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G.I. Gurdjieff

Gurdjieff’s Indelible Advices to his Daughter


This series of short and simple advice represents the basic principles for anybody who seeks mental peace.

After traveling through Africa and Asia, G.I. Gurdjieff arrived in Russia in the year 1912, bringing with him teachings that were neither a religion nor a philosophy, but practical lessons that had to be experienced. And since this was not the path of the fakir, the monk or the yogi, he named his teachings the “Fourth Way”.

According to Gurdjieff, the evolution of humankind has entered an uncertain phase, and unless the “wisdom” of the Orient and the “energy” of the West come together and mutually feed each other, the world will inevitably collapse. His legacy of formidable teachings is one of the wisest and most adaptable for our contemporary lifestyle.

The following is a list of advice he wrote for his daughter Duska Howard. However, anyone who wishes to awake his consciousness and develop a more integral and satisfactory life, will appreciate it. This list is also, and above all, a cluster of concise recommendations that could help us to lucidly transcend daily situations, reminding us that integrity is far easier than we think. Gurdjieff’s councils allude to hard work, nourishment, human passions and emotions, cynicism and generosity, and together they comprise a sort of manifesto, one which would be wise to read every morning.


2. Always finish what you started.

3. Do what you are doing as best as possible.


5. Develop your generosity without witnesses.

6. Treat every person as a close relative.

7. You must order what is disordered.

8. Learn to receive and be grateful for each gift.

9. Stop defining yourself.



12. Do not wish to be imitated.

13. Make plans and see them through.

14. Do not take up too much space.

15. Do not make unnecessary noises or gestures.


17. Do not be impressed by strong personalities.

18. Do not appropriate anything or anyone.

19. Distributed equally.

20. Do not seduce.


22. Do not discuss your personal problems.


24. Do not have useless friendships.

25. Do not follow fads.

26. Do not sell yourself.

27. Respect the contracts you have signed

28. Be punctual.

29. Do not envy others’ property or goods.

30. Speak only what is necessary.


32. Never threaten.

33. Follow through with your promises.


35. Accept when someone is better than you.

36. Do not eliminate, transform.


38. Help the other help themselves.



41. Transform your pride into dignity.

42. Turn your anger into creativity.

43. Transform your greed into respect for the beauty.


45. Transform your hate into charity.

46. Do not praise nor insult yourself.


48. Do not complain.

49. Develop your imagination.


51. Pay for the services you are given.

52. Do not boast about your work or ideas.


54. Do not try to distinguish yourself by your appearance.

55. Never contradict, just be silent.


57. If you offend someone, ask for forgiveness.

58. If you have offended publicly apologize publicly.



61. Do not keep useless objects.

62. Do not embellish yourself with the ideas of others.

63. Do not get pictures with celebrities.

64. Be your own judge.

65. Do not let your possessions define you.

66. Never talk about yourself, without allowing yourself the possibility of changing.

67. Accept that nothing is yours.



70. Do not look surreptitiously, stare steadily.



73. When you do a favor do not make others notice your effort.





78. Live with the money you have earned.

79. Do not brag about your love affairs.

80. Do not take pride in your weaknesses.

81. Never visit someone just to fill your time.

82. Obtain with the purpose of sharing.


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