Quotes from Swami Vivekananda

We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves. If what we are now has been the result of our own past actions, it certainly follows that whatever we wish to be in the future can be produced by our present actions; so we have to know how to act.

All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything.

Each work has to pass through these stages—ridicule, opposition, and then acceptance. Those who think ahead of their time are sure to be misunderstood.

Ask nothing; want nothing in return. Give what you have to give; it will come back to you, but do not think of that now.

A fool may buy all the books in the world, and they will be in his library; but he will be able to read only those that he deserves to.

Hindu Dharma is the quintessence of our national life, hold fast to it if you want your country to survive, or else you would be wiped out in three generations.

Let him who has courage in his mind and love in his heart come with me. I want none else.

So long as there is desire or want, it is a sure sign that there is imperfection. A perfect, free being cannot have any desire.

This attachment of Love to God is indeed one that does not bind the soul but effectively breaks all its bondages.

Love for yourselves means [in the end] love for everything.

Whatever others think or do, lower not your standard of purity, morality and love of God.

I am no metaphysician, no philosopher, nay, no saint. But I am poor and I love the poor. I see what they call the poor of this country and how many there are who feel for them!

The Heart and core of everything here is good, that whatever may be the surface waves, deep down and underlying everything, there is an infinite basis of Goodness and Love.

The more we grow in Love, Virtue and Holiness, the more we see Love, Virtue and Holiness outside.

Love and charity for the whole human race, that is the test of true religiousness.

The Jivanmukta ('the living free' or one who knows) alone is able to give real love, real charity, real truth, and it is truth alone that makes us free.

This perfection must come through the practice of holiness and love.

Have charity towards all beings. Pity those who are in distress. Love all creatures. Do not be jealous of anyone. Look not to the faults of others.

MIND is not a dustbin to keep anger, hatred and jealousy. But it is the treasure box to keep, love happiness and sweet memories.

Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.

Brave, bold men, these are what we want. What we want is vigour in the blood, strength in the nerves, iron muscles and nerves of steel, not softening namby-pamby ideas.

As soon as I think that I am a little body, I want to preserve it, to protect it, to keep it nice, at the expense of other bodies; then you and I become separate.

Brave, bold people, these are what we want.

We never want Him. We say, "Lord, give me a fine house." We want the house, not Him. "Give me health! Save me from this difficulty!" When a man wants nothing but Him, [he gets Him].