All the actions that we see in the world, all the movement in human society, all the works that we have around us, are simply the display of thought, the manifestation of the human will... And this will is caused by character, and character is manufactured by karma. As is karma, so is the manifestation of the will. Swami Vivekanandaji Karma Yoga. New York, 1895. Complete Works, 1: 30.
"Children of immortal bliss" -- what a sweet, what a hopeful name! Allow me to call you, brethren, by that sweet name -- heirs of immortal bliss -- yea, the Hindu refuses to call you sinners. Ye are the Children of God, the sharers of immortal bliss, holy and perfect beings. Ye divinities on earth -- sinners! It is a sin to call a man so; it is a standing libel on human nature. Come up, O lions, and shake off the delusion that you are sheep; you are souls immortal, spirits free, blest and eternal; ye are not matter, ye are not bodies; matter is your servant, not you the servant of matter." - Swami Vivekanandaji
Have faith in yourselves, great convictions are the mothers of great deeds. Onward for ever! Sympathy for the poor, the downtrodden, even unto death--this is our motto. Onward, brave lads! Swami Vivekanandaji From Chicago. Letter to his disciples in Chennai. January 24, 1894. CW, 5: 30.
Sometimes I gets tired of japa. Should I continue it or read some good book instead? Vivekananda: One gets tired of japa for two reasons. Sometimes one's brain is fatigued, sometimes it is the result of idleness. If the former, then one should give up japa for the time being, for persistence in it at the time results in seeing hallucinations, or in lunacy etc. But if the latter, the mind should be forced to continue japa. Selections from the Belur Math Diary. Complete Works, 5: 324
If you want to be religious, enter not the gate of any organised religion. They do a hundred times more evil than good, because they stop the growth of each one's individual development.... Religion is only between you and your God, and no third person must come between you. Think what these organised religions have done! What Napoleon was more terrible than those religious persecutions? If you and I organise, we begin to hate every person . It is better not to love, if loving only means hating others. That is no love. That is hell! If loving your own people means hating everybody else, it is the quintessence of selfishness and brutality, and the effect is that it will make you brutes. ---Swami Vivekananda
My brother, no good thing can be done without obstruction. It is only those who persevere to the end that succeed. -Swami Vivekanandaji Letter to Alasinga. New York: April 9, 1894. Complete Works, 5:31
Great things can be done only through great sacrifices. No selfishness, no name, no fame, yours or mine, nor my Master's even! Work, work the idea, the plan, my boys, my brave, noble, good souls--to the wheel, to the wheel put your shoulders! Stop not to look back for name, or fame, or any such nonsense. Throw self overboard and work. Remember: "The grass when made into a rope by being joined together can even chain a mad elephant." The Lord's blessings on you all! His power be in you all--as I believe it is already. Swami Vivekanandaji Letter to Alasinga. Chicago: May 28, 1894. CW, 5: 34-35
If we work without any selfish motive in view, do we not gain anything? Yes, we do, we gain the highest. Unselfishness is more paying, only people have not the patience to practice it. It is more paying from the point of view of health also. Swami Vivekanandaji Karma Yoga. New York, 1895. Complete Works, 1: 32