“Hinduism has made marvelous discoveries in things of religion, of the spirit, of the soul. We have no eye for these great and fine discoveries. We are dazzled by the material progress that Western science has made. Ancient India has survived because Hinduism was not developed along material but spiritual lines.”
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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: Listed on Gandhi's Wikiquote in 'Posthumous publications (1950s and later)' with only a weak web citation (onlinedarshan.com, 'Minds on Hinduism'); no dated primary (Young India/Harijan/CWMG) located.
About this quote
The claim is that a civilization can endure on inner cultivation rather than material achievement, and that dazzle from visible progress blinds people to quieter, deeper riches. The pull toward what glitters is real; the discipline is to keep valuing depth that never announces itself.
When to use it
- A household that prizes character and calm over showing off the newest car or gadget.
- Someone who keeps upgrading devices yet never feels any steadier or more content inside.
- A town measuring its success by residents' wellbeing, not just by rows of new construction.