It is enough to know that everything depends on the grace of God. But one must pray to God; it will not do to remain inactive. The lawyer gives all the arguments and finishes his pleading by saying to the judge: ‘I have said all I have to say. Now the decision rests with Your Honour.’
(p, 599, The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Thakur’s words to the devotees on 5 Oct,1884 in His room in Dakshineswar.)
We must remember ours is only to work – we never attain results. How can we? Good can never be done without doing evil. We cannot breathe a breath without killing thousands of poor little animals. National prosperity is another name for death and degradation to millions of other races. So is individual prosperity the beggaring of many. The world is evil – and will remain so. It is its nature, and cannot be changed. Such is truth. The wisdom is therefore in renunciation, that is to make the Lord our all in all.
(p.121, Vol.9, Swamiji’s letter to Mother Church (Mrs. G.W Hale) from Ridgely Manor on 5 Oct, 1899.)