rounds on the internet. The quote is attributed to "Coach Bobbi" [Bobbi Chegwyn] on Facebook. Philosophy of wantlessness is Utopian, while materialism is a chimera.

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  15. Quotes on Environment

    Quotes on Environment. By IAS4Sure / November 15, 2016. Don't blow it - good planets are hard to find. ~Quoted in Times. Nature provides a free lunch, but only if we control our appetites. We never know the worth of water till the well is dry. ~Thomas Fuller. We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.

  16. Upsc Essay Quotes Compilation Pdf

    UPSC ESSAY QUOTES COMPILATION PDF - BY IAS NETWORK. Also, we are giving you an opportunity to be a part of it by providing us the materials so that we can use it as Free Resources on our website. These resources will be reachable to everyone who wants to learn and prepare for UPSC/IAS. Please forward us at [email protected].

  17. UPSC Topper Rushikesh Reddy Shares His Entire Notes for ...

    The UPSC Essay Value Addition Material (PDF) is a compilation of important quotes and data which can be used in the Essay Paper in Civil Services Main Examination. The PDF also contains interesting examples and anecdotes. The points in this PDF can add value to your essays and is a must-read for every aspirant.

  18. UPSC Essay Topics

    Here are some UPSC Essay Topics on Science and Technology: Deglobalisation is good for the world. Science is organised Knowledge. Wisdom is Organised life. Technology is a Weapon against Poverty. Prioritising Education Technology for Global Growth. Technology is the silent factor in International Relations.

  19. Essay Quotes For UPSC

    Udaan-Prelims Wallah ( Static ) booklets 2024 released both in english and hindi : Download from Here! PWOnlyIAS is NOW at three new locations Mukherjee Nagar ,Lucknow and Patna , Explore all centers Download UPSC Mains 2023 Question Papers PDF Free Initiative links -1) Download Prahaar 3.0 for Mains Current Affairs PDF both in English and Hindi 2) Daily Main Answer Writing , 3) Daily Current ...

  20. Anecdotes, Facts, Examples for GS and Essay

    3. Staying authentic. I felt presenting ideas that are internalised adds more value than giving a great number of facts or examples or quotes. 4. A run of the mill essay can be boring. An essay which is a bit off beat can be high risk, but highly rewarding. Striking a conversation with the examiner helps, because majority of aspirants fail to ...

  21. UPSC Essay Quotes PDF

    UPSC Essay Quotes PDF Click to Download; For Mains Tests Click Here. Free Upsc Premium Channel Revise Yearly Current Affairs Summaries of Vision IAS Tests Buy Books for Offer. Related posts: UPSC Mains 2018 Essay Question Paper [Held on 28 September 2018]

  22. QUOTES YOU CAN USE IN UPSC MAINS 2022 for Foreign Policy ...

    Here are a few quotes that you can use in the #UPSC Mains exam for #ForeignPolicy especially as introductions and conclusions. 1. "India's multi-faith society is also an enormous contribution to global stability. In fact, that is what acts as a firewall preventing the spread of fundamentalism and radicalism from India's West to its … Continue reading "QUOTES YOU CAN USE IN UPSC MAINS ...

  23. 'Verbose, pointless': UPSC topper Aditya Srivastava's mock essay goes

    A post shared by a popular social media account, 'UPSC NOTES,' unveiled a mock test essay by Srivastava that has since gone viral. ... explores the thought-provoking quote by Rabindranath Tagore ...

  24. UPSC 2023 topper Aditya Srivastava's mock essay upsc results upsc

    The UPSC 2023 results were recently announced, with Lucknow's Aditya Srivastava emerging as the IAS topper. As aspirants gear up for UPSC prelims 2024, many are eager to learn from the strategies of Aditya and other toppers. Aditya's essay mock test copy has gone viral, sparking various reactions from netizens.

  25. UPSC 2023: Mock Essay Copy Of Topper Aditya Srivastava Goes Viral ...

    The essay was shared on X (formerly Twitter) handle with the name UPSC preparation and garnered mixed reactions with some are happy and others are unhappy with the curation.