Inspirational Quotes By Swami Vivekananda

January 12th, 2017 | Updated on February 8th, 2023

Today is the 154th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, one of India’s most revered spiritual leaders, which is being celebrated as National Youth Day in the country.

Born Narendra Nath Datta in an affluent family and raised in Kolkata, Swami Vivekananda’s life and teachings have always been an inspiration to youth all over the world. Vivekananda was not just an intellectual genius but a spiritual visionary, who taught us how to realize the universal consciousness beyond the limitations of time and space within our own minds and hearts.

Here are the best quotes by Swami Vivekananda that will inspire you for life:

1. Who is Helping You, Don’t Forget them. Who is Loving you, Don’t Hate them? Who is Believing you, Don’t Cheat them.

2. Anything that makes you weak physically, intellectually and spiritually, reject as poison. Swami Vivekananda Motivational quote

3. Talk to yourself at least once in a Day.. Otherwise you may miss a meeting with an EXCELLENT person in this World…

4. Relationships are more important than life , but it is important for those relationships to have life in them….

5. 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.

6. By the study of different religions we find that in essence they are one.

7. Where can we go to find God if we cannot see Him in our own hearts and in every living being

8. Fill the brain with high thoughts, highest ideals place them day and night before you and out of that will come great work.

9. Where can we go to find God if we cannot see Him in our own hearts and in every living being.

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

11. You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself.

12. Arise! Awake! and stop not until the goal is reached.

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

14. 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.

15. When an idea exclusively occupies the mind, it is transformed into an actual physical or mental state.

Swami Vivekananda’s historic speech at the first Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago on September 11, 1893 is considered among his most significant contributions to the world. The opening lines of his speech – “Sisters and brothers of America” – earned him a two-minute standing ovation from the audience.

Quotes By Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda was born on January 12, 1863. In India, January 12 is observed as National Youth Day.

Swami Vivekananda’s teachings and messages have inspired millions of people over many generations. Read more motivational and inspirational quotes given by Swami Vivekananda here:

1. In a conflict between the heart and the brain, follow your heart.

2. Take up an idea, devote yourself, struggle in patience, and the sun will rise.

3. 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.

4. The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.

5. Arise, awake, and don’t stop till you reach your goal.

6. Do not wait for anybody or anything. Do whatever you can, build your hope on none.

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

8. The moral, in one word, is that you are divine.

9. 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.

10. That man has reached immortality who is disturbed by nothing material.

If you’re enjoying these quotes, make sure to read our collection of most inspirational quotes from A.P.J Abdul Kalam that can motivate you for a great life.

11. In a day, when you don’t come across any problems – you can be sure that you are traveling the wrong path.

12. 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.

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

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

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

16. Take risks in your life. If you win, you can lead. If you lose, you can guide.

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

18. We reap what we sow. We are the makers of our own fate. None else has the blame, none has the praise.

19. Arise! Awake! and stop not until the goal is reached

20. 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.

21. If I love myself despite my infinite faults, how can I hate anyone at the glimpse of a few faults.

22. In a day, when you don’t come across any problems – you can be sure that you are travelling in a wrong path.

23. 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.

If you feel happy reading these quotes, you can also take a look at these quotes on life, love and happiness to make your life happy.

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

25. Who is helping you, don’t forget them. Who is loving you, don’t hate them. Who is believing you, don’t cheat them.

26. 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.

27. If anything turns you weak physically, intellectually, and spiritually, reject it like it’s poison.

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

29. The greatest religion is to be true to your own nature. Have faith in yourselves.

30. Talk to yourself once a day, otherwise, you may miss meeting an excellent person in this world.

31. It is our own mental attitude which makes the world what it is for us. Our thought make things beautiful, our thoughts make things ugly. The whole world is in our own minds. Learn to see things in the proper light.

32. Be the servant while leading. Be unselfish. Have infinite patience, and success is yours.

33. Watch people do their most common actions; these are indeed the things that will tell you the real character of a great person.

34. The whole life is a succession of dreams. My ambition is to be a conscious dreamer, that is all.

35. The difference between architecture and building is that the former expresses an idea, while the latter is merely a structure built on economical principles. The value of matter depends solely on its capacities of expressing ideas.

