Genghis Khan, also Chinggis Khan, was the founder and first khan of the Mongol Empire, which he ruled from 1206 until his death in 1227; it later became the largest contiguous empire in history.

Genghis Khan Quotes

1. “There is no good in anything until it is finished.”
— Genghis Khan

2. “If you’re afraid – don’t do it, – if you’re doing it – don’t be afraid!”
— Genghis Khan

3. “The strength of walls depends on the courage of those who guard them.”
— Genghis Khan

4. “One arrow alone can be easily broken but many arrows are indestructible.”
— Genghis Khan

5. “A leader can never be happy until his people are happy.”
— Genghis Khan

6. “Conquering the world on horseback is easy; it is dismounting and governing that is hard.”
— Genghis Khan

7. “If one must drink, then let one drink thrice a month, for more is bad. If one gets drunk twice a month, it is better; if one gets drunk once a month, that is better still; and if one doesn’t drink at all, that is the best of all.”
— Genghis Khan

8. “People conquered on different sides of the lake should be ruled on different sides of the lake.”
— Genghis Khan

9. “A man’s greatest joy is crushing his enemies.”
— Genghis Khan

10. “The greatest happiness is to vanquish your enemies, to chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth, to see those dear to them bathed in tears, to clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters.”
— Genghis Khan

11. “I am the punishment of God…If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you.”
― Genghis Khan

12. “an action comitted in anger is an action doomed to failure.”
― Genghis Khan

13.“Remember, you have no companions but your shadow.”
– Genghis Khan

14. “Who can’t stop drinking may get drunken three times a month. If he does it more often, he is guilty. To get drunken twice a month is better; once, still more praiseworthy. But not to drink at all – what could be better than this? But where could such a being be found? But if one would find it, it would be worthy of all honour.”
― Genghis Khan

15. “I am the flail of god. Had you not created great sins, god would not have sent a punishment like me upon you.”
― Genghis Khan

16. “There is no value in anything until it is finished.”
― Genghis Khan

17. “Conquering the world on horseback is easy; it is dismounting and governing that is hard.”
― Genghis Khan

18. “With Heaven’s aid I have conquered for you a huge empire. But my life was too short to achieve the conquest of the world. That task is left for you.”
― Genghis Khan

19. “Attack with aggression, but always have a plan of retreat.”
― Genghis Khan

20. A person is more work to break his enemies, drive them before him, and of them all is to hear the screams of those they loved.”
– Genghis Khan

21. “Man’s greatest joy is to slay his enemy, plunder his riches, ride his steeds, see the tears of his loved ones and embrace his women.”
– Genghis Khan

22. “Come and sip from the cup of destruction.”
– Genghis Khan

23. “A man’s greatest moment in life is when his enemy lays vanquished, his village aflame, his herds driven before you and his weeping wives and daughters are clasped to your breast.”
–Genghis Khan

24. “If lies can show the truth, they can be the truth, they can cause the truth, so I may build an empire on lies, but they are the truth.”
– Genghis Khan

25. “A man’s greatest work is to break his enemies, to drive them before him, to take from them all the things that have been theirs, to hear the weeping of those who cherished them.”
– Genghis Khan

26. “Man’s highest joy is in victory: to conquer one’s enemies; to pursue them; to deprive them of their possessions; to make their beloved weep; to ride on their horses; and to embrace their wives and daughters.”
– Genghis Khan

27. “All who surrender will be spared; whoever does not surrender but opposes with struggle and dissension, shall be annihilated.”
– Genghis Khan

28. “The pleasure and joy of man lies in treading down the rebel and conquering the enemy, in tearing him up by the root, in taking from him all that he has.”
– Genghis Khan

29. “Oh people, know that you have committed great sins. If you ask me what proof I have for these words, I say it is because I am the punishment of God. If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you!”
– Genghis Khan

30. “In the space of seven years I have succeeded in accomplishing a great work and uniting the whole world in one Empire.”
– Genghis Khan

31. “As my calling is high, the obligations incumbent upon me are also heavy; and I fear that in my ruling there may be something wanting.”
– Genghis Khan

32. “Just as God gave different fingers to the hand, so has He given different ways to men.”
– Genghis Khan

33. “Despite all expectations, the time of my last campaign and of my passing is near. I wish to die at home. Let not my end disarm you, and on no account weep for me, lest the enemy be warned of my death.”
– Genghis Khan

34. Find your chill.”
– Genghis Khan

35. “Be of one mind and one faith, that you may conquer your enemies and lead long and happy lives.”
– Genghis Khan

36. “When my call is high, the obligations of me, too, are heavy, and I fear that my decision may be something they want.”
– Genghis Khan

37. “It is not sufficient that I succeed – all others must fail.”
– Genghis Khan

38. “Perhaps my children will live in stone houses and walled towns – Not I.”
– Genghis Khan

39. “Violence never settles anything.”
– Genghis Khan

40. When it was wet, we bore the wet together, when it was cold, we bore the cold together.”
– Genghis Khan

41. A leader can never be happy until his people are happy.”
– Genghis Khan

42. “I am from the Barbaric North. I wear the same clothing and eat the same food as the cowherds and horse-herders. We make the same sacrifices and we share our riches.”
– Genghis Khan

43. “Those who were adept and brave fellows I have made military commanders. Those who were quick and nimble I have made herders of horses. Those who were not adept I have given a small whip and sent to be shepherds.”
– Genghis Khan

44. “If my body dies, let my body die, but do not let my country die.”
– Genghis Khan

45. “Say ye unto the Khwarizmi that I am the sovereign of the sunrise, and [he is] the sovereign of the sunset. Let there be between us a firm treaty of friendship, amity, and peace, and let traders and caravans on both sides come and go.”
– Genghis Khan

46. “One arrow alone can be easily broken but many arrows are indestructible.”
– Genghis Khan

47. “One of the joys of travel is visiting new towns and meeting new people.”
– Genghis Khan