Vivekananda quotes, checked against his own words

Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 3, Address of Welcome Presented at Calcutta and ReplySee the check

Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life, think of it, dream of it, live on that idea.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 1, Pratyahara and DharanaSee the check

Do one thing at a time and while doing it put your whole soul into it to the exclusion of all else.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 6, On Raja-yogaSee the check

Learn everything that is good from others, but bring it in, and in your own way absorb it; do not become others.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 3, The Common Bases of HinduismSee the check

We have indeed many things to learn from others, yea, that man who refuses to learn is already dead.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 3, The Common Bases of Hinduism

Be strong, my young friends; that is my advice to you.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 3, Vedanta in its Application to Indian Life

You will be nearer to Heaven through football than through the study of the Gita.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 3, Vedanta in its Application to Indian Life

You will understand the Gita better with your biceps, your muscles, a little stronger.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 3, Vedanta in its Application to Indian Life

Dare to be free, dare to go as far as your thought leads, and dare to carry that out in your life.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 3, The Free SoulSee the check

Strong, vigorous, believing young men, sincere to the backbone, are wanted.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 3, My Plan of Campaign

Always first learn to be a servant, and then you will be fit to be a master.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 3, Vedantism

By reading books we become parrots; no one becomes learned by reading books.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 4, The First Steps

Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 4, What We Believe inSee the check

You have to grow from inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 5, Sayings and UtterancesSee the check

If you have assimilated five ideas and made them your life and character, you have more education than any man who has got by heart a whole library

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 3, The Future of India

The ideal of all education, all training, should be this man-making.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 2, The Powers of the Mind

The end and aim of all training is to make the man grow.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 2, The Powers of the Mind

The only true teacher is he who can immediately come down to the level of the student

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 4, My Master

Truth can be stated in a thousand different ways, yet each one can be true.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 5, Sayings and UtterancesSee the check

The world is ready to give up its secrets if we only know how to knock, how to give it the necessary blow.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 1, IntroductorySee the check

You must remember that all work is simply to bring out the power of the mind which is already there, to wake up the soul.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 1, Karma in its Effect on Character

A fool may buy all the books in the world, and they will be in his library; but he will be able to read only those that he deserves to

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 1, Karma in its Effect on Character

We have first to learn the distinction between the essentials and the non-essentials in everything.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 3, Reply to the Address of Welcome at Madura

Strength is life, weakness is death.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 2, Work and its SecretSee the check

Anything that makes you weak physically, intellectually, and spiritually, reject as poison; there is no life in it, it cannot be true.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 3, My Plan of CampaignSee the check

All the powers in the universe are already ours. It is we who have put our hands before our eyes and cry that it is dark.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 2, Practical VedantaSee the check

Never think there is anything impossible for the soul. It is the greatest heresy to think so.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 2, Practical VedantaSee the check

The greatest sin is to think yourself weak

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 7, Recorded by Miss S. E. Waldo (a Disciple)See the check

Never tell yourselves or others that you are weak.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 2, Practical Vedanta

Be not afraid of anything. You will do marvellous work. The moment you fear, you are nobody.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 3, Address of Welcome Presented at Calcutta and ReplySee the check

It is fearlessness that brings heaven even in a moment.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 3, Address of Welcome Presented at Calcutta and Reply

Have faith in yourselves, and stand up on that faith and be strong; that is what we need.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 3, The Mission of the Vedanta

What we want is strength, so believe in yourselves.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 3, My Plan of Campaign

All the strength and succour you want is within yourselves.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 2, The Cosmos: the Microcosm

You must be strong; you have infinite strength within you.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 4, The Preparation

Whatever you think, that you will be. If you think yourselves weak, weak you will be; if you think yourselves strong, strong you will be

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 3, VedantismSee the check

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.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 2, The Cosmos: the MicrocosmSee the check

The old religions said that he was an atheist who did not believe in God. The new religion says that he is the atheist who does not believe in himself.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 2, Practical VedantaSee the check

You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 5, Sayings and UtterancesSee the check

All power is within you; you can do anything and everything.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 3, The Work Before UsSee the check

The greatest religion is to be true to your own nature.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 1, MohammedSee the check

Know that every thought and word that weakens you in this world is the only evil that exists.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 2, Immortality

As soon as you say, "I am bound," "I am weak," "I am helpless," woe unto you; you rivet one more chain upon yourself.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 2, The Freedom of the Soul

The great secret of true success, of true happiness, then, is this: the man who asks for no return, the perfectly unselfish man, is the most successful.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 2, Work and its SecretSee the check

Each work has to pass through these stages, ridicule, opposition, and then acceptance.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 5, Epistles, First Series, XLVIISee the check

Purity, patience, and perseverance are the three essentials to success and, above all, love.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 6, Epistles, Second Series, LISee the check

Never mind failures; they are quite natural, they are the beauty of life, these failures.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 2, God in EverythingSee the check

We are responsible for what we are; and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 1, Karma in its Effect on CharacterSee the check

You should work like a master and not as a slave; work incessantly, but do not do slave's work.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 1, The Secret of Work

If you want to do a great or a good work, do not trouble to think what the result will be.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 1, Karma in its Effect on Character

The only way to rise is by doing the duty next to us, and thus gathering strength go on until we reach the highest state.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 1, What Is Duty?

Hold on to your own ideas with strength and purity, and whatever obstructions may now be in your way, the world is bound to listen to you in the long run.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 5, Epistles, First Series, LIV

Ask nothing; want nothing in return. Give what you have to give

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 2, Work and its SecretSee the check

Neither seek nor avoid, take what comes.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 7, Recorded by Miss S. E. Waldo (a Disciple)See the check

This world is the great gymnasium where we come to make ourselves strong.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 5, Sayings and UtterancesSee the check

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.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 2, Practical VedantaSee the check

They alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 4, Our Duty to the MassesSee the check

When there is conflict between the heart and the brain, let the heart be followed

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 1, Steps to Realisation

We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care of what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live, they travel far.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 7, Recorded by Miss S. E. Waldo (a Disciple)See the check

The fire that warms us can also consume us; it is not the fault of the fire.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 2, RealisationSee the check

Great results are attained only by great patience, great courage, and great attempts.

In his wordsComplete Works, vol 5, Epistles, First Series, XLIII