Ancestor Quote by Swami Vivekananda
“This faith in themselves was in the hearts of our ancestors, this faith in themselves was the motive power that pushed them forward and forward in the march of civilisation, and if there has been degeneration, if there has been defect, mark my words, you will find that degeneration to have started on the day our people lost faith in themselves.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Address to the Parliament of the World's Religions, Chicago, 1893
A society's progress depends on collective self‑confidence; loss of that confidence leads to decline.
In simple terms: Self‑belief fuels civilization; loss causes decay.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate collective confidence.
Themes
civilization
confidence
collective belief
Mood
inspirational
reflective
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- national movements
- community building
- education reform
- leadership development
Key Concepts
sociology
psychology
history
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we rebuild confidence after setbacks?
- What role does leadership play in sustaining belief?
A Different Perspective
Self‑belief alone cannot fix structural problems.
![“The mind in its foolishness thinks that it is working in this body. Why should I be bound by one system of nerves, and put the Ego only in one body, if the mind is omnipresent? There is no reason why I should.[Source] The root of that degeneration is egotism - to think that one is just as great as…” quote by Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c0f/swami-vivekananda-53_body_the-mind-in-its-foolishness-thinks-that_340144.jpg)
![“Now they [the Powers] have started the aggression, and the extinction of our nation is imminent. If we just fold our arms and yield to them, I would have no face to see our ancestors after death. If we must perish, why not fight to the death?” quote by Empress Dowager Cixi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/947/empress-dowager-cixi-68177_after-death_now-they-the-powers-have-started-the-agg_53275.jpg)
