A certain degree of physical harmony and comfort is necessary, but above a certain level it becomes a hindrance instead of a help. Therefore the ideal of creating an unlimited number of wants and satisfying them seems to be a delusion and a snare. |
A dissolute character is more dissolute in thought than in deed. And the same is true of violence. Our violence in word and deed is but a feeble echo of the surging violence of thought in us. |
A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people. |
A religion that takes no account of practical affairs and does not help to solve them is no religion. |
A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history. |
A vow is a purely religious act which cannot be taken in a fit of passion. It can be taken only with a mind purified and composed and with God as witness. |
Abstract truth has no value unless it incarnates in human beings who represent it, by proving their readiness to die for it. |
Ahimsa [infinite love] is a weapon of matchless potency. It is the summum bonum of life. It is an attitude of the brave, in fact it is their all. It does not come within the reach of a coward. It is no wooden or lifeless dogma but a living and lifegiving force. It is the special attribute of the soul. |
All compromise is based on give and take, but there can be no give and take on fundamentals. Any compromise on mere fundamentals is a surrender. For it is all give and no take. |
Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest. |
An opponent is entitled to the same regard for his principles as we would expect others to have for ours. Non-violence demands that we should seek every opportunity to win over opponents. |
Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding. |
Anger is the enemy of non-violence and pride is a monster that swallows it up. |
Are creeds such simple things like the clothes which a man can change at will and put on at will? Creeds are such for which people live for ages and ages. |
As soon as we lose the moral basis, we cease to be religious. There is no such thing as religion over-riding morality. Man, for instance,cannot be untruthful, cruel or incontinent and claim to have God on his side. |