Swami Vivekananda

A good practice carried to an extreme and worked in accordance with the letter of the law becomes a positive evil.

Swami Vivekananda

A man ought to live in this world like a lotus leaf, which grows in water but is never moistened by water; so a man ought to live in the world – his heart to God and his hands to work.

Swami Vivekananda

A tremendous stream is flowing toward the ocean, carrying us all along with it; and though like straws and scraps of paper we may at times float aimlessly about, in the long run we are sure to join the ocean of life and bliss.

Swami Vivekananda

All objective pleasure in the long run must bring pain, because of the fact of change or death.

Swami Vivekananda

All work is simply to bring out the power of the mind which is already there, to wake up the soul. The power is inside every man, so is knowing; the different works are like blows to bring them out, to cause these giants to wake up.

Swami Vivekananda

Anything that is western origin, first you verify it, then accept it. Anything that is Indian origin, first accept it, then verify it if necessary.

Swami Vivekananda

Are great things ever done smoothly? Time, patience, and indomitable will must show.

Swami Vivekananda

As soon as I think that I am a little body, I want to preserve it, to protect it, to keep it nice, at the expense of other bodies; then you and I become separate.

Swami Vivekananda

As soon as you know the voice and understand what it is, the whole scene changes. The same world which was the ghastly battlefield of maya is now changed into something good and beautiful.

Swami Vivekananda

Astrology and all these mystical things are generally signs of a weak mind; therefore as soon as they are becoming prominent in our minds, we should see a physician, take good food, and rest.

Swami Vivekananda