Spiritual Heroism

Extracted from 

The One Infinite Being:Teachings and Sayings of Swami Vivekananda

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. Have faith in yourself – all power is in you – be conscious and bring it out. Say, “I can do everything.” (6, 274)

Be free; hope for nothing from anyone. I am sure if you look back upon your lives you will find that you were always vainly trying to get help from others which never came. All the help that has come was from within yourselves. (2, 324)

Those who are always downhearted and dispirited in this life can do no work; from life to life they come and go wailing and moaning. “the earth is enjoyed by heroes” – this is the unfailing truth. Be a hero. Always say, “I have no fear.” Tell this to everybody – “Have no fear.” Fear is death, fear is sin, fear is hell, fear is unrighteousness, fear is wrong life. All the negative thoughts and ideas that are in this world have proceeded from this evil spirit of fear. (7, 136)

The sign of vigor, the sign of life, the sign of hope, the sign of health, the sign of everything that is good, is strength. As long as the body lives, there must be strength in the body, strength in the mind, in the hand. (6, 62)

Freedom is never to be reached by the weak. Throw away all weakness. Tell your body that it is strong, tell your mind that it is strong, and have unbounded faith and hope in yourself. (1, 146)

No great idea can have a place in the heart unless one steps out of his little corner. (6, 331)

Blows are what awaken us and help to break the dream. They show us the insufficiency of this world and make us long to escape, to have freedom. (7, 79)

The greatest religion is to be true to your own nature. Have faith in yourselves! (1, 483)