NO GOOD WILL COME OF SITTING IDLE AND HAVING PRINCELY DISHES, AND SAYING " Ramakrishna, O Lord!" - UNLESS YOU CAN DO SOME GOOD TO THE POOR

Go from door to door amongst the poor and lower classes of the town of Khetri and teach them religion. Also, let them have oral lessons on geography and such other subjects. No good will come of sitting idle and having princely dishes, and saying "Ramakrishna..., O Lord!" — unless you can do some good to the poor. Go to other villages from time to time, and teach the people the arts of life as well as religion. Work, worship, and Jnana (knowledge) — first work, and your mind will be purified; otherwise everything will be fruitless like pouring oblations on a pile of ashes instead of in the sacred fire.

- Swami Vivekananda
(March or April?) 1894. The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 6/Epistles - Second Series/LV Akhandananda

THAT IT IS A PLAGUE WITH OUR COUNTRY, AND LUNATIC ASYLUMS ARE RIFE ALL OVER - LET SOME OF YOU SPREAD LIKE FIRE

The Living God is dying for want of food, for want of education! The banias of Bombay are erecting hospitals for bugs — while they would do nothing for men even if they die! You have not the brain to understand this simple thing — that it is a plague with our country, and lunatic asylums are rife all over.

... Let some of you spread like fire, and preach this worship of the universal aspect of the Godhead — a thing that was never undertaken before in our country. No quarrelling with people, we must be friends with all....

- Swami Vivekananda
1894.The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 6/Epistles - Second Series/XLV Brothers