Purity, perseverance, and energy - these three I want.
The bane of sects, especially in Bengal, is that if any one happens to have a different opinion, he immediately starts a new sect, he has no patience to wait.
The fruit falls from the tree when it gets ripe. So wait for the time to come. Do not hurry. Moreover, no one has the right to make others miserable by his foolish acts. Wait, have patience, everything will come right in time.
When you feel gloomy, think what has been done within the last year. How, rising from nothing.
Those who work at a thing heart and soul not only achieve success in it but through their absorption in that they also realize the supreme truth-Brahman. Those who work at a thing with their whole heart receive help from God.
Whatever you think, that you will be.
The only way to study the mind is to get at facts, and then intellect will arrange them and deduce the principles.
The person is only a phenomenon, the principle is behind it. Thus from both sides, simultaneously, we find the breaking down of personalities and the approach towards principles, the Personal God approaching the Impersonal, the personal man approaching the Impersonal Man.
The principles of the Vedanta not only should be preached everywhere in India, but also outside. Our thought must enter into the make-up of the minds of every nation, not through writings, but through persons.
The Upanishads do not reveal the life of any teacher, but simply teach principles.
The world cares little for principles. They care for persons.
Through the imparting of moral principles, good behaviour, and education we must make the Chandala come up to the level of the Brahmana.
We do not seek to thrust the principles of our religion upon anyone. The fundamental principles of our religion forbid that.
We first observe facts, then generalise, and then draw conclusions or principles.
We must not forget that what I mean by the conquest of the world by spiritual thought is the sending out of the life-giving principles, not the hundreds of superstitions that we have been hugging to our breasts for centuries.
Music is the highest art and to those who understand, is the highest worship.
Whatever others think or do, lower not your standard of purity, morality and love of God.
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.
No one is ever really taught by another; each of us has to teach himself. The external teacher offers only the suggestion, which arouses the internal teacher, who helps us to understand things.
Ignorance is death, knowledge is life. Life is of very little value, if it is a life in the dark, groping through ignorance and misery.