This doctrine of prenatal influence is now slowly being recognized, and science as well as religion calls out: 'Keep yourself holy, and pure.' So deeply has this been recognized in India, that there we even speak of adultery in marriage, except when marriage is consummated in prayer.

The best principles in our lives were those which we heard from our mothers through our ears.

The kingdom of heaven is already in existence if we will have it, that perfection is already in man if he will see it.

We have lost faith in ourselves. Therefore to preach the Advaita aspect of the Vedanta is necessary to rouse up the hearts of men, to show them the glory of their souls. It is therefore that I preach this Advaita, and I do so not as a sectarian, but upon universal and widely acceptable grounds.

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

Religion has become to many merely a means of doing a little charity work, just to amuse them after a hard day's labour - they get five minutes religion to amuse them. This is the danger with the liberal thought.

You must have an iron will, if you would cross the ocean. You must be strong enough to pierce mountains.