“Conquer taste, and you will have conquered the self”

As the novel begins, Jagan views a person—a self—as little more than a collection of senses to be defeated. This makes it easy for him to feel morally superior. Deny oneself a little sugar and call it a great victory. The failings of this grandiose approach to his own actions will be the key to his eventual enlightenmen. 

“Do you realize how few people ever really understand how fortunate they are in their circumstances?”

Jagan is unaware that he is also fortunate, and also lacks understanding of his own privilege. He is able to see things in others that he is unwilling—or unable—to see in himself. 

“If I had passed the B.A., I could have done so many other things”

Despite his insistence that he is fulfilled with his ascetic life of the mind, Jagan is quick to blame circumstances for his occasional bouts of self-doubt. He knows that his choices led him to his current position, but it is more comfortable for his to shift responsivity to something he can’t control. And he typically blames events in the past, because the past can no longer be changed. Therefore, it cannot be his responsibility.