Q0466
“One should lift oneself by oneself; one should not degrade oneself.” — Bhagavad Gita (Bhagavad Gita 6.5)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Bhagavad Gita 6.5. Theme: self.
English
One should lift oneself by oneself; one should not degrade oneself.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Bhagavad Gita 6.5 and files it under Indian Classical Philosophy. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita appears in this archive through verified English quotations associated with the Indian Classical Philosophy tradition. Biographical certainty varies by figure and text; where the “author” is a scripture or school anthology, read the name as a traditional attribution rather than a modern individual biography.
How to read this passage
To ask about the self is to ask what persists through experience, what can be known from the first-person point of view, and how character is formed. Some traditions treat the self as a substantial soul; others as a stream of experience, a social role, or a practical center of agency. This passage enters that discussion through self, practice.
Concepts in this quote
- Self
- Philosophy quotes about self explore identity, responsibility, and the examined life—from Socrates’ unexamined life to modern phenomenology and existential authenticity.
- Practice
- Practice is where thought becomes habit: philosophy as a way of living, training, and repeated action.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Bhagavad Gita. (n.d.). One should lift oneself by oneself; one should not degrade oneself. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0466
MLA: Bhagavad Gita. “One should lift oneself by oneself; one should….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0466.
Chicago: Bhagavad Gita. “One should lift oneself by oneself; one should….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0466.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “One should lift oneself by oneself; one should…”?
The passage is attributed to Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavad Gita 6.5. The archive attributes this English wording to Bhagavad Gita 6.5 and files it under Indian Classical Philosophy. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Bhagavad Gita mean by self?
To ask about the self is to ask what persists through experience, what can be known from the first-person point of view, and how character is formed. Some traditions treat the self as a substantial soul; others as a stream of experience, a social role, or a practical center of agency. This passage enters that discussion through self, practice.