“I have from my experience come to the conclusion that Gita has been composed to teach this one truth which I have explained. We can follow truth only in the measure that we shed our attachment to the ego.”
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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: The Bhagavad Gita According to Gandhi (Anasaktiyoga), Gandhi's own Gita translation/commentary, likely from his introduction. Genuine Gandhi work; exact wording not independently verified here.
About this quote
Ego quietly bends what we're willing to see — we defend our image instead of facing facts. Loosening that grip on self-importance is what makes honesty possible; the less you need to be right or admired, the more clearly the truth of a situation comes through.
When to use it
- An entrepreneur finally sees why his product is failing once he stops needing to be the smartest in the room.
- During an argument, a partner drops the urge to 'win' and actually hears what's being said.
- A researcher publishes the finding that undercuts her own earlier, celebrated theory.