1. "He is a hero who acts self-sacrificingly, unwaveringly, consciously, and who, acting in the name of the Common Good, thus brings nearer the current of cosmic evolution." [New Era Community, 147]
2. "...Heroism is an expression of self-sacrifice and fiery enthusiasm." [Supermundane, 735]
3. "Heroism is not the self. Heroism is true altruism. Self-denial and self-sacrifice live and shine in heroism." [The King Albert by Nicholas Roerich]
4. "...The heroes and martyrs who build nations. …Who, then, are the heroes and the martyrs and how can they be described? From the scientific point of view, like living volcanoes, they throw out the intense energies needed for evolution. … A real hero knows the truth of self-renunciation. He does not attempt to destroy anything, but tries to apply his powers in the best possible way." [Supermundane, 272]
5. "Only heroes saturate life, only heroism can advance. It is said that a country dreaming of a hero will prosper." [Letters of Helena Roerich in 9 Volumes - 2. 054]
6. "Where they value their heroes, creators and workers, a bright future is possible there." [Czurlanis by Nicholas Roerich]
7. "We know from history that every great epoch was marked by a powerful wave of reverence for heroism in all its manifestations. The Covenant of the Great Brotherhood – create heroes!" [Letters of Helena Roerich in 9 Volumes - 6. 039]
8. "The feat expresses the height that the human spirit has reached. The [Russian] people, who have shown mass heroism of spirit, show by this their historical viability and suitability for evolution." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1968, 404]
9. "The life of a hero leads humanity. As a source of inspiration, as a measure of beauty, as a motivator of courage – this is the voice of true heroism." [To the bright memory of the king Alexander by Nicholas Roerich]
10. "If there is one warrior in the field – after all, this is already a feat." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1960, 312]
11. "Heroism is the victory of the spirit over the personal, and over the weakness of the body, and over the fear of death." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1967, 289]
12. "The heart of a hero knows self-sacrifice in the name of Common Good. It knows self-renunciation and Great Service. The path of the hero is not always strewn with wreaths of human gratitude. The path of the hero proceeds by thorny ways. Therefore, one should always revere the path of self-renunciation, because each advancement upon the face of the Earth which affirms heroism of the spirit guarantees a new beginning. How many heroes of the spirit could have been seen upon mankind’s path as torch-bearers! But these fires of the spirit are unnoticeable to the eye of ignorance. Thus, on the path to the Fiery World one should revere the heroes of everyday life who saturate life with an achievement in each hour. The community of labor should cultivate these heroes, because the pillars of a nation stand erect only on the qualities of heroism of the spirit and the heart." [Fiery World III, 43]
13. "Heroism is a manifestation of various aspects of humility." [Fiery World III, 24]
14. "If a caravan is maintained according to the weakest member, history is based upon the most powerful ones. Thus, let us remember about this wondrous substance which selects that which is most precious for evolution." [Hierarchy, 283]
15. "People dream and pray for an easy way. But where does it lead? After all, it is only easy to descend; it is always difficult to ascend. But people don't think about the ultimate goal – if only it would be easy to go. The hero of the spirit does not think about the path at all, difficult or easy – but his path is immutable. It is the absence of hesitation that defines the hero. Not a hero who looks around for a choice. The hero knows where he is going, and, having an end goal in front of him, is not embarrassed by the peculiarities of the road. He may suffer and be exhausted, but he goes anyway. He lives by this – his work and advancement. Working for evolution is as natural for him as breathing. This is the expression of his life." [Excerpts by Boris Abramov from the book "Aspiring Heart" 1954, 264]
16. "A clair-achievement is a feat strengthened to immutability. It is necessary that the feat should not be something separated from the essence, performed by the decree of the will and consciousness, but assimilated with the human being and became its natural manifestation. Only then it will not be a flash that can be stopped, but with its natural flame, which cannot be removed from the head. The fire of the clair-achievement sounds in harmony with the music of the spheres, for it feeds on a correct understanding of the evolution of the Cosmos." [Excerpts by Boris Abramov from the book "Aspiring Heart" 1952, 90]
17. "Courage, determination, the dynamics of the offensive are the features of the heroic spirit." [Excerpts by Boris Abramov from the book "Aspiring Heart" 1952, 100]
18. "A “podvig” [feat] is beautiful, majestic, solemn, wise, and awe-inspiring. It can never be described as prudent. When Joan of Arc addressed the elders of her village and spoke about podvig, they found her imprudent, and even reckless. Of course, a podvig is reckless, for it is performed not out of deliberation, but out of straight-knowledge.
There are many for whom the idea of podvig simply does not exist. For them, prudence is the highest ethical level. Their entire world outlook is defined by prudence. For the sake of it they would refuse help to their fellow man, they would be willing to betray their country, even to bring harm to humanity, and they are ready to justify all their crimes by repeating this dead word–prudence.
