Gaudiya Gosthi Patih Sri Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Gosvami Prabhupada told :
Despite knowing that one’s hands may be injured while uprooting thorny bushes, and that wild animals or cruel snakes residing in the bushes may bite, one engaged in such work should not lose enthusiasm for performing his duty. Rather, his endeavour and enthusiasm for removing all the thorns will progressively increase as he continues to progress towards his goal. Similarly, increasing enthusiasm for removing the thorns on the path of devotional service is seen as one of the characteristics of an ācārya. Those who are selfish, being simply desirous of their own happiness, and who are idle and afraid of irreligious people, generally desist from doing well unto others upon hearing the shouting of atheists.
They think, “All we need is to fulfil our selfinterest by achieving fame and personal happiness. Why should we go to so much trouble for the benefit of others? Why should we risk being abused by others?” Another group of people think, “Let us simply become bhajanānandīs, solitary worshipers, so that we won’t have to face all this trouble. In this way we won’t have to hear criticism from others.” On the other hand, an ācārya who becomes distressed upon seeing others’ suffering is not selfish, idle, or simply desirous of his personal happiness. He is not afraid of other people. He thinks, “Even if hundreds of people, even if all the godless people of the countless universes assemble and abuse me with harsh language, I will accept it and boldly continue to declare the truth. If the topics of reality enter the ears of even a single person among millions of people from millions of universes completely averse to Krishna, and thus remove the contamination of the cheating propensity from his heart, then I will think that I have been able to fulfill Mahaprabhu’s mission.”
I know for certain that all living entities within the innumerable universes are wandering about in different species of life because of their aversion to Krishna. All living entities within the universe, beginning from Brahma, are averse to Lord Krishna, or the supreme Absolute Truth. Therefore, not everyone is going to hear about the truth. If we can find even one person who is interested in hearing the truth, that is sufficient. Such a person can first perfect his life and then preach the truth to others.
Perhaps it is for this reason that Sri Bhaktivinode Thakur said, “A preacher brings more benefit to the people of the world than those who, according to their own taste, neglect preaching work by absorbing themselves in the bliss of their own bhajan.”
— From the Life and Teachings of the Four Ācāryas.