Chapter 9
A man must go about his duties without taking notice of the sneers and ridicules of the world.
“Let the sages blame or praise, let Lakshmi come today or let her go away, let death come just now or in a hundred years; he indeed is the sage who does not take one false step from the right path.”
“Let the world say what it chooses, I shall tread the path of duty,” –this should be the line of action for the hero. Otherwise, if one has to attend day and night to what this man says or that man writes, no great work can be done in this world.
No account should be taken of the words of the people. If one has to pay heed to their praise or blame, no great work can be accomplished in life.
Trying to please everybody is the key to failure.
You cannot be that being what everyone expects you to be; so by living your life through other people’s rules you cannot be happy and have inner-peace.
Your reputation is in the hands of others, that is what reputation is; you cannot control that. The only thing you can control is your character.
We should learn to see ourselves with our own eyes and not with other’s eyes.
Let people think good or bad about you according to their mentality; it shouldn’t matter much to you.
Instead of getting carried away by the opinions and judgements of others, you should, on such occasions, stop awhile to evaluate yourself in light of those opinions. If you feel that there is obviously a scope for improvement, then take corrective measures. If you feel that there is no substance in the comments of others, just ignore them instead of giving them more weightage by constant thinking.
Your estimation in your own eyes is much important. Other people’s comments should be taken only objectively as an opportunity to re-assess yourself and take any corrective action, if required.
You should do every work primarily with the viewpoint of your self- development and not for someone to come and appreciate your work.
Listen to the indwelling Lord than to the opinion of the world. Do not compromise on your own principles, hold on to them in weal or woe and never adjust them to other’s fads for the greed of getting supporters. Your soul is your greatest support – who else’s support you need?
Fools only search for people’s shortcomings; let them see some virtues too.
I do not care for people’s comments, good or bad. Censure or praise I hold of no account.
Let the ignorant talk nonsense; we neither seek aid nor avoid it.
Many people give more importance to what others think about them than what they think of themselves.
It is the Lord who protects His children even in the depth of the sea. Has danger any power over one whom the Lord has taken into His fold?
God helps those who do not help themselves for a doer of good never comes to grief.
Purity is strength, goodness is strength. Pure and good souls cannot be unhappy.
Never one meets with evil who tries to do good to others. Be content and work, and above all be true to yourself. Be pure, staunch and sincere to the backbone then everything will be all right. Truth is indestructible, virtue is indestructible, purity is indestructible.
Many a little makes a mickle. Never mind, if your contribution is only a mite, your help only a little; blades of grass united into a rope will hold in confinement the maddest of elephants.
Let everyone do what little he can. If you cannot be a sun, be a star, it is not by size that you win or fall; be the best of whatever you are.
Numbers do not count, nor does wealth or poverty; a handful of men can throw the world off its hinges, provided they are united in thoughts, words and deeds.
“Even the least work done for others awakens the power within; even thinking of the least good of others gradually instills into the heart, the strength of a lion. I love you all ever so much but I wish you all to die working for others. I would rather be glad to see you do that! Do as much as lies in your power.”