Radhanath Swami on Knowledge and Service

The whole purpose of all knowledge is to bring us to the point of devotional service. Unless we apply that principle of humble devotional service, all the knowledge we accumulate is like a jewel on the head of a serpent - it looks very beautiful, but what is the use? Actually, the jewel on the serpent makes the serpent more dangerous because it is so beautiful and it makes the serpent very attractive. We want to be with the serpent because it has a nice jewel. But the fact is, the serpent is just as venomous and as envious as a serpent without a jewel. So therefore, anyone may appear to be a very great, learned saint, he may speak very eloquently on the scriptures, and everyone may want to associate themselves with him, but his life is a very different thing if he has not adopted the humble spirit of service.