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Amartya Sen Quotes

61 Inspiring Amartya Sen Quotes Worth Knowing

Famous As: Indian Philosopher, Economist and Winner of 1998 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences

Born On: 1933

Born In: Shantiniketan, West Bengal, India

Age: 91 Years

Amartya Sen is a well-known Indian economist, writer and a philosopher famous for bringing practical solutions to reduce the affects of famine. After completing his graduation from the University of Cambridge he was appointed as the head of the economics department at a university in India. He took a break after a couple of years to pursue his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge. He further served as a professor of Economics at renowned institutions like London School of Economics. He debuted as a writer with ‘Collective Choice and Social Welfare’ through which he discussed various issues like justice and equality. He further wrote many books before the controversial essay titled ‘More Than 100 Million Women Are Missing’ where he discussed the social issue of gender inequality. This was followed by his book ‘The Possibility of Social Choice’ which was honored with the Nobel Prize Lecture. His next publication ‘Development as Freedom’ was acknowledged by the Noble Prize committee as a significant work in the field of economics. Apart from the Noble Prize, he has also been honored with ‘Bharat Ratna', the highest civilian award of India. He continues to enlighten the world with his great intellect while serving as a professor of Economics and Philosophy at Harvard University. Amartya Sen has influenced and inspired a large number of academics and students through his work, thoughts, philosophy and books. His views on various economic and social issues are quoted extensively. We bring to you a treasure trove of quotes and sayings that have been excerpted from his work, books, essays, interviews and writings. Read on to explore a compilation of some of the best known quotations by Amartya Sen.

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Philosophers

Intellectuals & Academics

The identity of an individual is essentially a function of her choices, rather than the discovery of an immutable attribute

The identity of an individual is essentially a function of her choices, rather than the discovery of an immutable attribute
Amartya Sen

Poverty is not just a lack of money; it is not having the capability to realize one's full potential as a human being

Poverty is not just a lack of money; it is not having the capability to realize one's full potential as a human being
Amartya Sen

Economic growth without investment in human development is unsustainable - and unethical

Economic growth without investment in human development is unsustainable - and unethical
Amartya Sen

The success of a society is to be evaluated primarily by the freedoms that members of the society enjoy.

The success of a society is to be evaluated primarily by the freedoms that members of the society enjoy.
Amartya Sen

While I am interested both in economics and in philosophy, the union of my interests in the two fields far exceeds their intersection

While I am interested both in economics and in philosophy, the union of my interests in the two fields far exceeds their intersection
I
Amartya Sen

Empowering women is key to building a future we want

Empowering women is key to building a future we want
Future Women
Amartya Sen

Poverty is the deprivation of opportunity.

Poverty is the deprivation of opportunity.
Amartya Sen

Human development, as an approach, is concerned with what I take to be the basic development idea: namely, advancing the richness of human life, rather than the richness of the economy in which human beings live, which is only a part of it.
Life I
Amartya Sen

I believe that virtually all the problems in the world come from inequality of one kind or another.

I believe that virtually all the problems in the world come from inequality of one kind or another.
Believe I
Amartya Sen

Starvation is the characteristic of some people not having enough food to eat. It is not the characteristic of there being not enough food to eat.

Starvation is the characteristic of some people not having enough food to eat. It is not the characteristic of there being not enough food to eat.
Amartya Sen

Education makes us the human beings we are. It has major impacts on economic development, on social equity, gender equity. In all kinds of ways, our lives are transformed by education and security. Even if it had not one iota of effect [on] security, it would still remain in my judgment the biggest priority in the world.
Amartya Sen

No famine has ever taken place in the history of the world in a functioning democracy.

No famine has ever taken place in the history of the world in a functioning democracy.
History
Amartya Sen

We need to ask the moral questions: Do I have a right to be rich? And do I have a right to be content living in a world with so much poverty and inequality? These questions motivate us to view the issue of inequality as central to human living.
Need Living I
Amartya Sen

Globalization can be very unjust and unfair and unequal, but these are matters under our control. Its not that we dont need the market economy. We need it. But the market economy should not have priority or dominance over other institutions.
Need
Amartya Sen

A society can be Pareto optimal and still perfectly disgusting.

A society can be Pareto optimal and still perfectly disgusting.
Amartya Sen

Resenting the obtuseness of others is not good ground for shooting oneself in the foot.

Resenting the obtuseness of others is not good ground for shooting oneself in the foot.
Amartya Sen

It is important to reclaim for humanity the ground that has been taken from it by various arbitrarily narrow formulations of the demands of rationality

It is important to reclaim for humanity the ground that has been taken from it by various arbitrarily narrow formulations of the demands of rationality
Amartya Sen

A defeated argument that refuses to be obliterated can remain very alive.

A defeated argument that refuses to be obliterated can remain very alive.
Amartya Sen

Any classification according to a singular identity polarizes people in a particular way, but if we take note of the fact that we have many different identities - related not just to religion but also to language, occupation and business, politics, class and poverty, and many others - we can see that the polarization of one can be resisted by a fuller picture. So knowledge and understanding are extremely important to fight against singular polarization.
Business
Amartya Sen

Progress is more plausibly judged by the reduction of deprivation than by the further enrichment of the opulent

Progress is more plausibly judged by the reduction of deprivation than by the further enrichment of the opulent
Amartya Sen

Human life depends not only on income but also on social opportunities, [for example] what the state does for educating.

Human life depends not only on income but also on social opportunities, [for example] what the state does for educating.
Life
Amartya Sen

Freedoms are not only the primary ends of development, they are also among its principal means.

Freedoms are not only the primary ends of development, they are also among its principal means.
Amartya Sen

Imparting education not only enlightens the receiver, but also broadens the giver - the teachers, the parents, the friends.

Imparting education not only enlightens the receiver, but also broadens the giver - the teachers, the parents, the friends.
Friends
Amartya Sen

Human ordeals thrive on ignorance. To understand a problem with clarity is already half way towards solving it.

Human ordeals thrive on ignorance. To understand a problem with clarity is already half way towards solving it.
Amartya Sen

Economics, as it has emerged, can be made more productive by paying greater and more explicit attention to the ethical considerations that shape human behaviour and judgment.

Economics, as it has emerged, can be made more productive by paying greater and more explicit attention to the ethical considerations that shape human behaviour and judgment.
Amartya Sen

Nor let us be resentful when others differ from us. For all men have hearts, and each heart has its own leanings. Their right is our wrong, and our right is their wrong.

Nor let us be resentful when others differ from us. For all men have hearts, and each heart has its own leanings. Their right is our wrong, and our right is their wrong.
Heart
Amartya Sen

Unceasing change turns the wheel of life, and so reality is shown in all it's many forms. Dwell peacefully as change itself liberates all suffering sentient beings and brings them great joy.

Unceasing change turns the wheel of life, and so reality is shown in all it's many forms. Dwell peacefully as change itself liberates all suffering sentient beings and brings them great joy.
Life Change
Amartya Sen

If a theory of justice is to guide reasoned choice of policies, strategies or institutions, then the identification of fully just social arrangements is neither necessary nor sufficient.

If a theory of justice is to guide reasoned choice of policies, strategies or institutions, then the identification of fully just social arrangements is neither necessary nor sufficient.
Amartya Sen

Education could be a great vehicle for gender equity. It allows people to see what your rights are by reading. Quite often women, for example, may have rights that they are not in the position to actually make use of.

Education could be a great vehicle for gender equity. It allows people to see what your rights are by reading. Quite often women, for example, may have rights that they are not in the position to actually make use of.
Women
Amartya Sen