One who properly hears Vedic knowledge does not have to return to the cycle of birth and death.- Vedanta-sutra 4.4.23
O unconquerable Lord, although you cannot be conquered by anyone, you are certainly conquered by devotees who have control of the mind and senses. They can keep you under their control because you are causelessly merciful to devotees who desire no material profit from you. Indeed, you give yourself to them, and because of this you also have full control over your devotees.- King Citraketu Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.16.34
material enjoyments are full of poison, but you consider them pleasing. Do not think of them as a source of happiness, but understand them as distress. Be absorbed in full thought of Govinda, associate with His devotees, and conclude that loving devotional service is the goal of life.- Narottama Dasa Thakura Sri Prema Bhakti Candrika 7.4
The highest devotion is attained by slow degrees by the method of constant endeavor for self-realization with the help of scriptural evidence, theistic conduct, and perseverance in practice.- Lord Brahma Sri Brahma-samhita 5.59
The holy name is never revealed to one in the bodily conception of life, who thinks in terms of “I” and “mine.” Without giving up the enjoying mentality, the transcendental platform can never be attained.- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prakrta-rasa-sata-dusini 4
If through meticulous study one becomes expert in reading Vedic literature but makes no endeavor to fix one’s mind on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then one’s endeavor is certainly like that of a man who works very hard to take care of a cow that gives no milk. In other words, the fruit of one’s laborious study of Vedic knowledge will simply be the labor itself. There will be no other tangible result.- Lord Sri Krishna, Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.18