1,842 Quotes by Swami Vivekananda

No one is ever really taught by another; each of us has to teach himself. The external teacher offers only the suggestion, which arouses the internal teacher, who helps us to understand things.

Despite the many iniquities that have found entrance into the practices of image-worship as it is in vogue now, I do not condemn it. Ay, where would I have been if I had not been blessed with the dust of the holy feet of that orthodox, image-worshipping Brahmin!

What is this universe but name and form?

Do not figure out big plans at first, but, begin slowly, feel your ground and proceed up and up.

Jnana teaches that the world should be given up, but not on that account to be abandoned. To be in the world but not of it-is the true test of the sannyasin.

If you want to live, go back to Christ. You are not Christians. Go back to Christ. Go back to him who had nowhere to lay his head. Better be ready to live in rags with Christ than to live in palaces without him.

The guiding motive of mankind should be charity towards men, charity towards all animals.

What makes a man stand up and work? Strength. Strength is goodness, weakness is sin.

Let there be as little materialism as possible, with the maximum of spirituality.