A brave, frank, clean-hearted, courageous and aspiring youth is the only foundation on which the future nation can be built.
Let him who has courage in his mind and love in his heart come with me. I want none else.
Religion and religion alone is the life of India, and when that goes India will die, in spite of politics, in spite of social reforms, in spite of Kubera’s wealth poured upon the head of every one of her children.
Change is always in regard to something which does not change, or which changes relatively less.
Have faith that you are all, my brave lads, born to do great things! Let not the barks of puppies frighten you, no, not even the thunderbolts of heaven, but stand up and work!
Each one of us reaps what we ourselves have sown. These miseries under which we suffer, these bondages under which we struggle, have been caused by ourselves, and none else in the universe is to blame. God is the least to blame for it.
Truth does not pay homage to any society, ancient or modern. Society has to pay homage to Truth or die.
Only those who want nothing are masters of Nature.
You know it already that each one of us is the effect of the infinite past; the child is ushered into the world not as something flashing from the hands of nature, as poets delight so much to depict, but he has the burden of an infinite past; for good or evil he comes to work out his own past deeds.
Take risks in your life. If you win, you can lead! If you lose, you can guide!
Learn Everything that is Good from Others, but bring it in, and in your own way absorb it; do not become others.
This, I have seen in life – those who are overcautious about themselves fall into dangers at every step. Those who are afraid of losing honor and respect, get only disgrace; and those who are always afraid of loss, always lose.
You must have an iron will, if you would cross the ocean. You must be strong enough to pierce mountains.
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.
This is the first lesson to learn: be determined not to curse anything outside, not to lay the blame upon anyone outside, but stand up, lay the blame on yourself. You will find that is always true. Get hold of yourself.
Purity, patience and perseverance are the three essentials to success and above all love.
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.
We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.
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.
In one word, this ideal is that you are divine.