The ignorant and the wise are both engaged in action. But their mental attitudes towards action differ greatly. The ignorant person has an obsession for action. He becomes involved in and attached to what he does. He binds himself emotionally to his field of activity. He acts merely to fulfil his egocentric desires. His motive is only personal profit or benefit. He sweats and toils all his life for procuring more comforts and pleasures for himself and perhaps his family. He entertains no other ideal or goal in life. The purpose of his existence does not extend beyond his personal acquisition and indulgence in this world.
Compared to the ignorant the wise person works less selfishly. He visualises a higher and nobler ideal in life. An ideal which serves a common cause, which benefits his society or nation. He does not confine his activity to one of mere personal pleasure or profit. The cause for which he works embraces the welfare of the people at large. He strives and struggles to achieve this noble ideal.
Bhagavad Gita – A. Parthasarathy
ONE TUSK 