This is the gist of all worship-to be pure and to do good to others. He who sees Shiva in the poor, in the weak, and in the diseased, really worships Shiva; and if he sees Shiva only in the image, his worship is but preliminary. (III.141-142)

After so much austerity, I have understood this as the real truth-God is present in every jiva; there is no other God besides that. ‘Who serves jiva, serves God indeed’. (VII.247)

He who has served and helped one poor man seeing Shiva in him, without thinking of his caste, or creed, or race, or anything, with him Shiva is more pleased than with the man who sees Him only in temples. (III.142)

You cannot help anyone, you can only serve; serve the children of the Lord; serve the Lord Himself, if you have the privilege. If the Lord grants that you can help any one of His children, blessed you are; do not think too much of yourselves. Blessed you are that privilege was given to you when others had it not. Do it only as worship. (III.246)

This life is short, the vanities of the world are transient, but they alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive. (IV.363)

My boy, if you have any respect for my words, the first thing I will advise you to do is to through open all the doors and windows of your room. In your quarter there are lots of poor people sunk in degradation and misery. You will have to go to them and serve them with your zeal and enthusiasm. Arrange to distribute medicines to those who are sick, and nurse them with all care, supply food to him who is starving, teach with as much as lies in you the ignorant; and if you begin to serve your brethren in this way, I tell you, my child, you will surely get peace and consolation.

The only definition that can be given of morality is this: That which is selfish is immoral, and that which is unselfish is moral. (I.110)

I call him a traitor who, having been educated, nursed in luxury by the heartís blood of the downtrodden millions of toiling poor, never even takes a thought for them. (VIII.329-30)

Throughout the history of the world you find great men make great sacrifices and the mass of mankind enjoy the benefit. If you want to give up everything for your own salvation, it is nothing. Do you want to forgo even your own salvation for the good of the world? You are God. Think of that. (VI.280)

May I be born again and again, and suffer thousands of miseries, so that I may worship the only God that exists the only God I believe in the sum total of all souls – and above all, my God the wicked, my God the miserable, my God the poor of all races, of all species, is the special object of my worship. (V.137)

Go from village to village, do good to humanity and to the world at large. Go to hell yourself to buy salvation for others. ‘When death is so certain, it is better to die for a good cause.’ (VI.265-267)

Even the least work done for others awakens the power within; even thinking the least good of others gradually instills into the heart the strength of a lion. I love you all ever so much, but I wish you all to die working for others – I should rather be glad to see you do that! (V.382)

Feel, my children, feel; feel for the poor, the ignorant, the downtrodden; feel till the heart stops and the brain reels and you think you will go mad – then pour the soul out at the feet of the Lord, and then will come power, help, and indomitable energy. (IV.367)

Blessed are they whose bodies get destroyed in the service of others. (III.83)