Inspirational Quotations by Swami Vivekananda

  • Do not believe in a thing because you have read about it in a book.
    Do not believe in a thing because another man has said it was true.
    Do not believe in words because they are hallowed by tradition.
    Find out the truth for yourself. Reason it out. That is realization.
    From Issue 86
  • All the powers in the universe are already ours.
    It is we who have put our hands before
    our eyes & cry that it is dark.
    Topic: Mindfulness
    From Issue 128
  • We are what our thoughts have made us;
    so take care about what you think.
    Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.
    From Issue 140
  • 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 future can be
    produced by our present actions; so we have to know how to act.
    From Issue 145
  • Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life -
    think of it, dream of it, live on 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.
    From Issue 207
  • God is merciful to those whom He sees struggling heart
    and soul for realization. But remain idle, without any
    struggle, and you will see that His grace will never come.
    From Issue 226
  • Perfection does not come from belief or faith.
    Talk does not count for anything. Parrots can do that.
    Perfection comes through selfless work.
    From Issue 228
  • What the world wants is character. The world is in need of those
    whose life is one burning love, selfless. That love will make every
    word tell like a thunderbolt.
    From Issue 230
  • Face the brute, which is a lesson for all life—face the terrible,
    face it boldly. The hardships of life fall back when we cease to
    flee before them.
    From Issue 232
  • We reap what we sow. We are the makers of our own fate. None else has
    the blame, none has the praise.
    From Issue 246
  • Even the greatest fool can accomplish a task if it were after his or
    her heart. But the intelligent ones are those who can convert every
    work into one that suits their taste.
    From Issue 250
  • 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.
    From Issue 256
  • Be a hero. Always say, "I have no fear."
    Tell this to everyone — "Have no fear."
    From Issue 259
  • Even the greatest fool can accomplish a task if it were after his or
    her heart. But the intelligent ones are those who can convert every
    work into one that suits their taste.
    From Issue 261
  • However we may receive blows,
    and however knocked about we may be,
    the Soul is there and is never injured.
    We are that Infinite.
    From Issue 261
  • Stand up, be bold, be strong.
    Take the whole responsibility on your own shoulders,
    and know that you are the creator of your own destiny.
    All the strength and succor you want is within yourselves.
    Therefore, make your own future.
    From Issue 262
  • So long as millions live in hunger and ignorance,
    I hold every person a traitor who, having been
    educated at their expense, pays not the least heed to them.
    From Issue 262
  • We reap what we sow. We are the makers of our own fate.
    None else has the blame, none has the praise.
    From Issue 265
  • Fill the brain with high thoughts,
    highest ideals, place them day and night before you,
    and out of that will come great work.
    From Issue 274
  • This life is a hard fact; work your way through it boldly,
    though it may be adamantine; no matter, the soul is stronger.
    From Issue 275
  • 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
    the world have proceeded from this evil spirit of fear.
    From Issue 279
  • This I have seen in life—those who are overcautious about themselves
    fall into dangers at every step; those who are afraid of losing
    honor and respect, get only disgrace; and those who are always
    afraid of loss, always lose.
    From Issue 282
  • All that is real in me is God; all that is real in God is I. The
    gulf between God and me is thus bridged. Thus by knowing God, we
    find that the kingdom of heaven is within us.
    From Issue 283
  • Strength is the sign of vigor, the sign of life, the sign of hope,
    the sign of health, and the sign of everything that is good. As long
    as the body lives, there must be strength in the body, strength in
    the mind, strength in the hand.
    From Issue 286
  • As long as we believe ourselves to be even the least different from
    God, fear remains with us; but when we know ourselves to be the One,
    fear goes; of what can we be afraid?
    From Issue 289
  • Look upon every man, woman, and everyone as God. You cannot help
    anyone, you can only serve: serve the children of the Lord, serve
    the Lord Himself, if you have the privilege.
    From Issue 298
  • We must have friendship for all;
    we must be merciful toward those that are in misery;
    when people are happy, we ought to be happy;
    and to the wicked we must be indifferent.
    These attitudes will make the mind peaceful.
    From Issue 299
  • The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what
    will become of you, depend on no one.Only the moment you reject all
    help are you free.
    From Issue 302
  • Great work requires great and persistent effort for a long time.
    Character has to be established through a thousand stumbles.
    From Issue 305
  • We came to enjoy; we are being enjoyed.
    We came to rule; we are being ruled.
    We came to work; we are being worked.
    All the time, we find that.
    And this comes into every detail of our life.
    From Issue 308
  • The more you think of yourself as shining immortal spirit,
    the more eager you will be to be absolutely free of matter,
    body, and senses. This is the intense desire to be free.
    From Issue 309
  • Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached.
    From Issue 329
  • Strength is Life, Weakness is Death.
    Expansion is Life, Contraction is Death.
    Love is Life, Hatred is Death.
    From Issue 332
  • Freedom can never be reached by the weak. 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.
    From Issue 333
  • Feel like Christ and you will be a Christ; feel like Buddha and you will be a Buddha. It is feeling that is the life, the strength, the vitality, without which no amount of intellectual activity can reach God.
    From Issue 340
  • It is our mental attitude which makes the world what it is for us. Our thoughts make things beautiful, our thoughts make things ugly. The whole world is in our own minds.
    From Issue 421
  • Come out into the broad light of day, come out from the little narrow paths, for how can the infinite soul rest content to live and die in small ruts?
    From Issue 434
  • Condemn none: if you can stretch out a helping hand, do so. If you cannot, fold your hands, bless your brothers, and let them go their own way.
    From Issue 450
  • Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man, and character is the test of that manifestation.
