Everything can be sacrificed for truth, but truth cannot be sacrificed for anything.
Swami VivekanandaRead
The coward, afraid of the lash, with one hand wipes his eyes and gives with the other. Of what avail are such gifts?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the hypocrisy of those who give while being driven by fear and guilt, questioning the value of such donations.
Swami Vivekananda's quote critiques the act of giving that is motivated by fear of punishment rather than genuine altruism. It reflects on the idea that gifts or contributions made out of a sense of obligation or fear lack true value and authenticity, suggesting that meaningful contributions should come from a place of courage and sincerity.
Themes
CowardiceGiftHypocrisyFearAltruism
In practice
Example use cases
During a charity event, someone could quote this to emphasize the importance of genuine giving.
More from Swami Vivekananda
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Swami VivekanandaRead
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Swami VivekanandaRead
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Swami VivekanandaRead
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Swami VivekanandaRead
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