Swami Vivekananda Quotes on Knowledge

1. Experience is the only teacher we have. We may talk and reason all our lives, but we shall not understand a word of truth until we experience it ourselves.
2. The goal of mankind is knowledge . . . What man "learns" is really what he discovers by taking the cover off his own soul, which is a mine of infinite knowledge.
3. Stand on your own feet, and assimilate what you can; learn from every nation, take what is of use to you.
4. The education which does not help the common mass of people to equip themselves for the struggle for life, which does not bring out strength of character, a spirit of philanthropy, and the courage of a lion — is it worth the name? Real education is that which enables one to stand on one's own legs.
5. If you have knowledge and see a man weak, do not condemn him. Go to his level and help him if you can. He must grow.”
6. Experience is a far more glorious teacher than any amount of speculation, or any amount of books written by globe-trotters and hasty observers.
7. Great works are to be done, wonderful powers have to be worked out, we have to teach other nations many things… This is the motherland of philosophy, of spirituality, and of ethics, of sweetness, gentleness, and love. These still exist, and my experience of the world leads me to stand on firm ground and make the bold statement that India is still the first & foremost of all the nations of the world in these respects.”
8. •“You are the greatest book that ever was or ever will be, the infinite depository of all that is. Until the inner teacher opens, all outside teaching is in vain.”
9. Do you feel for others? If you do, you are growing in oneness. If you do not feel for others, you may be the most intellectual giant ever born, but you will be nothing; you are but dry intellect, and you will remain so.
10. Work purifies the heart and so leads to Vidyâ (wisdom)…Virtuous deeds take off the veil from knowledge, and knowledge alone can make us see God.”
11. Knowledge is power, and getting one you get the other. By knowledge you can even banish the material world”
12. Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man. Religion is the manifestation of the Divinity already in man. Therefore the only duty of the teacher in both cases is to remove all obstructions from the way. Hands off! as I always say, and everything will be right. That is, our duty is to clear the way. The Lord does the rest.”
13. Two gifts are especially appreciated, the gift of learning and the gift of life. But the gift of learning takes precedence. One may save a man's life, and that is excellent; one may impart to another knowledge, and that is better.”
14. Education is not the amount of information that is put into your brain and runs riot there, undigested, all your life.”
15. We need technical education and all else which may develop industries, so that men, instead of seeking for service, may earn enough to provide for themselves, and save something against a rainy day.”
16. Knowledge is nothing but finding unity in the midst of diversity.”
17. The gift of knowledge is a far higher gift than that of food and clothes; it is even higher than giving life to a man, because the real life of man consists of knowledge”
18. Existence without knowledge and love cannot be; knowledge without love and love without knowledge cannot be. What we want is the harmony of Existence, Knowledge, and Bliss Infinite. For that is our goal. We want harmony, not one-sided development.”
19. We want the education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded, and by which one can stand on one’s own feet.”
20. Knowledge can only be got in one way, the way of experience; there is no other way to know.”
21. You know but little of that which is within you. For behind you is the ocean of infinite power and blessedness.
22. The aim of education is to manifest in our lives the perfection, which is the very nature of our inner self