“What do we mean by Brahmacharya? We mean by it that men and women should refrain from enjoying each other. That is to say, they should not touch each other with a carnal thought, they should not think of it even in their dreams. Their mutual glances should be free from all suggestion of carnality. The hidden strength that God has given us should be conserved by rigid self-discipline, and transmitted into energy and power,—not merely of body, but also of mind and soul. But what is the spectacle that we actually see around us? Men and women, old and young, without exception, are seen entangled in the coils of sensuality. Blinded by lust, they lose all sense of right and wrong. For the sake of a momentary pleasure, we sacrifice in an instant all the stock of vitality that we have accumulated. The infatuation over, we find ourselves in a miserable condition. The next morning, we feel hopelessly weak and tired, and the mind refuses to do its work.”
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Source: A Guide to Health (1921), Part I, Chapter IX 'Sexual Relations'.
About this quote
Behind the specific vow sits a broader claim about self-mastery: appetites left unchecked drain energy and cloud judgment, while disciplined restraint can be redirected into steadier focus and purpose. The mechanism is treating willpower as a resource you conserve rather than spend on every passing impulse.
When to use it
- An athlete skips the party the night before a race, banking rest and focus for the event.
- Someone prone to doomscrolling deletes the apps on weekdays and puts that time into a course.
- A person eases off rich food and drink during a demanding work stretch to keep their mind clear.

