“If anyone doubts the infinite mercy of God, let him have a look at these sacred places. How much hypocrisy and irreligion does the Prince of Yogis suffer to be perpetrated in His holy name?”
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Probable attribution
This saying is widely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the attribution is not supported by a reliable primary source.
Likely origin: From An Autobiography; Gandhi on hypocrisy and irreligion perpetrated at sacred places in God's name ('Prince of Yogis').
About this quote
When a show of holiness covers greed, cruelty, or fraud, the sacred becomes a convenient disguise. The real measure of any devotion isn't the ritual on display but the conduct behind it, and the gap between the two is exactly where hypocrisy hides.
When to use it
- A congregation notices its loudest moralizer quietly mistreats the staff who clean up after services.
- A company touts its ethics page while underpaying the workers who make its products.
- A charity posts glossy photos of its good works yet spends most donations on itself.