Genghis Khan

Mongol Empire founder

Medieval influential 105 sayings

Sayings by Genghis Khan

A man who is not afraid of death is a man who can conquer the world.

Unknown — Attributed, emphasizing fearlessness as a key to conquest
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The world is not enough. I will conquer the stars.

Unknown — Highly speculative and likely apocryphal, but often attributed to show boundless ambition.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The greatest happiness is to scatter your enemy, to drive him before you, to see his cities reduced to ashes.

1210s — Attributed in Persian chronicles
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Conquering the world on horseback is easy; it is dismounting and governing that is hard.

1227 — Attributed in The Secret History of the Mongols
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

A man’s greatest joy is crushing his enemies.

1215 — Attributed in oral Mongol tradition
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Even when a friend does something you do not like, he continues to be your friend.

1220s — From The Secret History of the Mongols
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

An action committed in anger is an action doomed to failure.

1200s — Reported by Mongol oral tradition
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

There is no value in anything until it is finished.

1227 — From The Secret History of the Mongols
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

I will rule the world by force if necessary, but it is better to rule by love.

1210s — Attributed in Persian chronicles
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

A leader can never be happy until his people are happy.

1200s — Reported by Mongol tradition
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

If you cannot swallow your pride, you cannot lead.

1220s — Attributed in The Secret History of the Mongols
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

The impossible is only impossible until it is done.

1219 — Reported in Persian sources
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Do not scorn a weak cub; he may become a brutal tiger.

1200s — Attributed in Mongol proverbs
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The greatest joy for a man is to defeat his enemies, to drive them before him, to ride their horses, to take away their possessions, to gaze upon their weeping faces, to embrace their wives and daughters.

c. 1220s (recorded later) — Reported by Persian historian Ata-Malik Juvayni in 'Tarīkh-i Jahāngushā' (History of the World Conqu…
Controversial Unverifiable

A man's greatest work is to break his enemies, to drive them before him, to take from them all that they possess, to ride their horses, and to make sweet music by piercing their wives and daughters.

c. 1220s (recorded later) — Alternative translation/interpretation of the same quote, found in various historical texts.
Controversial Unverifiable

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 all that he possesses, in cutting off the heads of his beloved, and in ravishing his wives and daughters.

c. 1220s (recorded later) — Yet another variation of the 'greatest joy' quote, emphasizing its brutal nature, cited in various h…
Controversial Unverifiable

Be of one mind and one purpose, that you may conquer your enemies and lead your lives in peace.

c. 1200s — A unifying message to his people, showing his focus on internal cohesion for external conquest.
Controversial Unverifiable

The world is not yet at peace, because the Mongols have not yet conquered it.

c. 1200s — A statement reflecting his ambition for global domination, found in various historical commentaries.
Controversial Unverifiable

I am the chosen one of God. I am the son of God. I will conquer the world.

c. 1200s — A more aggressive and direct claim of divine right and ambition, often attributed to him.
Controversial Unverifiable

All who surrender will be spared; whoever does not surrender but resists, shall be annihilated.

c. 1200s — His policy towards conquered cities and populations, as documented by various chroniclers.
Controversial Unverifiable