“Self-knowledge is the only thing that really counts, the only thing, my friends! Nothing else is any good, nothing else will ever bring your development about, enable you to have real faith and real love for God above everything and for your fellow creatures as for yourself. You have to begin with yourself before you can attain all this, attain the freedom and harmony you all long for in your innermost beings. No matter what path you choose, if this complete self-knowledge is not contained in it or if it is not the major requirement in it, you will accomplish nothing! No matter how much you learn and read and do this or do that, all this counts for nothing unless you use the knowledge you do acquire to follow this path of self-knowledge.

“If you want to gain self-knowledge, you have to reconcile yourself first to the idea ‘I have to do that which is most difficult for me!’ For there lies the key. If it is most difficult for you to show yourself with a weakness, then it is just that which your soul needs to struggle free of its chains. Or if it is difficult for you to give up your vanity in any other way, or your selfishness, then it is just this in which you should jump in — freely because you chose it.” (PL #21)