Born into a wealthy and privileged family, young Narendranath Dutta had always been a curious child, who wished to know everything he could about his surroundings. This bright chap turned into a fine young philosopher and became known to the world as Swami Vivekananda, the man who introduced Hinduism, Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world and left the American crowd spellbound in 1893 with his captivating and compelling speech, which began as follows, “Sisters and brothers of America …” Today, we list some of the most inspiring sayings quoted by the eminent Indian scholar and monk and hope you gain some deep philosophical and psychological insights.
  • Arise! Awake! And stop not until the goal is reached.
  • 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.
  • Our duty is to encourage everyone in his struggle to live up to his own highest idea, and strive at the same time to make the ideal as near as possible to the Truth.
  • When an idea exclusively occupies the mind, it is transformed into an actual physical or
    mental state.
  • Never think there is anything impossible for the soul. It is the greatest heresy to think so. If there is sin, this is the only sin; to say that you are weak, or others are weak.
  • You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you,none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.
  • The great secret of true success, of true happiness, is this: the man or woman who asks for no return, the perfectly unselfish person, is the most successful.
  • Truth can be stated in a thousand different ways, yet each one can be true.
  • In a conflict between the heart and the brain, follow your heart.
  • The greatest religion is to be true to your own nature. Have faith in yourselves.