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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.

Swami Vivekananda

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Swami Vivekananda
Age: 39 †
Born: 1863
Born: January 12
Died: 1902
Died: July 4
Clergyman
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Inglewood
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Narendra Nath Datta
Vivekananda
Swamy Vivekananda
Narendranath Datta
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More quotes by Swami Vivekananda

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Those reformers who preach against image-worship, or what they denounce as idolatry - to them I say Brothers, if you are fit to worship God-without-form discarding all external help, do so, but why do you condemn others who cannot do the same?
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Knowledge can only be got in one way, the way of experience there is no other way to know.
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Blows are what awaken us & help to break the dream. They show us the insufficiency of this world & make us long to escape, to have freedom.
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Perfection can never be attained by work.
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We are the living devils.
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We know how often in our lives through laziness and cowardice we give up the battle and try to hypnotise our minds into the belief that we are brave.
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We are the makers of our own lives. There is no such thing as fate. Our lives are the result of our previous actions, our karma, and it naturally flows that, having been ourselves the makers of our karma, we must also be able to unmake it.
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If I ask you to plunge into the Ganga or to jump from the roof of a house, meaning it all for your good, could you do even that without any hesitations Just think of it even now otherwise don't rush forward on the spur of the moment to accept me as your Guru.
Swami Vivekananda
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We have either to progress or to degenerate. Our ancestors did great things in the past, but we have to grow into a fuller life and march beyond even their great achievements.
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This life is a tremendous assertion of freedom
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The Heart and core of everything here is good, that whatever may be the surface waves, deep down and underlying everything, there is an infinite basis of Goodness and Love.
Swami Vivekananda
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There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of woman is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on only one wing. There is no hope for that family or country where there is no estimation of women, where they live in sadness. For this reason, they have to be raised first.
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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.
Swami Vivekananda
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No great work can be achieved by humbug. It is through love, a passion for truth, and tremendous energy, that all undertakings are accomplished.
Swami Vivekananda
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By doing well the duty which is nearest to us, the duty which is in our hands now, we make ourselves stronger and improving our strength in this manner step by step, we may reach a state in which it shall be our privilege to do the most coveted and honored duties in life and in society.
Swami Vivekananda
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We are ever free if we would only believe it, only have faith enough.
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Consciously or unconsciously, health can be transmitted. A very strong man, living with a weak man, will make him a little stronger, whether he knows it or not.
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Woman has suffered for eons, and that has given her infinite patience and infinite perseverance.
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Do not be afraid of a small beginning. great things come afterwards. Be courageous. Do not try to lead your brethren, but serve them. The brutal mania for leading has sunk many a great ships in the waters of life. Take care especially of that, i.e. be unselfish even unto death, and work.
Swami Vivekananda
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Why is it that we three hundred and thirty millions of people have been ruled for the last one thousand years by any and every handful of foreigners who chose to walk over our prostrate bodies? Because they had faith in themselves and we had not.
Swami Vivekananda