India is essentially a karmabhumi (land of duty) in contradistinction to bhogabhumi (land of enjoyment).

To a hungry man, a piece of bread is the face of God.

I have naturally formed the habit of restraining my thoughts. A thoughtless word hardly ever escaped my tongue or pen. Experience has taught me that silence is part of the spiritual discipline of a votary of truth. We find so many people impatient to talk. All this talking can hardly be said to be of any benefit to the world. It is so much waste of time. My shyness has been in reality my shield and buckler. It has allowed me to grow. It has helped me in my discernment of truth.

It is better to be charged with cowardice and weakness than to be guilty of denial of our oath and sin against God.

Detachment is not indifference. it is the prerequisite for effective involvement. Often what we think is best for others is distorted by our attachments to our opinions. We want others to be happy in the way we think they should be happy. It is only when we want nothing for ourselves that we are able to see clearly into others needs and understand how to serve them.

To safeguard democracy the people must have a keen sense of independence, self-respect, and their oneness.

Mortification of the flesh has been held all the world over as a condition of spiritual progress.