Elephants have two sets of teeth, one outside – the tusks, and another inside, to munch food. The activities of our Mission are like the elephant’s tusks. Whatever work you may do – conducting Sevashramas or doing relief work, unless you have character, all will be in vain. What is wanted is character, purity, steadfast devotion to God. If you have them, you will prosper, otherwise you will totally fail.
(p.78, Spiritual Talks, Swami Premananda’s words at the annual general meeting of the Ramakrishna Mission on 5 March, 1916.)