BUT MY BOY, THIS IS A VERY QUEER WORLD, WHERE EVEN THE WORLD - GODS BRAHMA AND VISHNU FIND IT DIFFICULT TO EVADE THE CLUTCHES OF LUST AND GOLD.

About the raising of funds by Shrimân —, well, it is a fair enterprise; but my boy, this is a very queer world, where even the World-Gods Brahmâ and Vishnu find it difficult to evade the clutches of lust and gold. Wherever there is any the least concern with money, there is the chance for misunderstanding. Let therefore nobody undertake such work as raising money on behalf of the Math. ... Whenever you hear of any householder collecting funds in my or our name on the plea of erecting a Math, or some such thing, the first thing you should do is to distrust him, and never set your hand to it. The more so, as householders of poor means take to various tricks to supply their wants. Therefore, if ever a trusty devotee or a householder with a heart, being of affluent circumstances, undertakes such works as the founding of a Math, or if the funds raised be kept in the custody of a trusty householder of wealth — well and good, otherwise never have a hand in it. On the contrary, you must dissuade others from such a thing. You are but a boy and are ignorant of the snare of gold. Opportunities will turn even a staunch moralist into a cheat. This is the way of the world.

OPPORTUNITIES WILL TURN EVEN A STAUNCH MORALIST INTO A CHEAT

- Swami Vivekananda
13th Nov., 1895.
The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 6/Epistles - Second Series/LXXXV Akhandananda