Srila Prabhupada:
Modern age means all rascals and fools. So we haven't got to follow the rascals and fools. You have to follow the most perfect, Krsna.
Paramahamsa: The problem is that everyone is cheating. Everyone is presenting some knowledge of this or that...
Prabhupada: Therefore we have accepted Krsna, who will not cheat. You are cheater, therefore you are believing cheaters. We do not cheat, and we accept a person who does not cheat. That is the difference between you and me.
Ganesa: But we were all cheaters before we came to you, Srila Prabhupada. So how is it that we're not accepting a cheater? How is it that we cheaters have accepted some knowledge from you?
Prabhupada: Yes, because you are speaking what Krsna said. He is not cheater. He is God. I am talking to you, but not my own knowledge. I am presenting to you what Krsna said. That's all. Therefore I am not cheater. I might have been a cheater, but since I am talking only the words of Krsna, since then I am not cheater. Krsna says, vedaham samatitani (BG 7.26), "I know past, present and future." Therefore He is not cheater. But so far we are concerned, we do not know what was the past and what is future. And we do not know perfectly the present also. And if we speak something, then we are cheater. That is cheating. Our Krsna consciousness movement is that don't hear the cheaters and don't try to cheat others. Be honest, and hear from the authority. This is Krsna. Our Krsna consciousness movement is, that don't hear the cheaters and don't try to cheat others. Be honest and hear from the authorities. That is Krsna consciousness.
Amogha: Srila Prabhupada? Why is it that some people, when they hear about Krsna consciousness, they take it, and some do not. And still, after that, some of those who take it, they stay, and some who take it take it for some time and then they fail?
Prabhupada: That is fortunate and unfortunate. Just like one inherits father's property. Many millions of dollars, and he has become a poor man by his misusing the money. Like that. He is unfortunate. He got the money, but he could not utilize it.
Jayadharma: Does fortune mean it's the mercy of Krsna?
Prabhupada: Krsna's mercy is always there. It is your misuse of free will. You are given the opportunity -- that is fortune. But you do not accept the fortune. That is your misfortune. That is stated in the Caitanya-caritamrita. Lord Caitanya said, ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva (CC Madhya 19.151). Kono -- some fortunate man can accept it. Because mostly they are unfortunate. Just see, throughout the whole of Europe and America we are making propaganda. How many students have come? A very insignificant number, although they have come. They are fortunate.
[Morning Walk -Conversation- May 10, 1975, Perth]