Be strong! Be manly!

During his stay in Alwar, an old man would visit Swami Vivekananda daily and beseech upon him for his blessings and his mercy. Vivekananda gave him some instructions and asked him to practice them. But the old man would not follow the instructions. Finally Vivekananda lost his patience, and one day seeing the old man from a distance, he sat like a statue. He did not answer any of the old man's questions or respond to any bodies greetings. An hour and a half passed and still the Swami sat like a statue. The old man became angry and left swearing to himself. Vivekananda then burst into boyish laughter. A young man asked, "Swamiji, why were you so hard on that old man?" The Swami replied lovingly, "Dear sons, I am ready to sacrifice my life for you, for you are willing to follow my advice and have the power to do it! But here is an old man who has spent nine-tenths of his life in running after the pleasures of the senses; now he is incapacitated for both the spiritual and the worldly life and thinks he can have God's mercy for the mere asking! What is needed to attain Truth is Purushakara, or personal exertion. How can God have mercy on one who is devoid of such exertion? He who is wanting in manliness is full of Tamas… Be strong! Be manly! I have respect even for a wicked person so long as he is manly and strong, for his strength will make him some day give up his wickedness and even renounce all work for selfish ends, and will thus eventually bring him to the Truth."