“In my secret heart I separate myself from nobody, just as this teaching itself excludes no other in its perfect comprehension. Because I had to call it by some name as soon as I began to write about it, I called it philosophy because this is too wide and too general a name to become the property of any single sect. In doing so I merely returned to its ancient and noble meaning among the Greeks who, in the Eleusinian Mysteries, designated the spiritual truth learnt at initiation into them as ‘philosophy’ and the initiate oneself as philosopher or lover of wisdom.”

 “The notion that there is something futile about philosophy is quite correct when applied to what passes under that name very often, but quite incorrect when applied to genuine philosophy; and it is genuine philosophy which is here presented.”

 “Those who would assign philosophy the role of a leisurely pastime for a few people who have nothing better to do, are greatly mistaken. Philosophy, correctly understood, involves living as well as being. Its value is not merely intellectual, not merely to stimulate thought, but also to guide action. Its ideas and ideals are not left suspended in mid-air, as it were, unable to come down to earth in practical and practicable forms. It can be put to the test in daily living. It can be applied to all personal and social problems without exception. It shows us how to achieve a balanced existence in an unbalanced society.”

 “Those are much mistaken who think the philosophic life is one of dark negation and dull privation, of sour life-denial and emotional refrigeration. Rather is it the happy cultivation of Life’s finest feelings.”

 “Philosophy is for those who prefer to face realities free of myths, veils, and distortions; who prefer to be mentally mature and want to understand life as it is and not make a pretense of what it is not. Hence ideas which religion presents under thick incrustations of mythopoetic pictures, philosophy explains by rational thinking which leads later to intuitive understanding.”

 “Since the real essence of philosophy has only an inner content, which must be felt intuitively and grasped intellectually, but no outer form, it cannot become material for a cult, an organized group. It must lead each person on his/her own individual way, letting him/her grow naturally from within… This idea, or belief, that we must go somewhere, meet someone, read something, to accomplish life’s best fulfilment is the first and last mistake. In the end, as in the beginning, we have nothing else to do except follow the ancient command to LOOK WITHIN.”

 “We are given forms embodied in space and minds working in time whereby we may come to decipher meanings in life and the world, develop awareness of the Infinite Being that is behind both, and know our true self, the Soul or Overself.”

 “Constant remembrance of the Overself’s presence becomes a way to counter the much more evident presence of the body and the world―that is, the illusion of matter. The term “illusion” here used must not be read as meaning that the human being and the world do not exist. It means that they exist, yes, but that they do not exist as other than a transient appearance. They are not fundamentally ‘real.’”

 “By refusing to join philosophy to any built-up structure, social or cultural organization, or particular group of people, this approach keeps its own freedom and bestows that same freedom on those who study it.”

 “All methods and techniques—and of course, all human beings who propound them—are merely instruments to help those who study this philosophy to obtain a methodless, technique-free, teacherless state.”

 “Those of us who are the humble spokespersons of philosophy neither seek cheap triumphs nor expect swift victories. We know where human nature stands today. We are resigned to accept whatever results may come because we are convinced that the forces promoting human moral and mental growth are irresistible, that however slow and long the human journey may be, its final arrival at Truth and Beauty and Goodness can never be prevented.”