Religious Thought 273

Meditation is superior to severe asceticism and the path of knowledge. It is also superior to selfless service.

- Bhagavad Gita 6:46

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Fools are happy when acquiring wealth; noble people find happiness in giving it all away. Lepers feel better when they scratch their sores, but note how the wise dread leprosy.

- Sakya Pandita, In Ordinary Wisdom

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“A man served God for seventy years and then committed a sin which canceled the merit of his service. Afterwards he gave a loaf of bread to a poor man, so God pardoned his sin and gave him back the merit of his seventy years' service. His alms are vain who does not know that his need of the reward for giving is greater than the poor man's need of the gift.”

- Muslim Saying

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“If we begin with certainties, we will end in doubt. But if we begin with doubts and bear them patiently, we may end in certainty.”

- Francis Bacon

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When you cannot love or hate any more, then where is the charm of life?”

- Arthur Schnitzler, "Professor Bernhardi"

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