Government

Social life necessitates some form of a government, and the men so placed in authority must curb and prevent all individual or group tendencies which are inherently selfish and likely to injure society. Usually, they go much further than necessary, for power corrupts and degrades. So that however much those rulers may love liberty and hate coercion, they will have to exercise coercion on recalcitrant individuals, till such time when every human being in that State is perfect, wholly unselfish, and devoted to the common good. The rulers of that State will also have to exercise coercion on outside groups who make predatory attacks, that is to say they will have to defend themselves, meeting force with force. The necessity for this will only disappear when there is only a single World-State.

Excerpts from Page 560-61 of the book 'An autobiography : Jawaharlal Nehru'

Head Lice - Looks Dangerous

System

I would say that my quarrel is with a system and not with individuals. A system is certainly embodied to a great extent in individuals and groups, and these individuals and groups have to be converted or combated. But if a system has ceased to be of value and is a drag, it has to go, and the classes or groups that cling to it will also have to undergo a transformation. That process of change should involve as little suffering as possible, but unhappily suffering and dislocation are inevitable. We cannot put up with a major evil for fear of a far lesser one, which in any event is beyond our power to remedy.

Excerpts from Page 546 of the book 'An autobiography : Jawaharlal Nehru'

Trust

Is it reasonable to believe in the theory of trusteeship - to give unchecked power and wealth to an individual and to expect him to use it entirely for the public good? Are the best of us so perfect as to be trusted in this way? Even Plato's philosopher-kings could hardly have borne this burden worthily. And is it good for the others to have even these benevolent supermen over them? But there are no supermen or philosopher-kings, there are only frail human beings who cannot help thinking that their own personal good or the advancement of their own ideas is identical with the public good. The snobbery of birth, position, and economic power is perpetuated, and the consequences in many ways are disastrous.

Excerpts from Page 545-46 of the book 'An autobiography : Jawaharlal Nehru'

Ten OTHER Things Martin Luther King Said

Sindbad

Desires

Actually, this ocean of samsara does not exist.
It is only your desires and when they subside
there is nothing which has ever existed. If you
know this ocean is dreadful and filled with
alligators and sharks this is enough. These
alligators are your desires for objects, for
persons, for some enjoyment! Once you forget
them you are very safe.

- Papaji
From Along The Way

Fear

Just about the time in Alipore Gaol, in April 1934, I read Bernard Shaw's new plays, and the preface to On the Rocks, with its debate between Christ and Pilate, fascinated me. It seemed to have a modern significance, when another empire faced another man of religion. "I say to you," Jesus says to Pilate in this preface, "cast out fear, Speak no more vain things to me about the greatness of Rome. The greatness of Rome, as you call it, is nothing but fear; fear of the past and fear of the future, fear of the poor, fear of the rich, fear of the High Priests, fear of the Jews and Greeks, who are learned, fear of the Gauls and Goths and Huns, who are barbarians, fear of the Carthage you destroyed to save you from fear of it, and now fear worse than ever, fear of Imperial Caesar, the idol you have yourself created, and fear of me, the penniless vagrant, buffeted and mocked, fear of everything except the rule of God; faith in nothing but blood and iron and gold. You, standing for Rome, are the universal coward; I, standing for the Kingdom of God, have braved everything, lost everything, and won an eternal crown."

Excerpts from Page 526 of the book 'An autobiography : Jawaharlal Nehru'

...............

Comment by Me : This applies on most of the people and more so especially on the wannabes ( desperate types ) for powerful positions related to politics, religion and corporate sector. Attainment of their goals will only make them more fearful....fear of losing everything which is inescapable as nothing is permanent!

Frustration

How can one escape in this strange, unhappy world a feeling of frustration? How often everything seems to go wrong, and though we carry on, doubts assail us when we see the quality of human material around us. I am afraid I feel anger and resentment often enough at various happenings and developments, and even at persons and groups. And latterly I have begun to resent more and more the drawing-room attitude to life, which ignores vital issues and considers it improper to refer to them, because they happen to touch one's pocket or pet prejudices. With all this resentment and frustration and 'cattiness', I hope I have not yet lost the gift of laughing at my own and other people's follies.

Excerpts from Page 494 of the book 'An autobiography : Jawaharlal Nehru'

New India

The new India must be served by earnest, efficient workers who have an ardent faith in the cause they serve and are bent on achievement, and who work for the joy and glory of it, and not for the attraction of high salaries. The money motive must be reduced to a minimum.

Excerpts from Page 463 of the book 'An autobiography : Jawaharlal Nehru'