Vinoba Bhave Quotes & Sayings

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. — Vinoba Bhave

When a king speaks, the armies move. But when a wise man speaks, only the beard shakes. — Vinoba Bhave

All revolutions are spiritual at the source. All my activities have the sole purpose of achieving a union of hearts. — Vinoba Bhave

Innumerable actions are going on through us all the time. If we started counting them, we should never come to an end. — Vinoba Bhave

A country should be defended not by arms, but by ethical behavior. — Vinoba Bhave

The main reason why we look constantly to the Gita is that, whenever we need help, we may get it from the Gita. And, indeed, we always do get it. — Vinoba Bhave

Though the names karma yoga and sannyasa are different, the truth at the heart of both is the same. — Vinoba Bhave

The natural movement of one's soul is upwards. But just as any object is dragged down when a heavy weight is tied to it, the burden of the body drags down the soul. — Vinoba Bhave

If we wish our nature to be free and joyous, we should bring our activities into same order. — Vinoba Bhave

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 Bhave

In nonviolence you must go full steam ahead, if you want the good to come speedily you must go about it with vigor. — Vinoba Bhave

We have seen from experience that, if we are in the habit of walking regularly on the same road, we are able to think about other things while walking, without paying attention to our steps. — Vinoba Bhave

We cannot fight new wars with old weapons. — Vinoba Bhave

If you want to cut down a tree, it is no use to climb into its branches. — Vinoba Bhave

We cannot even recollect the actions of our infancy, our childhood is like something written on a slate and rubbed off. — Vinoba Bhave

If we could only snap the fetters of the body that bind the feet of the soul, we shall experience a great joy. Then we shall not be miserable because of the body's sufferings. We shall become free. — Vinoba Bhave

Gross and subtle, pure and mixed, simple and complex - in the end that there is no place where God is not. In every atom, He alone is present. From the ant to the universe, He spreads. The Lord who cares equally for all, the compassionate one who is all knowledge, tenderness, skill, holiness and beauty - He stands on all sides everywhere. — Vinoba Bhave

If a man's house is full of medicine bottles, we infer the man is an invalid. But if his house is full of books, we conclude he is intelligent. — Vinoba Bhave

When a thing is true, there is no need to use any arguments to substantiate it. — Vinoba Bhave

It is a curious phenomena that God has made the hearts of the poor, rich and those of the rich, poor. — Vinoba Bhave

Life does not mean mere karma or mere bhakti or mere jnana. — Vinoba Bhave

I am convinced that those who get themselves involved in the machinery of power politics, even for the purpose of destroying it, are bound to fail in their purpose. To destroy it we have to stay out of it. If we want to cut down a tree, it is of no use to climb into its branches. The desire to keep contact with something, even to destroy it, is a subtle and insidious illusion. — Vinoba Bhave

In this world of chance and change and mutability, the fulfillment of any resolve depends on the will of the Lord. — Vinoba Bhave

Do not allow yourself to imagine that revolutionary thinking can be propagated by governmental power. — Vinoba Bhave

In the Bhagavad Gita, there is no long discussion, nothing elaborate. The main reason for this is that everything stated in the Gita is meant to be tested in the life of every man; it is intended to be verified in practice. — Vinoba Bhave

When we will all see our role in society as servants, we will all light up the sky together like countless stars on a dark night. Don't think of society as the sky on a full moon night. The moon's harsh light blinds us to the true and humble work of the stars. But on a moonless night, the true servants shine forth, as though they are connected invisibly in this vast and infinite cosmos. — Vinoba Bhave

It is only when our life proceeds within bounds and in an accepted, disciplined way, that the mind can be free. — Vinoba Bhave

Human life is full of the play of samskaras - tendencies developed by repeated actions. — Vinoba Bhave