Without sacrificing one’s animal tendencies, sacrificing a dumb animal is not worthy of a human being. Example of these animal tendencies are attachment (Raga) and hatred (Dvesha), egoism (Ahamkara)  and the sense of me and mine (Mamakara). When such evil qualities are ceremoniously sacrificed to God, He will replace them with good thoughts and tendencies. Only God the creator is empowered to accept evil and exchange it with good - reminiscent of only government treasuries in India being legally authorised to exchange soiled currency notes with fresh notes. (GG, p. 31)

A granite will turn into dust some day. A sapling may spring from that earth and grow into a tree. A man and wife may eat the fruit of that tree and may bring forth a child into the world. If granite can evolve into a warm heart of a human child, why cannot man endowed with a rare tenderness become a ‘God-Man’? (FDD, p. A-4)

You must all become heroes, adventurous and bold; prepare for that role from now on. Man has inside him a whole set of animals: the dog, the fox, the ass, the wolf. But he must suppress the tendencies of all these animals and encourage the human qualities of love and friendship to shine forth. Friendship that is cultivated from childhood onwards is more lasting and so try to cultivate real friends now. Above all, begin the cultivation of virtues; that is more important and beneficial than mere book-learning. That gives real Ananda; that is the essence of all knowledge, the culmination of all learning.

Treat every one as your own people and even if you cannot do them any good, desist from causing them any injury. Burn the lamp of love inside the niche of your heart and then the nocturnal birds of greed and envy will fly away, unable to bear the light. Prema makes you humble; it makes you bend and bow when you see greatness and glory. (SSS Vol.1)

You get the body through the karma of the past; you get the type of character according to the vasanas (tendencies) cultivated in the past. The body is the result of Prarabdha karma (to be exhausted in the present life); the guna is the product of  Sanchita  karma (which is stored to experienced in future lives). Do not delude yourself that you are the body, or be fascinated into an attachment for it. But, it is your task to guard it from harm and keep it in good trim. (SSS Vol.2)

At one of the railway stations of North India, when a thirsty passenger asked the waterman whether the skin-bag from which he was pouring water into his cup was clean enough, the waterman replied, "The bag I have is cleaner than the bag, into which the water is being poured by you." Keep your mind clean of Vasanas (tendencies caused by past deeds), your intellect free from prejudices, your character free from blemishes, your behaviour free from rudeness - then, you can attach yourself to God and God too will favour you with His affection. (SSS Vol.4)

In the days of Emperor Krishnadevaraaya at vijayanagar, an infectious disease appeared and gained ground quickly. It was reported that the disease spread through rats and so, each house was supplied a cat, together with a cat allowance for feeding the cats. But, the rats showed no signs of decline in numbers. After a few days; the discovery was made that the cat allowance was misused by every one and the cats had become too weak to pounce upon the rats and catch them for eating.

The cats must be fed, so that they may eat the rats. So too, the body must be fed so that wicked tendencies, sensual appetites, evil propensities may be vigorously attacked and put down. Unless this work is done, the Divine in man cannot bloom. The earth around the trunk of certain trees has to be turned now and again so that the roots might get strong; the branches have to be trimmed, so that blossoms might appear and fruits might be got. So too man has to dig around the edges of the mind, trim the traits of character and tend the tree of life. (SSS Vol.6)

For that yearning and the pursuit that is impelled by it, the first equipment that is necessary for the individual is a rigorous self-examination to remove all evil from oneself. Do not try to cover up the defects, the down-dragging tendencies and habits. (SSS Vol.6)

Egoism is the seedpot of greed, envy, anger, malice, conceit and a host of other down-dragging tendencies. They cloud his intelligence; they divert the attention from truth and make the false appear as real, the real distorted as false. So it becomes essential to cleanse the mind of these through regular sadhana, to tune the little will to the Infinite Will of God, so that it becomes merged in His Glory. Scholarship or skill, however deep and varied, have no cleansing power. They only add the alloys of pride and competition. Learned men are not necessarily good, nor are men with spiritual powers over nature above pride, envy and greed. Satya, dharma, shanti and prema are the hallmarks of a purified heart, a heart where God is enshrined and is manifest. (SSS Vol.6)

Men should act according to the dictates of their conscience, which can discriminate between right and wrong. They should rise above animal tendencies and realise the glory of human birth. Men should lead ideal lives, manifesting their inner divinity. Everything they do, their speech and their manners, should be exemplary. Even the smallest act should cause no harm to others. (SSS Vol.29)