Prayer Book

17. East and West

1. India has to learn from Europe the conquest of external nature, and Europe has to learn from India the conquest of internal nature. Then there will be neither Hinds nor Europeans -- there will be the ideal humanity which has conquered both the natures, the external and the internal. We have developed one phase of humanity, and they another. It is the union of the two that is wanted.
2. The combination of the Greek mind represented by the external European energy added to the Hindu spirituality would be an ideal society for India. For instance, it is absolutely necessary for you, instead of frittering away your energy and often talking of idle nonsense, to learn from the Englishman the idea of prompt obedience to leaders, the absence of jealousy, the indomitable perseverance and the undying faith in himself.
3. With all my love for India, and with all my patriotism, I cannot but think that we have to learn many things from other nations. At the same time we must not forget that we have also to teach a great lesson to the world. We cannot do without the world outside India.