1) Never let schooling come in the way of your education: (Mark Twain) Learning must be in Modi’s DNA. His quest for knowledge took him to the Yogis of Himalayas and the Gurus of Sangh Parivar but he never became a prisoner of these ideologies. Today if thousands of viewers sit glued to TV listening to Modi talking about developmental economics, delegative management style, inclusive growth, assertive foreign policy etc. it is only because he has been a perpetual learner and a phenomenal assimilator of knowledge. 2) Don’t let your inner voice be drowned by the cacophony external noises (Steve Jobs) Just recall the noises, protests and abuses that came his way when Modi started looking at Prime Minister post. Indian & Global media, the so called intellectual elite, foreign think tanks and political pundits not to mention his own adversaries within BJP started a campaign of incessant clamor against him. A lesser man might have been tempted to go back to the safety of his home state rather than picking the biggest fight of his life and running the risk of getting annihilated in the process, but not Modi. If anything, such concerted attacks seem to have only further strengthened his resolve and sharpened his fighting skills. 3) Never explain: Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe you anyway (Elbert Hubbard) Post Gujarat riots and many time down the years people have tried to coax Modi to make statements, apologies, explanations and what not about those events. It has been the same with other controversial events as well. But Modi has steadfastly refused to be drawn into these debates and discussions that do not serve any purpose. I am sure Modi may not have read this quote, but in his own street smart way he figured out that there is no point explaining to your foes and your friends know you any way. 4) Don’t be afraid of taking big leaps in critical moments; you can’t a chasm in two small steps. (David Lloyd George) Whether it is deciding to break the back of religious fundamentalism with full force of the state, adopting development as the panacea for all ills, or going into the electoral field with all guns blazing, Modi has never been a man of half-measures. Again in his own way he has realized that in politics as in cricket a half-cock approach can only bog you down. If you want to win matches you have to go to the front foot and play those big shots. 5) Winning is not a matter of life and death. It is more important than that (Will Shankly .. on football) Be it the grit and dedication with which he steered the Gujarat Government or the untiring energy and passion with which he lead the election campaign, Modi has shown that to win big you have to pursue your goal with a singularity of purpose far beyond normal. And the results are there for all to see. 6) Never let the other guy set the agends ( James Baker) This election was truly dominated by Modi right from setting up the development plank as the key issue, using Varanasi as a proxy for Bharat Sanskar, turning barbs like chai-wallah into campaign motifs etc. The opposition were so busy countering his agenda that they never got time to talk about their own agenda (if they had one). 7) And finally – these immortal lines from Rudyard Kipling summarizes the Modi persona - If you can keep your wits about you while all others are losing theirs, and blaming you. The world will be yours and everything in it, what's more, you'll be a man (Rudyard Kipling)