Quotes from Swami Vivekananda

It is a good discipline to be forced to work for work's sake, even to the length of not being allowed to enjoy the fruits of one's labour.

When we let loose our feelings, we waste so much energy, shatter our nerves, disturb our minds, and accomplish very little work.

Calm and silent and steady work, and no newspaper humbug, no name-making, you must always remember.

We shall have to work like lions, keeping the ideal before us, without caring whether "the wise ones praise or blame us".

No great work can be achieved by humbug. It is through love, a passion for truth, and tremendous energy, that all undertakings are accomplished.

No effect of work can be eternal.

Whose meditation is real and effective? Who can really surrender to the will of God? Only the person whose mind has been purified by selfless work.

I pity the Hindu who does not see the beauty in Jesus Christ's character. I pity the Christian who does not reverence the Hindu Christ.

Our best work is done, our greatest influence is exerted, when we are without thought of self.

You of the West are practical in business, practical in great inventions, but we of the East are practical in religion. You make commerce your business; we make religion our business.

Business is business, no child's play.

In the English character, the "give and take" policy, the business principle of the trader, is principally inherent.

I am inclined to believe that one who is a coward will be born after death as an insect or a worm, that there is no salvation for a coward even after millions of years of penance.

Law is death. The more of the law in a country, the worse for the country.

Whatever is weak, avoid! It is death.

National prosperity is another name for death and degradation to millions of other races.

Superstitions are all materialism, because they are all based on the consciousness of body, body, body. No spirit there. Spirit has no superstitions - it is beyond the vain desires of the body.

Have faith in your destiny

Each nation has an identity and destiny. As far as Bharat is concerned, Hindu is its identity and religion is its way of working

Education is not filling the mind with a lot of facts. Perfecting the instrument and getting complete mastery of my own mind [is the ideal of education].

Education is the manifestation of perfection already existing in man.

Through the imparting of moral principles, good behaviour, and education we must make the Chandala come up to the level of the Brahmana.

Never lose faith in yourself; you can do anything in the universe.

Perfection does not come from belief or faith. Talk does not count for anything. Parrots can do that. Perfection comes through the disinterested performance of action.