The life of a human being is only rational when it is understood as fulfillment of duty, as service.
The only thing certain to any of us is death. “Like the swallow darting through thy hall, such, O King, is the life of man!” We come from where we know not; we go—who shall say! Impenetrable darkness behind, and gathering shades before. What, when our time comes, does it matter whether we have fared daintily or not, whether we have worn soft raiment or not, whether we leave a great fortune or nothing at all, whether we shall have reaped honors or been despised, have been counted learned or ignorant—as compared with how we may have used that talent which has been intrusted to us for the Master’s service!
Henry George
The one who sees the ray of divine power in the smallest things in the world is a person of high understanding and high aspirations. Such a person respects himself and others and does not disdain the smallest of tasks, for he sees them as manifestations of divine power.
Rumi
Virtue is a service that a human being must perform for his own sake. Even if there were neither heaven nor an omnipotent God, virtue would still be a necessary law of life. To know what is just, and to do it—this is both the duty and the privilege of the human being.
Ramayana
When meeting someone, think not of how they can be useful to you, but of how you can serve them.
We have been given an undeniable law for all our actions, and actions that are in accord with this law cannot be stopped or restrained by any power. The fulfillment of this law is possible in prison and under the threat of torture and death.
What is clear is that my life in this God’s world has a meaning that is not independent but dutiful. What is clear is that in the material sense we will be defeated and will have to die; our eyes can see this, our reason speaks of this, the whole of nature bears witness to this; such is the law of life in God’s world, it is what pleases God. And, bit by bit, as this simple truth grows clearer, the one who comprehends this gradually loses the desire to fight and struggle with other people for the benefit of his material life, for the benefit of what turns out to be an alien, ephemeral and cruel master.
Buka
Seek for yourselves only the life that is good and in accord with God’s will—and you will wholly fulfill the duty assigned to you.