Quotes from Swami Vivekananda

We are ever free if we would only believe it, only have faith enough.

We are ever free if we would only believe it, only have faith enough. You are the soul, free and eternal, ever free, ever blessed. Have faith enough and you will be free in a minute.

Have faith in yourselves, be proud of your ancestors, instead of being ashamed of them.

With eternal faith in Him, set fire to the mountain of misery that has been heaped upon India for ages - and it shall be burned down.

The essence of our Faith consists simply in this freedom of the Ishta.

This caste system had grown by the practice of the son always following the business of the father.

Give up bondage; become a son, be free, and then you can "see the Father", as did Jesus.

Cowards never win victories. We have to fight fear and troubles and ignorance if we expect them to flee before us.

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, that is way great spiritual giants are produced.

All the forces that are working in this body have been produced out of food; we see that every day.

Whether you bathe in the Ganga for a thousand years or live on vegetable food for a like period, unless it helps towards the manifestation of the Self, know that it is all of no use.

Everything is ended if you forgive and forget.

What can be my highest idea of forgiveness? Nothing beyond myself. Which of you can jump out of your own bodies? Which of you can jump out of your own minds? Not one of you.

Even forgiveness, if weak and passive, is not true: fight is better. Forgive when you could bring legions of angels to the victory.

Real freedom is not merely doing what you like, but also NOT doing what you like.

Our supreme duty is to advance toward freedom - physical, mental, and spiritual - and help others to do so.

The present is determined by our past actions, and the future by the present.

All the strength and succour you want is within yourselves. Therefore make your own future. "Let the dead past bury its dead." The infinite future is before you.

A brave, frank, clean-hearted, courageous and aspiring youth is the only foundation on which the future nation can be built.

Arise, awake, stop not until your goal is achieved.

If you can get absolutely still for just one moment, you have reached the goal.

Be not in despair, the way is very difficult, like walking on the edge of a razor; yet despair not, arise, awake, and find the ideal, the goal.

It is good to love God for hope of reward, but it is better to love God for love?s sake; and the prayer goes: O Lord, I do not want wealth nor children nor learning. If it be Thy will, I shall go from birth to birth. But grant me this, that I may love thee without the hope of reward ?love? unselfishly for love?s sake.

My nature is love Him. And therefore I love. I do not pray for any-thing. I do not ask for anything. Let Him place me wherever He likes. I must love Him for love?s sake. I can not trade in love.