...This word is based on good concepts; goodness is always good and a wise understanding is always useful. But the worldly misinterpreters manage to turn good ideas into shameful ways. If they could, they would eliminate the word podvig, which is so completely against their mentality.
…The Thinker said, “Leave prudence to the shopkeepers, love the daring of the heroes.”" [Supermundane, 571]
19. "He who fears for his life cannot be a hero. And he who pointlessly wastes his life will not be a hero. The hero carries the vessel with care, ever ready to offer it for building the future world — as in everything, the weighing of opposites. A yogi will understand this. He will understand the value of restraint, yet will never be satisfied. The hero is truly insatiable for achievement and hungers for action, yet is ready at any time to restrain himself. He acts for spirit, but does not detach himself from Earth. Unstoppable, never retreating, he will not abandon what he has begun, and will not initiate any action that is less than selfless. Let us manifest the consciousness that is able to distinguish between self-concern and concern for the General Good." [Agni Yoga, 261]
20. "...A feat [podvig] – the antipode of the self – craves self-sacrifice... No extraordinary circumstances are needed for the feat, the feat can be among the most everyday activities, because it is primarily created in the spirit, in the heart ..." [Letters of Helena Roerich in 9 Volumes - 1. 117]
21. "A feat is created inside. This will be a victory if the beginning of the spirit is confirmed in the face of all external obstacles." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1955, 508]
22. "What a glorious Russian word "podvig". There is movement, creativity, and success in it." [The Right Way by Nicholas Roerich]
23. "A podvig creates, collects the good, moves the good, improves life, teaches humanity. Isn't it wonderful that it was the Russian people who gave birth to this bright, prosperous concept?
The ascetic puts a great burden on himself. He takes it voluntarily. In such volunteerism there is love not for oneself, but for one's neighbor, for whom an ascetic walks along all the rocky paths. He's a hard worker! He knows the value of labor. He feels the beauty of doing and in it, in the sweat of labor, smiles at the worker. Do-gooding, community, help to all the oppressed lives in the ascetic.
It is not only in the great mentors of the people that the podvig is manifested. There are many ascetics. They all work, study forever and move enlightenment. In the podvig – movement, vigilance, patience and knowledge, knowledge, knowledge!" [Podvig by Nicholas Roerich]
24. "It is to this [Russian] great people that the great word PODVIG is given. There is no such concept in any other language, in all its sublimity and continuity.
The podvig is given to those who can strive for the common good. The Russian people have already proved their selflessness many times, and therefore they are honored with the podvig." [Protect by Nicholas Roerich]
25. "...The struggle for Culture is heroism. And the heroes have always endured and overcome." [America by Nicholas Roerich]
26. "Our dear ones, I subscribe with both hands to everything N.K. wrote about the struggle for Culture, because clearly the struggle for Culture was and is true heroism. And, I will say, the greatest heroism, because invariably these heroes do not know either victorious clicks or wearing laurel wreaths, but only slander, suffering and the final crowning with a crown of thorns – so it was, so it is. That is why this heroism is so pure, so selfless, so beautiful, truly, it transforms our being, and this transformation is the highest reward, because the worlds Above Ground become accessible in all their power and beauty." [Letters of Helena Roerich in 9 Volumes - 7. 076]
27. "There is no greater feat than everyday life, and few people master it. For this feat of feats, the kind of Love is required, that turns gray everyday life into a sparkling holiday and the dreary word “everyday life” into a magnificent and joyful concept of “Infinity". Is it possible to divide it into days and nights, to break up the monolith of a single Life?! From crushing, those fragments are obtained, which are so inconvenient and unpleasant to walk on. It's time to unite, time to assemble the parts into one whole. It's also time to merge all the conditional particles of time into one powerful concept of Infinity." [Еxcerpts by Boris Abramov from the book "Aspiring Heart" 1951, 22]
28. "... They think that a feat should be performed in great deeds. But they do not want to reflect on what is more difficult: whether to show a feat once in life, or in the twilight of ordinary life, affirming the best qualities of the spirit in themselves, to show a permanent feat. Of course, the second is more difficult. ...We call for the feat of life." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1961, 217]
29. "Why is the feat only in battles? Acquiring knowledge is a delicate and courageous work. We pay for every grain the price of suffering and tension. But the suffering will pass, and the knowledge will remain forever. Who will deprive you of it? With knowledge you will help, with knowledge you will advance, with knowledge you will create a New World." [Еxcerpts by Boris Abramov from the book "Aspiring Heart" 1951, 20]
30. "You can bend under the weight of the burden, droop and fall, but the formula of the fiery spirit is "Let's fight." Therefore, carrying fire in earthly life is a feat." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1953, 409]
31. "The feat of bringing Light into life is hard and difficult. But this is a Great Service." [Facets of Agni Yoga 1955, 20]
