Swami Vivekananda, a stalwart of spiritual insight and wisdom, is renowned for his inspirational ideas that resonate with people across the globe. His powerful quotes motivate individuals to reach their highest potential by fostering spirituality, personal growth, and moral integrity. This article explores ten different themes of Swami Vivekananda's teachings, each offering twelve profound quotes. By delving into these themes, readers can gain a deeper understanding of his philosophies and apply them to their own lives for personal and spiritual development.
Quotes on Self-Confidence
“Believe in yourself and the world will be at your feet.”
“The history of the world is the history of a few men who had faith in themselves.”
“Have faith in yourself – all power is in you. Even the poison of a snake is powerless if you can firmly deny it.”
“The greatest religion is to be true to your own nature. Have faith in yourselves!”
“In a conflict between the heart and the brain, always follow your heart.”
“Arise! Awake! And stop not until the goal is reached.”
“All power is within you; you can do anything and everything.”
“Take up one idea, make that idea your life; think of it, dream of it, and live on that idea. This is the way to success.”
“Never think there is anything impossible for the soul.”
“We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think.”
“Stand up, be bold, be strong. Take the whole responsibility on your own shoulders.”
“Be not afraid of anything. You will do marvelous work.”
Quotes on Spirituality
“You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.”
“The moment I have realized God sitting in the temple of every human body, the moment I stand in reverence before every human being and see God in him—that moment I am free from bondage, everything that binds vanishes, and I am free.”
“External nature is only internal nature writ large.”
“Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this Divinity within.”
“The more we come out and do good to others, the more our hearts will be purified, and God will be in them.”
“We are ever free if we would only believe it, only have faith enough.”
“Religion is the manifestation of the Divinity already in man.”
“Meditation can turn fools into sages, but unfortunately fools never meditate.”
“The greatest sin is to think that you are weak.”
“This is the gist of all worship – to be pure and to do good to others.”
“He who is overcautious about himself falls into dangers at every step.”
“Feel nothing, know nothing, do nothing, have nothing, give up all to God; to give up all for God is to enjoy pure joy.”
Quotes on Education and Knowledge
“Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man.”
“We want the education by which character is formed, the strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded, and by which one can stand on one’s own feet.”
“The world is the great gymnasium where we come to make ourselves strong.”
“Real education is that which enables one to stand on one’s own legs.”
“True knowledge is inherent in us; it is only rediscovered.”
“The book which is religious and not scientific is not a book of religion.”
“Purity, patience, and perseverance are the three essentials to success, and above all, love.”
“As long as you have faith and honesty and devotion, everything will prosper.”
“If the mind is intensely eager, everything can be accomplished—mountains can be crumbled into atoms.”
“The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.”
“Knowledge can only be got in one way, the way of experience; there is no other way to know.”
“Education is not the amount of information that is put into your brain and runs riot there, undigested, all your life.”
Quotes on Service and Compassion
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
“Dare to be free, dare to go as far as your thought leads, and dare to carry that out in your life.”
“They alone live, who live for others.”
“The highest religion is to rise to universal brotherhood; aye to consider all creatures your equal.”
“If you want to be successful in your mission, keep your thought pure, focus every minute on what you want.”
“All love is expansion, all selfishness is contraction.”
“In a day, when you don’t come across any problems – you can be sure that you are traveling on a wrong path.”
“The secret of all success is to put oneself in the place of another and know his needs and thoughts.”
“First, believe in the world—that there is meaning behind everything.”
“Serve the people with respect, not with any feeling of benevolence.”
“Condemn none: If you can stretch out a helping hand, do so.”
“The fire that warms us can also consume us; it is not the fault of the fire.”
Quotes on Strength and Determination
“Strength is life, weakness is death. Expansion is life, contraction is death. Love is life, hatred is death.”
“Talk to yourself at least once in a day, otherwise you may miss a meeting with an excellent person in this world.”
“All the negative thoughts and ideas that are in the world have proceeded from this evil spirit of fear.”
“Take risks in your life. If you win, you can lead! If you lose, you can guide!”
“Face the brutes. That is a lesson for all life—face the terrible, face it boldly.”
“Throw away all weakness. Tell your body that it is strong, tell your mind that it is strong, and have unbounded faith and hope in yourself.”
“If you have infinite patience and perseverance, success is bound to come. No mistake in that.”
“The more you think of yourself as spirit, the freer you are.”
“The will is not free – it is a phenomenon bound by cause and effect – but there is something behind the will which is free.”
“So long as even a single dog in my country is without food, my whole religion will be to feed it and take care of it.”
“You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself.”
“Fear is death, fear is sin, fear is hell, fear is unrighteousness, fear is wrong life. All the negative thoughts and ideas that are in this world have proceeded from this evil spirit of fear.”
