Sita: Warrior of Mithila (Ram Chandra #2)

by Amish Tripathi

When logic fails, faith can serve a purpose.

Who can prevent that which is written by Fate, be it of people or of countries? Our task is but to understand, not fight, what must be; and learn the lessons for our next life. Or prepare for moksha.

nobility came in many a form and face.

Often the poor have more nobility in them than the actual nobility.

‘The criminals among the rich are mostly driven by greed. One can negotiate with greed. But the criminals among the poor are driven by desperation and anger.

Not everyone has the spirit to keep their character strong when their stomachs are empty.’

You must use your heart to decide the destination, but use your head to plot the journey.

Too much of anything creates an imbalance in life. This is true even of virtues such as nonviolence. You never know when the winds of change strike; when violence may be required to protect your society, or to even survive.’

A society must always aim for balance. It needs intellectuals, it needs warriors, it needs traders, it needs artists, and it needs skilled workers. If it empowers one group too much or another too little, it is headed for chaos.’

Most people surrender to the pressure of society and family. But it builds terrible frustration within. These are unhappy and angry people, living unbalanced, dissatisfied lives. Furthermore, society itself suffers.

Lead me from untruth to truth Lead me from darkness to light Lead me from death to immortality For Me and the Universe, let there be peace, peace, peace

‘Running away is never the solution. Confront your problems. Manage them. That is the way of the warrior.’

Reverse-bias is also bias. Reverse-racism is also racism. Reverse-sexism is also sexism.’

‘The worst enemy a man can ever have is the one who was once his best friend.’

Don’t be afraid of the dark, my child. Light has a source. It can be snuffed out. But darkness has no source. It just exists. This darkness is a path to That, which has no source: God.

‘Happiness is not an accident. It is a choice. It is in our hands to be happy. Always in our hands.

‘The ends justify the means,

Grief overwhelms you when you are alone.

‘Seriously, has violence ever solved any problem? We should practise love, not war …’

‘War is just a patriarchal, upper-class conspiracy …’

India will rise, but not for selfish reasons. It will rise for Dharma … For the Good of all.

‘Freedom is good, but in moderation. Too much of it is a recipe for disaster. That’s why the path I prefer is that of Balance.

‘Life is not only about what we want, but also about what we must do. We don’t just have rights. We also have duties.’

“When the axe entered the forest, the trees said to each other: do not worry, the handle in that axe is one of us.”’