One should not interpret the word “Revolution” in its literal sense. Various meanings and significances are attributed to this word, according to the interests of those who use or misuse it. For the established agencies of exploitation it conjures up a feeling of blood stained horror. To the revolutionaries it is a sacred phrase.
In what way can a man believing in God cease believing due to his personal vanity? There are only two ways. The man should either begin to think himself a rival of God, or he may begin to believe himself to be God.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A man's vanity can lead him to either see himself as equal to God or as God itself, undermining his faith.
Bhagat Singh's quote explores the profound relationship between belief in God and human vanity. It suggests that as a person becomes consumed by self-importance, they may perceive themselves as either a competitor to God or as God themselves, ultimately risking their faith and the essence of humility that underpins true belief. This reflects on the dangers of pride and self-adoration, prompting a contemplation of how personal ego can distort one's spiritual convictions.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about faith and humility, this quote can illustrate the dangers of pride.
More from Bhagat Singh
All quotes →Non-violence is backed by the theory of soul-force in which suffering is courted in the hope of ultimately winning over the opponent. But what happens when such an attempt fail to achieve the object? It is here that soul-force has to be combined with physical force so as not to remain at the mercy of tyrannical and ruthless enemy.
Those revolutionaries who have, by chance, escaped the gallows should live and show to the world that they cannot only embrace gallows for the ideal but also bear the worst type of tortures in the dark, dingy prison cells.
Love always elevates the character of man. It never lowers him, provided love be love
A rebellion is not a revolution. It may ultimately lead to that end.
They may kill me, but they cannot kill my ideas. They can crush my body, but they will not be able to crush my spirit.
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When did the future switch from being a promise to a threat?
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