36. Education is the manifestation of perfection already existing in man.

For additional reading, be sure to also check out these Rumi quotes that will motivate you to follow your dreams.

37. Great work requires great and persistent effort for a long time. …Character has to be established through a thousand stumbles.

38. There is no limit to the power of the human mind. The more concentrated it is, the more power is brought to bear on one point.

39. Ask nothing; want nothing in return. Give what you have to give; it will come back to you, but do not think of that now.

40. The more we come out and do good to others, the more our hearts will be purified, and God will be in them.

41. So long as there is desire or want, it is a sure sign that there is imperfection. A perfect, free being cannot have any desire.

42. Be not afraid of anything. You will do marvelous work. It is fearlessness that brings heaven even in a moment.

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

44. The earth is enjoyed by heroes – this is the unfailing truth. Be a hero. Always say, I have no fear.

45. When an idea exclusively occupies the mind, it is transformed into an actual physical or mental state.

46. The very reason for nature’s existence is for the education of the soul.

47. The more we come out and do good to others, the more our hearts will be purified, and God will be in them.

You may also enjoy our curated thoughts and quotes:

48. Blessed are they whose bodies get destroyed in the service of others.

49. 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.

50. Everything is easy when you are busy. But nothing is easy when you are lazy.

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

52. All knowledge that the world has ever received comes from the mind; the infinite library of the universe is in our own mind.

53. We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves. If what we are now has been the result of our own past actions, it certainly follows that whatever we wish to be in the future can be produced by our present actions; so we have to know how to act.

54. Books are infinite in number and time is short. The secret of knowledge is to take what is essential. Take that and try to live up to it.

55. Comfort is no test of truth. Truth is often far from being comfortable.

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

57. Each work has to pass through these stages—ridicule, opposition, and then acceptance. Those who think ahead of their time are sure to be misunderstood.

58. When an idea exclusively occupies the mind, it is transformed into an actual physical or mental state.

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

60. Bless people when they revile you. Think how much good they are doing by helping to stamp out the false ego.

Don’t forget to read this collection of inspirational quotes to keep you moving forward every day.

61. Anything that makes weak – physically, intellectually and spiritually, reject it as poison.

62. Things do not grow better; they remain as they are. It is we who grow better, by the changes we make in ourselves.

63. 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.

64. The cheerful mind perseveres and the strong mind hews its way through a thousand difficulties.

65. All power is within you; you can do anything and everything. Believe in that, do not believe that you are weak; do not believe that you are half-crazy lunatics, as most of us do nowadays. You can do anything and everything, without even the guidance of anyone. Stand up and express the divinity within you.

66. Where can we go to find God if we cannot see him in our own hearts and in every living being.

67. 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.

68. 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.

69. Believe in yourself and the world will be at your feet.

70. You can not believe in God until you believe in yourself.

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

72. Shri Ramakrishna use to say, as Long as I live, so long do I learn. That man or that society which has nothing to learn is already in the jaws of death.

You might also like these positive and inspirational quotes about living a beautiful life.

73. Books are infinite in number and time is short. The secret of knowledge is to take what is essential. Take that and try to live up to it.

74. All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything.

75. There is no limit to the power of the human mind. The more concentrated it is, the more power is brought to bear on one point.

76. The greatest truths are the simplest things in the world, simple as your own existence.

77. All knowledge that the world has ever received comes from the mind; the infinite library of the universe is in our own mind.

78. Anything that makes weak – physically, intellectually and spiritually, reject it as poison.

79. Each work has to pass through these stages: ridicule, opposition, and then acceptance. Those who think ahead of their time are sure to be misunderstood.

80. Ask nothing; want nothing in return. Give what you have to give; it will come back to you, but do not think of that now.

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

If you are enjoying these quotes, be sure to read our collection of inspirational quotes by famous personalities that will help you clarify what’s important to you in your life.

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

83. The whole life is a succession of dreams. My ambition is to be a conscious dreamer, that is all.

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

85. 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.