On 12^th January 1863, in Kolkata city, a legend named Narendra Nath Dutta was born. Under the tutelage of Saint Ramakrishna, he established Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission in 1897.

Today, Swami Vivekanand, as we all know him, was one of the finest minds that transformed the world with his faith, philosophy and wisdom.

In his short span of life (1863-1902), he spread Vedanta philosophy and religion in America and England; exhorted India to spiritual greatness and awakened India’s youth to a new national consciousness.

Celebrating his 152^nd birth anniversary, also as the National Youth Day, UT presents to you the most insightful quotes by him that every youth should imbibe to lead a prosperous life.

1. Arise, awake, sleep no more; within each of you there is the power to remove all wants and all miseries. Believe this, and that power will be manifested.

2. All power is within you; you can do anything and everything. Believe in that, do not believe that you are weak; do not believe that you are half-crazy lunatics, as most of us do nowadays. You can do anything and everything, without even the guidance of any one. Stand up and express the divinity within you.

3. Who is Helping you, Don’t Forget them. Who is Loving you, Don’t Hate them. Who is Believing you, Don’t Cheat them.

4. Relationships are more important in life, but it is important for those relationships to have life in them.

5. Where can we go to find God of we cannot see Him in our own hearts and in every living being.

6. Fill the brain with high thoughts, highest ideals, place them day and night before you, out of that will come great work.

7. Take up one Idea. Make that one idea your life- think of it, dream of it, and live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.

8. 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.

9. If Faith in ourselves had been more extensively taught and practiced, I am sure a very large portion of the evils and miseries that we have would have vanished.

10. Come out into the broad open light of day, come out from the little narrow paths, for how can the infinite soul rest content to live and die in small ruts? Come out into the universe of Light. Everything in the universe is yours, stretch out your arms and embrace it with love. If you ever felt you wanted to do that, you have felt God.

11. Go on bravely. Do not expect success in a day or a year. Always hold on to the highest. Be steady. Avoid jealousy and selfishness. Be obedient and eternally faithful to the cause of truth, humanity, and your country, and you will move the world.

12. I want each one of my children to be a hundred times greater than I could ever be. Everyone of you must be a giant— must, that is my word. Obedience, Readiness, and Love for the cause— if you have these three, nothing can hold you back.

13. Let people say whatever they like, stick to your own convictions, and rest assured, the world will be at your feet. They say, ‘Have faith in this fellow or that fellow’, but, I say, ‘Have faith in yourself first’, that’s the way.

14. No need for looking behind. FORWARD! We want infinite energy, infinite zeal, infinite courage, and infinite patience, then only will great things be achieved.

15. Say, “This misery that I am suffering is of my own doing, and that very thing proves that it will have to be undone by me alone.”

16. We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.

17. In a conflict between the heart and brain, follow your heart.

18. Be not in despair, the way is very difficult, like walking on the edge of a razor; yet despair not, arise, awake, and find the deal, the goal.

19. Learn Everything that is Good from Others, but bring it in, and in your own way absorb it; do not become others.

20. Do not believe a thing because you have read about it in a book. Do not believe a thing because another man has said it was true. Do not believe in words because they are hallowed by tradition. Find out the truth for yourself. Reason it out. That is realization.

Most importantly, if you can think that infinite power, infinite knowledge and indomitable energy lie within you, and if you bring out that power, you can also become like Him.

(Swami Vivekanand)