If a man achieves victory over this body, who in the world can exercise power over him? He who rules himself rules over the whole world.
Vinoba BhaveRead
The river flows at its own sweet will, but the flood is bound in the two banks. If it were not thus bound, its freedom would be wasted.
Interpretation
Real freedom requires some form of constraints to be meaningful.
This quote by Vinoba Bhave reflects the idea that true freedom is not the absence of restrictions but rather the presence of meaningful boundaries. Just like a river needs banks to define its flow and direction, individuals and societies require certain limits for their freedoms to be purposeful and constructive, ensuring that freedom is exercised responsibly and effectively.
In practice
During a lecture on personal development, one might use this quote to illustrate the balance between freedom and responsibility.
....it is of the very essence of Christianity to face suffering and death not because they are good, not because they have meaning, but because the resurrection of Jesus has robbed them of their meaning.
To be oneself, simply oneself, is so amazing and utterly unique an experience that it's hard to convince oneself so singular a thing happens to everybody.
I will not dissemble the first emotions of joy on the recovery of my freedom, and, perhaps, the establishment of my fame. But my pride was soon humbled, and a sober melancholy was spread over my mind, by the idea that I had taken an everlasting leave of an old and agreeable companion, and that whatsoever might be the future date of my History, the life of the historian must be short and precarious.
Through Gandhi and my own life experience, I have learned about nonviolence. I believe that human life is a very special gift from God, and that no one has a right to take that away in any cause, however just. I am convinced that nonviolence is more powerful than violence.
Paris. Toulouse. Malmo. Copenhagen. Brussels. Berlin. For most people, they are lovely cities where you might happily take a holiday. But for the world's Jews, they are something else, too. They are place names of hate.
Nothing is so stifling as symmetry. Symmetry is boredom, the quintessence of mourning. Despair yawns. There is something more terrible than a hell of suffering - a hell of boredom.
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