“The Gita does not decide for us. But if, whenever faced with a moral problem, you give up attachment to the ego and then decide what you should do, you will come to no harm. This is the substance of the argument which Shri Krishna has expanded into 18 chapters.”
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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 'The Bhagavad Gita According to Gandhi' (Gandhi's Gita commentary).
About this quote
Set your own stake aside first, and the right course usually clears up on its own. Much of what feels like moral confusion is the ego bargaining for what it wants; strip that out and the honest choice is easier to see and easier to live with afterward.
When to use it
- A manager choosing between two candidates asks which is best for the team, not which one flatters him.
- Weighing whether to report a coworker's mistake, someone drops the fear of looking petty and judges only fairness.
- A parent settling a fight between siblings sets aside the wish to be liked and rules by what's actually just.