The Vedic statements are self-evident. Whatever is stated there must be accepted. If we interpret according to our own imagination, the authority of the Vedas is lost.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 6.137

To prepare oneself for the next life is common sense, and it is a principle of the Vedic civilization, but presently people throughout the world do not believe in a next life. Even influential professors and other educators say that as soon as the body is finished, everything is finished. This atheistic philosophy is killing human civilization.

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 9.43, purport

Just as a deer, because of ignorance, cannot see the water within a well covered by grass, but runs after water elsewhere, the living entity covered by the material body does not see the happiness within himself, but runs after happiness in the material world.

An unnamed brahmana
Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.13.29

The ideal place to execute Krsna consciousness is Vrajabhumi, or Vrndavana, where the people are naturally inclined to love Krsna and Krsna is naturally inclined to love them.

Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 4.95

What relish can there be for material enjoyment when we are exposed to hunger, thirst, disease, decrepitude, emaciation, growth, decline, and death. The universe is tending to decay grass, trees, animals spring up and die. Mighty men are gone, leaving their joys and glories. Beings still greater than these have passed away. Vast oceans have dried, mountains have been thrown down, the polar star displaced, the cords that bind planets rent asunder, the whole earth deluged with flood. In such a world, what relish can there be in fleeting enjoyments? Living in such a world, are we not like frogs jumping in a dried-up well?

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
Immanent and Transcendent
(The Scorpion and the Fire)

The great personality Brahma, with great attention and concentration of mind, studied the Vedas three times, and after scrutinizingly examining them, he ascertained that attraction for the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna is the highest perfection of religion.

Sukadeva Gosvami
Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.2.34

For a person who has suitable shoes on his feet, there is no danger even when he walks on pebbles and thorns. For him, everything is auspicious. Similarly, for one who is always self-satisfied there is no distress; indeed, he feels happiness everywhere.

Narada Muni
Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.15.17