    From Issue 459
  • Do not believe in a thing because you have read about it in a book.
    Do not believe in a thing because another man has said it was true.
    Do not believe in words because they are hallowed by tradition.
    Find out the truth for yourself. Reason it out. That is realization.
    From Issue 86
  • All the powers in the universe are already ours.
    It is we who have put our hands before
    our eyes & cry that it is dark.
    Topic: Mindfulness
    From Issue 128
  • We are what our thoughts have made us;
    so take care about what you think.
    Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.
    From Issue 140
  • 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 future can be
    produced by our present actions; so we have to know how to act.
    From Issue 145
  • Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life -
    think of it, dream of it, live on 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.
    From Issue 207
  • God is merciful to those whom He sees struggling heart
    and soul for realization. But remain idle, without any
    struggle, and you will see that His grace will never come.
    From Issue 226
  • Perfection does not come from belief or faith.
    Talk does not count for anything. Parrots can do that.
    Perfection comes through selfless work.
    From Issue 228
  • What the world wants is character. The world is in need of those
    whose life is one burning love, selfless. That love will make every
    word tell like a thunderbolt.
    From Issue 230
  • Face the brute, which is a lesson for all life—face the terrible,
    face it boldly. The hardships of life fall back when we cease to
    flee before them.
    From Issue 232
  • We reap what we sow. We are the makers of our own fate. None else has
    the blame, none has the praise.
    From Issue 246
  • Even the greatest fool can accomplish a task if it were after his or
    her heart. But the intelligent ones are those who can convert every
    work into one that suits their taste.
    From Issue 250
  • 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.
    From Issue 256
  • Be a hero. Always say, "I have no fear."
    Tell this to everyone — "Have no fear."
    From Issue 259
  • Even the greatest fool can accomplish a task if it were after his or
    her heart. But the intelligent ones are those who can convert every
    work into one that suits their taste.
    From Issue 261
  • However we may receive blows,
    and however knocked about we may be,
    the Soul is there and is never injured.
    We are that Infinite.
    From Issue 261
  • Stand up, be bold, be strong.
    Take the whole responsibility on your own shoulders,
    and know that you are the creator of your own destiny.
    All the strength and succor you want is within yourselves.
    Therefore, make your own future.
    From Issue 262
  • So long as millions live in hunger and ignorance,
    I hold every person a traitor who, having been
    educated at their expense, pays not the least heed to them.
    From Issue 262
  • We reap what we sow. We are the makers of our own fate.
    None else has the blame, none has the praise.
    From Issue 265
  • Fill the brain with high thoughts,
    highest ideals, place them day and night before you,
    and out of that will come great work.
    From Issue 274
  • This life is a hard fact; work your way through it boldly,
    though it may be adamantine; no matter, the soul is stronger.
    From Issue 275
  • 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
    the world have proceeded from this evil spirit of fear.
    From Issue 279
  • This I have seen in life—those who are overcautious about themselves
    fall into dangers at every step; those who are afraid of losing
    honor and respect, get only disgrace; and those who are always
    afraid of loss, always lose.
    From Issue 282
  • All that is real in me is God; all that is real in God is I. The
    gulf between God and me is thus bridged. Thus by knowing God, we
    find that the kingdom of heaven is within us.
    From Issue 283
  • Strength is the sign of vigor, the sign of life, the sign of hope,
    the sign of health, and the sign of everything that is good. As long
    as the body lives, there must be strength in the body, strength in
    the mind, strength in the hand.
    From Issue 286
  • As long as we believe ourselves to be even the least different from
    God, fear remains with us; but when we know ourselves to be the One,
    fear goes; of what can we be afraid?
    From Issue 289
  • Look upon every man, woman, and everyone as God. You cannot help
    anyone, you can only serve: serve the children of the Lord, serve
    the Lord Himself, if you have the privilege.
    From Issue 298
  • We must have friendship for all;
    we must be merciful toward those that are in misery;
    when people are happy, we ought to be happy;
    and to the wicked we must be indifferent.
    These attitudes will make the mind peaceful.
    From Issue 299
  • The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what
    will become of you, depend on no one.Only the moment you reject all
    help are you free.
    From Issue 302
  • Great work requires great and persistent effort for a long time.
    Character has to be established through a thousand stumbles.
    From Issue 305
  • We came to enjoy; we are being enjoyed.
    We came to rule; we are being ruled.
    We came to work; we are being worked.
    All the time, we find that.
    And this comes into every detail of our life.
    From Issue 308
  • The more you think of yourself as shining immortal spirit,
    the more eager you will be to be absolutely free of matter,
    body, and senses. This is the intense desire to be free.
    From Issue 309
  • Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached.
    From Issue 329
  • Strength is Life, Weakness is Death.
    Expansion is Life, Contraction is Death.
    Love is Life, Hatred is Death.
    From Issue 332
  • Freedom can never be reached by the weak. 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.
    From Issue 333
  • Feel like Christ and you will be a Christ; feel like Buddha and you will be a Buddha. It is feeling that is the life, the strength, the vitality, without which no amount of intellectual activity can reach God.
    From Issue 340
  • It is our mental attitude which makes the world what it is for us. Our thoughts make things beautiful, our thoughts make things ugly. The whole world is in our own minds.
    From Issue 421
  • Come out into the broad light of day, come out from the little narrow paths, for how can the infinite soul rest content to live and die in small ruts?
    From Issue 434
  • Condemn none: if you can stretch out a helping hand, do so. If you cannot, fold your hands, bless your brothers, and let them go their own way.
    From Issue 450
  • Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man, and character is the test of that manifestation.
    From Issue 459

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