Swami Vivekananda

Spiritual Leader, Philosopher

Swami Vivekananda was a key figure in introducing Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world, known for his impactful speeches and writings.

Born
January 12, 1863
Died
January 19, 1902
Quotes
1.7K
Rank
#266

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Swami Vivekananda quotes (page 34 of 86)

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Swami Vivekananda Spiritual Leader, Philosopher
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"It is very difficult to understand why in this country [India] so much difference is made between men and women, whereas the Vedanta declares that one and the same conscious Self is present in all beings. You always criticize the women, but say what have you done for their uplift? Writing down Smritis etc., and binding them by hard rules, the men have turned the women into manufacturing machines! If you do not raise the women, who are living embodiment of the Divine Mother, don’t think that you have any other way to rise."

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Swami Vivekananda Spiritual Leader, Philosopher
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"The more opposition there is, the better. Does a river acquire velocity unless there is resistance? The newer and better a thing is, the more opposition I will meet with at the outset. It is opposition which foretells success. Where there is no opposition there is no success either."

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Swami Vivekananda Spiritual Leader, Philosopher
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"The greatest truths are the simplest things in the world, simple as your own existence."

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"No one should be judged by their defects. The great virtues a person has are his or her especially. But their errors are the common weakness of humanity and should never be counted in estimating a person’s character."

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"To get any reason out of the mass of incongruity we call human life, we have to transcend our reason, but we must do it scientifically, slowly, by regular practice, and we must cast off all superstition."

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"We must plunge heart and soul and body into the work. And until we are ready to sacrifice everything else to one Idea and to one alone, we never, never will see the Light."

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Swami Vivekananda Spiritual Leader, Philosopher
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"It is the subjective world that rules the objective. Change the subject, and the object is bound to change; purify youreslf, and the world is bound to be purified."

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"No one step back, that is the idea.... Fight it out, whatever comes. Let the stars move from the sphere! Let the whole world stand against us!.... What of it? Thus fight! You gain nothing by becoming cowards.... Taking a step backward, you do not avoid any misfortune."

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"The Hindus have to learn a little bit of materialism from the West and teach them a little bit of spirituality."

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Swami Vivekananda Spiritual Leader, Philosopher
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"Astrology and all these mystical things are generally signs of a weak mind"

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Swami Vivekananda Spiritual Leader, Philosopher
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"Never are we nearer the Light than when the darkness is deepest."

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Swami Vivekananda Spiritual Leader, Philosopher
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"Self-sacrifice, not self-assertion, is the law of the highest universe."

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"You must try to combine in your life immense idealism with immense practicality. You must be prepared to go into deep meditation now, and the next moment you must be ready to go and cultivate the fields. You must be prepared to explain the intricacies of the scriptures now, and the next moment to go and sell the produce of the fields in the market....The true man is he who is strong as strength itself and yet possesses a woman's heart."

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"Think of a space in your heart, and in the midst of that space think that a flame is burning. Think of that a flame is burning. Think of that flame as your own soul and inside the flame is another effulgent light, and that is the Soul of your soul, God. Meditate upon that in the heart."

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"Charity is great, but the moment you say it is all, you run the risk of running into materialism."

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"The organs are the horses, the mind is the rein, the intellect is the charioteer, the soul is the rider, and the body is the chariot."

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"The body is only a tool of the mind. What the mind dictates the body will have to obey. Now I do not even think of water. I do not miss it at all.... I see I can do anything."

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"Each one of you has a glorious future if you dare believe me. Have a tremendous faith in yourselves, like the faith I had when I was I was young... Have that faith, each one of you, in yourself - that eternal power is lodged in every soul - and you will revive the whole of India."

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