When I was coming, my friends and others said, 'This man is going to die.' 'Never mind,' I thought. 'Death will come. Let me try.' So this activity must be there. That is the begging of Sanātana Gosvāmī, that he said, āpana-kṛpāte kaha 'kartavya' āmāra: 'What shall I do?' Doesn't matter what is your age, young man or old man. You must execute the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, paramparā, Caitanya Mahāprabhu and your guru. That is real life of devotional service, to take some responsibility for working and execute it to your best capacity.
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Washington DC, July 6, 1976)
"It is a great responsibility you now have."
So it is up to you to learn it and be able to present it nicely. Now you have everything, respect, philosophy, money, temples, books, all these things I have given, but I am an old man and my notice is already there. Now it is up to you all how to manage it. If you cannot increase it, you should at least maintain what I have given you. You cannot accuse me that I have not given you anything. So it is a great responsibility you now have."
Letter to Jagannatha Suta - August 26, 1975
Compiled by Damaghosa Das