“Common men talk bagfuls of religion but do not practise even a grain of it. The wise man speaks a little, even though his whole life is religion expressed in action.”

“You speak of doing good to the world. Is the world such a small thing? And who are you, pray, to do good to the world? First realise God, see Him by means of spiritual discipline. If He imparts power you can do good to others; otherwise not.”

“Do not seek illumination unless you seek it as a man whose hair is on fire seeks a pond.”

“It is easy to talk on religion, but difficult to practice it.”

“There is no hope for a worldly man if he is not sincerely devoted to God.”

“If a householder is a genuine devotee, he performs his duties without attachment; he surrenders the fruit of his work to God - his gain or loss, his pleasure or pain. Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna (Abridged)”

“The Man who works for others, without any selfish motive, really does good to himself.”