Srila Prabhupada:“If you want to know me, read my books.”

Here is a few inspiring quotes from Srila Prabhupada about his books:

Srila Prabhupada:

“If you want to know me, read my books.” 

"Until these world leaders read my books and take to this Vedic culture, what kind of civilization will they have? Dog race. Horse race."

"In my books the philosophy of Krishna consciousness is explained fully, so if there is anything which you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily, the knowledge will be revealed to you, and by this process, your spiritual life will develop.”

"I am requesting all of my students to read my books very seriously every day without fail. In this way, if your mind becomes absorbed at least one or two hours daily in the transcendental subject matter of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, and other books then very easily you will make your advancement in Krishna Consciousness."

"Therefore, I recommend you to read books more and more and try to understand the subject matter from different angles of vision and be always discussing it with your godbrothers even while you are working at the press, and when you are working and you cannot read, then listen to the tapes of my lectures and hear in that way."

“There is nothing new to be said. Everything is in my books. Therefore, if you want to know me, read my books.”

"So there is nothing new to be said. Whatever I have to speak, I have spoken in my books. Now you try to understand it and continue your endeavor. Whether I am present or not present, it doesn't matter."

Srila Prabhupada asked a devotee, ‘can you quote the verse?’ They could not. Srila Prabhupada said, “Just see - you are not reading my books. You have to read my books and you have to study and learn my books just like a lawyer learns the law books. You must know everything chapter and verse. If you do not know, how will you teach these men unless you know my books. Every day you have to read my books. Do you know that every day even I read my own books?

Do you know why I read my books? I read my books everyday because even I learn something new when I read them. Do you know why I learn something new when I read my books? Because these books are not my books - I do not write these books. Every morning when I sit here to write my books Krsna comes personally and he dictates to me what to write, o I simply take dictation from Krsna and I write these books. Therefore when I read them even I learn something.”

Prabhupāda: Yes. That is preaching. Therefore we are writing so many books. Unless we take care of the books and preach and read ourself, understand the philosophy, this Hare Kṛṣṇa will be finished within few years. Because there will be no life. How long one can artificially go on, "Hare Kṛṣṇa! Haribol!" That will be artificial, no life.

Yaśomatīnandana: That's right Prabhupāda. We are so foolish, we never realize anything unless you tell us like that. Without preaching...

Prabhupāda: Without preaching, without understanding philosophy, you cannot keep your strength. Everyone should be thoroughly well-conversed with the philosophy which we are putting... That means you must read thoroughly every day.