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Question

Given below is quotations of great thinkers. What do this quotations convey to you in the present context?

"The strength of a society is not in its laws, but in the morality of its people." - Swami Vivekananda

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CSE 2025 (Prelims) CSAT Official Paper (25-May-2025)

Swami Vivekananda's quote conveys a timeless truth: a society's foundation is its collective character, not just its legal framework. Laws are external rules that can be circumvented or followed out of fear of punishment. Morality, however, is an internal compass that guides behaviour even in the absence of enforcement.

In the present context, we see this clearly. Despite having strong laws against corruption, dowry, and discrimination, these social evils persist. This is because the laws have not been fully internalized into the moral fabric of society. A strong society is one where citizens are honest, compassionate, and respect others not because a law demands it, but because they believe it is the right thing to do.

This highlights the importance of value-based education and ethical leadership. For India to be truly strong, building the moral character of its citizens is as crucial as enacting and enforcing robust laws.

Answered By:

Harsh Raj

Harsh Raj is a successful government exam expert, having cleared multiple stages of SSC CGL, IBPS PO, CDS, RRB NTPC, and Delhi Police SI exams himself and mentored more than 5000 students through direct mentorship. His expertise is in creating well researched content, especially MCQs, which have been directly asked by relevant commissions in multiple exams.

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Important Questions from GS4

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