शिशुपालवध - स्वार्थ

यजातां पाण्डवः स्वर्गमवत्विन्द्रस्तपत्विनः |
वयं हनाम द्विशतः सर्वः स्वार्थं समीहते ||

- शिशुपालवध

Let Yudhistira do penance, let Indra take care of heaven, let the sun give sunlight (and heat), let us kill the enemies. Every one in this world works for their own selfish reasons.

- Shishupalavadha

महाभारत - शान्तिपर्व - तृष्ण

यच्च कामसुखं लोके यच्च दिव्यं महत्सुखम् |
तृष्णाक्षयसुखस्यैते नार्हतः षोडशीयं कलाम् ||

- महाभारत, शान्तिपर्व

The happiness got by satisfying your desires, or the happiness got in heaven does not even match up to a sixteenth portion of the real happiness that is attained through limiting your desires.

- Mahabharata, Shantiparva

पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद - कीर्तिः

मृतैः संप्राप्यते स्वर्गो जीवद्भिः कीर्तिरुत्तमा |
तदुभावपि शूराणां गुणावेतौ सुदुर्लभौ ||

- पञ्चतंत्र, मित्रभेद

Speaking about soldiers fighting a war - the dead attain heaven. Those who live will enjoy fame. Brave courageous men will enjoy both. It is very difficult for common man to attain both.

- Panchatantra, Mitrabheda

सुभाषितसुधानिधि - मृतस्य कीर्तिः

मृतः कीर्तिं न जानाति जीवन् कीर्तिं समश्नुते |
मृतस्य कीर्तिर्मर्त्यस्य यथा माला गतायुषः ||

- सुभाषितसुधानिधि

A dead man will not enjoy his fame. Fame can be relished only when he is alive. Fame for a dead man is as useless as the garland that is put over his dead body.

- Subhashitasudhanidhi

मनुस्मृति - कामजः दश गणः

मृगयाक्षो दिवास्वप्नः परिवादः स्त्रियो मदः |
तौर्यत्रिकं वृथाट्य च कामजो दशको गणः ||

- मनुस्मृति

The following are the ten types of sin a person commits due to his desires - hunting, gambling, sleeping during day (laziness), flirting with women, intoxication, triple symphony of song, dance, and instrumental music and wandering aimlessly.

- Manu Smriti

पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद - द्वेष

मूर्खाणां पण्डिता द्वेष्या निर्धनानां महाधनाः |
व्रतिनः पापशीलानामसतीनां कुलस्त्रियः ||

- पञ्चतंत्र - मित्रभेद

It is very natural that the fools hate the wise people, poor hate rich, corrupt hate the righteous and promiscuous hate the chaste.

- Panchatantra, Mitrabheda

सुभाषितसुधानिधि - मूर्ख व्यवहार

मूर्खा न द्रष्टव्या द्रष्टव्यास्चेन्नतैस्तु सह तिष्ठेत् |
यदि तिष्ठेन्न कथयेद्यदि कथयेन्मूर्खवत्कथयेत् ||

- सुभाषितसुधानिधि

One must not see a fool. Avoid him. If you happen to see one, then avoid standing next to him. If you happen to stand next to him, avoid talking to him. If you absolutely have to talk to him, then talk to him like a fool only. A fool will not understand any way of communicating other than his own foolish way.

- Subhashitasudhanidhi