Quotessence
Home / Authors / Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda Quotes

Author

Filter quotes by topic

AllMenIfsWorldMotivationalMindSoulBodyThinkingInspirationalKnowsUniverseWholeWantGivingIdeasHeartInfiniteFormHelpingHuman Beings

Famous Swami Vivekananda Quotes

“The body and mind are continually changing, and are, in fact, only names of series of changeful phenomena, like rivers whose waters are in a constant state of flux, yet presenting the appearance of unbroken streams. Every particle in this body is continually changing; no one has the same body for many minutes together, and yet we think of it as the same body.”

ThinkingMindStatesFactsBodyTogetherNamesWaterChangeMinutesRiversConstantSeriesAppearanceStreamsParticlesMind And BodyPresentingUnbrokenFlux
Book:Jnana Yoga: The Yoga of Knowledge
Create image

“It is entirely wrong to think that we have done, or can do, good to the world, or to think that we have helped such and such people. It is a foolish thought, and all foolish thoughts bring misery. We think that we have helped some man and expect him to thank us, and because he does not, unhappiness comes to us. Why should we expect anything in return for what we do? Be grateful to the man you help, think of him as God. Is it not a great privilege to be allowed to worship God by helping our fellow men?”

PeopleThinkingMenWorldShouldDoeDoneHelpingCan DoHe ManReturnWorshipFellowsGratefulMiseryPrivilegeFoolishUnhappinessBe GratefulFellow ManWorship GodThank U
Book:Karma Yoga: The Yoga of Action
Create image

“Action will come. Fill yourselves with the ideal; whatever you do, think well on it. All your actions will be magnified, transformed, deified, by the very power of the thought. If matter is powerful, thought is omnipotent. Bring this thought to bear upon your life, fill yourselves with the thought of your almightiness, your majesty, and your glory.”

IfsThinkingWellsMatterActionPowerfulBearsGloryIdealsTransformedMajestyOmnipotentPowerful Thoughts
Book:Practical Vedanta Philosophy
Create image

“Truth alone triumphs, not untruth. Through truth alone lies the way to Devayana (the way to the gods). Those who think that a little sugar - coating of untruth helps the spread of truth are mistaken and will find in the long run that a single drop of poison poisons the whole mass ... The man who is pure, and who dares, does all things.”

ThinkingMenWayLittlesLongDoeWholeHelpingMotivationalRunningLyingHe ManPureMassAll ThingsDareSpreadTriumphPoisonSugarLong RunsMistakenUntruthSugar Coating
Book:The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
Create image

“We find the vast majority of people in every country believing that there will be a time when this world will become perfect, when there will be no disease, nor death, nor unhappiness, nor wickedness. That is a very good idea, a very good motive power to inspire and uplift the ignorant. But if we think for a moment, we shall find on the very face of it that it cannot be so. How can it be, seeing that good and evil are the obverse and reverse of the same coin? How can you have good without evil at the same time?”

PeopleIfsThinkingWorldBelieveIdeasCountryMomentsFacesEvilPerfectSeeingThis WorldInspireDiseaseMajorityVery GoodIgnorantUpliftingMotiveGood And EvilUnhappinessGood IdeasReverseCoinsWickedness
Author:Swami Vivekananda
Create image

“Pleasure is not the goal of man, but knowledge. Pleasure and happiness comes to an end. It is a mistake to suppose that pleasure is the goal. The cause of all the miseries we have in the world is that men foolishly think pleasure to be the ideal to strive for. After a time man finds that it is not happiness, but knowledge, towards which he is going, and that both pleasure and pain are great teachers.”

ThinkingMenWorldEndsPainCausesGoalPleasureMistakeTeacherIdealsMiseryStriveGreat TeacherPain And PleasurePleasure And Happiness
Book:Karma Yoga: The Yoga of Action
Create image

“That truth which you swallow from others will not be yours...you have to realize truth and work it our for yourself according to your own nature...All must struggle to be individuals-strong, standing on your own feet, thinking your own thoughts, realizing you own Self. No use swallowing doctrines others pass on-standing up together like soldiers in jail, sitting down together, all eating the same food, all nodding their heads at the same time. Variation is the sign of life. Sameness is the sign of death.”

