Who can stand?
Against man’s impurity,    Who can stand?
    No, not even a saint.
Against man’s insincerity,
    Who can stand?
    No, not even a sage.
Against man’s obscurity,
    Who can stand?
    No, not even a seer.
Against man’s insecurity,
    Who can stand?
    No, not even a yogi.
Against man’s stupidity,
    Who can stand?
    No, not even an Avatar.
Against man’s futility,
    Who can stand?
    No, not even God.
Sri Chinmoy, The Inner Promise - Paths to Self-Perfection, Simon and Schuster, 1974
