In plain words
They speak of ten million things, and do not do a single one! When you will not do it, why say it? Today many people give big speeches on platforms, saying society should be this way, society should be that way; they preach grandly about sacrifice, but once they step down from the platform, who knows where the sacrifice goes, and where they go themselves! Even when there is wealth, what use is it if you do not sacrifice? Like Īśvaracandra Vidyāsāgar, what you earn with one hand you must give up in sacrifice with the other. The quality of sacrifice is vital for every human being. The Veda said, “Nakarmaṇā naprajayā dhanena tyāgenaike amṛtatva mānaśuḥ”: immortality is attained through sacrifice alone.
Humility Is the Ornament of Learning
Īśvaracandra Vidyāsāgar was free of ego and free of show. He had a great gift of eloquence. Thousands would gather to hear his speeches. Once a speech of his was arranged in a town. He was travelling there by train. An I.C.S officer who had set out to hear his lecture got into the same compartment as well. The station where they were to get off came. Vidyāsāgar got off with a small box. The officer too had a small box in his hand. When some people study great big courses of learning, arrogance sends their eyes up to the tops of their heads. That is just what these studies are like. That is why I say every now and then: “Why study every kind of learning, only to die? You must study the learning that knows no death.” The moment he got off the train, the officer began to shout, “Coolie! Coolie!” Vidyāsāgar went up to him: “Is it only this box? Is there any other luggage?” he asked. “Nothing else; there is only this small suitcase,” he said.
Two annas for the vegetables bought, a quarter rupee for the porter: this is what civilisation means for us now; each one, never neglecting his own work, must learn to carry it out himself.
Modern educated people misuse a great deal of money for show.