We are what our thoughts have made us.

In these days of intellectual awakening and steadily asserting public opinion, the holy places of the Hindus, their condition, and method of work have not escaped the keen eye of criticism; and this city, being the holy of holies to all Hindus, has not failed to attract its full share of censure.

When you talk and think of the Absolute, you have to do it in the relative; so all these logical arguments apply.

All the superior religions had their growth between the Ganga and the Euphrates.

One may gain political and social independence, but if one is a slave to his passions and desires, one cannot feel the pure joy of real freedom

Strength, strength it is that we want so much in this life, for what we call sin and sorrow have all one cause, and that is our weakness. With weakness comes ignorance, and with ignorance comes misery.

The attempt to remove evil from the world by killing a thousand evil-doers, only adds to the evil in the world.

The best principles in our lives were those which we heard from our mothers through our ears.

To realize the spirit as spirit is practical religion. Everything else is good so far as it leads to this one grand idea. That realization is to be attained by renunciation, by meditation—renunciation of all the senses, cutting the knots, the chains that bind us down to matter.

Unselfishness is more paying, only people have not the patience to practice it.

If you really want to judge the character of a man, look not at his great performances. Watch a man do his most common actions.

Bear in mind, my children, that only cowards and those who are weak commit sin and tell lies. The brave are always moral. Try to be moral, try to be brave, try to be sympathising.

The greatest help to spiritual life is meditation.

Children of those ancient Aryans, through the grace of the Lord may you have the same pride, may that faith in your ancestors come into your blood, may it become a part and parcel of your lives, may it work towards the salvation of the world!

The world cares little for principles. They care for persons.

The Vedanta teaches men to have faith in themselves first.

Work, my children, work with your whole heart and soul! That is the thing. Mind not the fruit of work. What if you go to hell working for others? That is worth more than to gain heaven by seeking your own salvation... Sri Ramakrishna came and gave his life for the world. I will also sacrifice my life.

He who has conquered the internal nature controls the whole universe; it becomes his servant.

While real perfection is only one, relative perfections must be many.

All that is real in me is God; all that is real in God is I. The gulf between God and me is thus bridged. Thus by knowing God, we find that the kingdom of heaven is within us.

All perfection is there already in the soul. But this perfection has been covered up by nature; layer after layer of nature is covering this purity of the soul.

God is to be worshiped as the one Beloved, dearer than everything in this and the next life.

Religion is the peculiarity of the growth of the Indian mind.