Gora

by Rabindranath Tagore

To offer instruction on any question before it has really arisen in the mind is like giving food before one is hungry,—it spoils the appetite and leads to indigestion.

So in spite of the existence of this philosophical equality in our country, we see that the low caste is not allowed entry even into God's temple. If equality be not observed even on God's own ground, what matters it whether its conception is to be found in our philosophy or not?"

He says the worst possible thing that can happen is for there to be outward peace where there is an inner wrong.

In the face of excitement a blind pride obscures our minds, but when one by one the fruits of our actions begin to ripen the strength to bear the consequences of our acts vanishes.

When you see that idol in your aunt's room you see only a stone, but I see the tender heart of your aunt filled with devotion. Seeing that, how can I get angry or feel contempt? Do you imagine that divinity of the heart is a mere divinity of stone?"

when you call to mind some text of Scripture you feel a great devotion in your heart, but, because that text is written on a page, are you going to decide its greatness by measuring the width of the page and counting the number of letters of which the text is composed?

The emptiness of the human heart could never be filled except by an unlimited feeling."

God never under any conditions binds His creation with fetters; He awakens it through constant changes to ever new life.

He had observed that when any misfortune or calamity occurred in a village the Mohammedans stood shoulder to shoulder in a way that the Hindus never did, and he often asked himself why there was such a great difference between communities which were such close neighbours. The answer that rose to his mind was one which he did not want to admit as the true one, for it pained him intensely to acknowledge that the Mussulmans were united by their religion, and not merely by custom and tradition.