Quotes on Leadership
“Be a hero. Always say, I have no fear.”
“Lead from the front, but be aware of your back.”
“He is an atheist who does not believe in himself.”
“Infinite patience, infinite purity, and infinite perseverance are the secret to success in a good leader.”
“The great secret of true success, of true happiness, is this: the man or woman who asks for no return, the perfectly unselfish person, is the most successful.”
“All power is within you; you can do anything.”
“Talk to yourself once in a day, otherwise you may miss an excellent person in this world.”
“Comfort is no test of truth. Truth is often far from being comfortable.”
“Your country requires heroes; be heroes; your duty is towards your country.”
“Be an example to your followers in action.”
“The world is the great gymnasium where we come to make ourselves strong.”
“Don’t look back—forward, infinite energy, infinite enthusiasm, infinite daring, and infinite patience—then alone can great deeds be accomplished.”
Quotes on Love and Relationships
“Love is life, hatred is death.”
“Love alone creates and builds.”
“In a day, when you don’t come across any problems – you can be sure that you are traveling in a wrong path.”
“Do not wait for anybody or anything. Do whatever you can build your hope on.”
“Anything that brings spiritual, mental, or physical weakness, touch it not with the toes of your feet.”
“Love is a life-giving force, and, like everything which is live, it is stronger than death.”
“In every heart, there is a treasury of love, waiting to be discovered.”
“Our duty to others means helping others to see their own potential.”
“True love is silent and allows others to rest easy by offering them peace of mind.”
“Condemn not others; if you can help them, no matter what it may take from you, help.”
“We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves.”
“The powers of the mind are like the rays of the sun when they are concentrated, they illumine.”
Quotes on Youth and Future
“Take risks in your life, if you win you can lead! If you lose, you can guide!”
“Arise! Awake! and stop not until the goal is reached.”
“Talk to yourself once in a day, otherwise you may miss meeting an excellent person in this world.”
“Stand up, be bold, and take the blame on your shoulders. Do not go about throwing mud at others; for all the faults you suffer from, you are the sole and only cause.”
“All the strength and succor you want is within yourselves. Therefore, make your own future.”
“You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself.”
“The greatest sin is to think yourself weak.”
“Powers of the mind are like the rays of the sun when they are concentrated they illumine.”
“The goal of mankind is knowledge.”
“Take up an idea, devote yourself to it, struggle on in patience, and the sun will rise for you.”
“The greatest truth is this: He who is a possessor of a knowledge of his powers is awake.”
“Our duty is to encourage everyone in their struggle to live up to their highest potential.”
Quotes on Peace and Happiness
“Neither seek nor avoid, take what comes.”
“Everything that is excellent will come when this sleeping soul is aroused to self-conscious activity.”
“All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything.”
“It is our own mental attitude which makes the world what it is for us.”
“Comfort is no test of truth. Truth is often far from being comfortable.”
“Fill the brain with high thoughts and highest ideals, place them day and night before you, and out of that will come great work.”
“The world is the great gymnasium where we come to make ourselves strong.”
“The calmer we are and the less disturbed our nerves, the more shall we love and the better will our work be.”
“You have to grow from the inside out.”
“Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
“Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this divinity within by controlling nature.”
“External nature is only internal nature writ large.”
Quotes on Life and Purpose
“All the powers in the universe are already ours. It is we who have put our hands before our eyes and cry that it is dark.”
“Every soul is destined to be free.”
“The goal of mankind is knowledge.”
“You have to grow from the inside out.”
“Believe in yourself and the world will be at your feet.”
“The moment I have realized God sitting in the temple of every human body, the moment I stand in reverence before every human being and see God in him—that moment I am free from bondage, everything that binds vanishes, and I am free.”
“The whole life is a succession of dreams. My ambition is to be a conscious dreamer, that is all.”
“Your country requires heroes; be heroes; your duty is towards your country.”
“The reason for every misery is ignorance.”
“Condemn none: if you can stretch out a helping hand, do so.”
“For one selflessness is the only test of a noble heart.”
“The great secret of true success, of true happiness, is this: the man or woman who asks for no return, the perfectly unselfish person, is the most successful.”
Final words
Swami Vivekananda's quotes serve as timeless beacons of wisdom and guidance for every seeker on their life's journey. His teachings transcend temporal boundaries and societal differences, speaking directly to the core of human existence and addressing the eternal quest for meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. By embracing Vivekananda's insights on self-confidence, spirituality, and service, individuals can find strength, purpose, and peace in their daily lives. His words encourage us to tap into our inner divinity and fulfill our potential as both individuals and as a society. As we reflect on these quotes, let's embrace the call to action they provide and strive to live lives of service, compassion, and unyielding strength.
