Advta

 One who has no sense of ego is not the doer, although he may be engaged in work. One who harbours a feeling of pride will be proud even when he is idle. And one who is humble and calm does not feel that he is doing anything, although he does many things.”

— Swami Turiyananda, Spiritual Treasures

This quote is expressing a spiritual idea about ego and action.

The core message is:

• A person without ego (“I am the doer”) does not become attached to actions. They may work hard and do many things, but internally they don’t feel inflated by it or define themselves by it.
• Pride exists even without action. Someone attached to status or self-importance may feel superior even when doing nothing.
• Humility changes the experience of work. A calm, humble person acts without constantly thinking, “Look what I’m doing” or “This is my achievement.”

In simpler terms: the quote contrasts ego-driven action with selfless action. It suggests that inner attitude matters more than outward busyness. You can do a lot without becoming egoistic, and you can do very little while still being ruled by pride.

This idea appears in many spiritual traditions—especially in Vedantic and yogic teachings—where the goal is to act fully while reducing attachment to the sense of “I alone am the doer.”

The quote is attributed to Swami Turiyananda, a monk associated with the Ramakrishna Order.