One cannot attain divine knowledge till one gets rid of pride. Water does not stay on the top of a mound; but into low land it flows in torrents from all sides.
(p. 874, The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Thakur’s words to Dr. Mahendrala Sarkar on 23 Oct, 1885.)
I propound a philosophy which can serve as a basis to every possible religious system in the world, and my attitude towards all of them is one of extreme sympathy – my teaching is antagonistic to none. I direct my attention to the individual to make him strong, to teach him that he himself is divine, and I call upon men to make themselves conscious of this divinity within, That is really the ideal – conscious or unconscious – of every religion.
(p.187-8, Vol.5, Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Swamiji in an interview to The Westminister Gazette in London on 23 Oct, 1895.)
It is very good to have a high ideal, but don’t make it too high. A high ideal raises mankind, but an impossible ideal lowers them from the very impossibility of the case.
p.385, Vol.4, New Discoveries, From Mr. J.J Goodwin’s letter dt. 23 Oct, 1896 to Mrs. Ole Bull, quoting Swami Vivekananda’s conversation at Greycoat Gardens in London. (C.W. Vol.9, p.401)