ThinkingSelfUseTogetherIndividualStrongRealizingStruggleFeetEatingSittingStandingSoldierDoctrineWorking ItJailVariationSitting DownSamenessSwallowingNoddingSigns Of Life
Author:Swami Vivekananda
Create image

“Bless people when they revile you. Think how much good they are doing by helping to stamp out the false ego. Hold fast to the real Self. Think only pure thoughts, and you will accomplish more than a regiment of mere preachers. Out of purity and silence comes the word of power.”

PeopleThinkingRealSelfHelpingSilencePureEgoMereWordsAccomplishPurityBlessPreacherPower Of WordsStampsInsultingReal SelfHold FastSilence Is GoldenBlessing To Others
Author:Swami Vivekananda
Create image

“Some people are so afraid of losing their individuality. Wouldn't it be better for the pig to lose his pig-individuality if he can become God? Yes. But the poor pig does not think so at the time. Which state is my individuality? When I was a baby sprawling on the floor trying to swallow my thumb? Was that the individuality I should be sorry to lose? Fifty years hence I shall look upon this present state and laugh, just as I now look upon the baby state. Which of these individualities shall I keep?”

PeopleIfsThinkingShouldTryingYearsLooksDoeStatesLosesPoorLaughingBabyLosingSorryIndividualityLook UpFiftyPigsThumbs
Book:Practical Vedanta Philosophy
Create image

“Each one of us pray, day and night, for the downtrodden millions in India, who are held fast by poverty, priest craft, and tyranny - pray day and night for them. I am no meta physician, no philosopher, nay, no saint. But I am poor, I love the poor.... Let these people be your God - think of them, work for them, pray for them incessantly - the Lord will show you the way.”

PeopleThinkingWayShowsNightPoorLordPovertyMillionsPrayingIndiaSaintPhilosopherTyrannyCraftsPriestsPhysiciansDay And NightIncessantlyDowntrodden
Author:Swami Vivekananda
Create image

“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.”

ThinkingWayLifeInspirationalIdeasWisdomDreamBodyMotivationalSuccessGoalInspiringBusinessBrainSuccessfulWise WordsSucceedYour BodyMeaningfulHard TimesMusclesBeing SuccessfulConcentrationNervesSuccessful PeopleSuccess In LifeEncouragingKey To SuccessRoad To SuccessRecipe For SuccessMeaningful LifeDon't Give UpLoving LifeGreat SuccessVedantaMotivational SuccessSuccesInspirational SuccessSuccessful LifeBest SuccessHappiness And SuccessBe Your BestAchieving DreamsWill To SucceedParts Of The BodyDefinition Of SuccessLife DreamFormula For SuccessLadder Of SuccessAchieving Your DreamsLife Is A DreamSucceeding In LifeFocus And ConcentrationPower Of IdeasWay To SuccessBrain PowerLife And DreamsThoughts And IdeasSuccess And LifeSuccess Of OthersSucceeding In BusinessSuccess HappinessDreaming And SuccessPersonal AchievementChasing SuccessFresh IdeasLuck And Hard WorkStarting New BusinessInteresting Personalities
Book:Swami Vivekananda's Rousing Call to Hindu Nation
Create image

“Every act of charity, every thought of sympathy, every action of help, every good deed, is taking so much of self-importance away from our little selves and making us think of ourselves as the lowest and the least, and, therefore, it is all good. Here we find that Jnâna, Bhakti, and Karma - all come to one point.”

ThinkingLittlesSelfHelpingActionImportanceCharityVery GoodDeedsKarmaLowestGood DeedsSelf-importanceBhaktiActs Of Charity
Book:The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
Create image