--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is good and very grand to conquer…" description: "\"It is good and very grand to conquer external nature, but grander still to conquer our internal nature… This conquering of the inner man, understanding..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6a/swami-vivekananda-53_conquer_it-is-good-and-very-grand-to-conquer-ext_2604163.jpg" --- # It is good and very grand to conquer external nature, but… ![“It is good and very grand to conquer external nature, but grander still to conquer our internal nature… This conquering of the inner man, understanding the secrets of the subtle workings that are within the human mind, and knowing its wonderful secrets, belong entirely to religion.” quote by Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6a/swami-vivekananda-53_conquer_it-is-good-and-very-grand-to-conquer-ext_2604163.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6a/swami-vivekananda-53_conquer_it-is-good-and-very-grand-to-conquer-ext_2604163.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6a/swami-vivekananda-53_conquer_it-is-good-and-very-grand-to-conquer-ext_2604163.jpg) > “It is good and very grand to conquer external nature, but grander still to conquer our internal nature… This conquering of the inner man, understanding the secrets of the subtle workings that are within the human mind, and knowing its wonderful secrets, belong entirely to religion.” [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True mastery involves mastering one's inner self, which is deeper than controlling external forces. **In simple terms:** Inner mastery is greater than outer control. Key Takeaway Focus on self‑knowledge. Themes spirituality self‑growth inner peace Mood contemplative inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - meditation - personal therapy - conflict resolution - leadership development Key Concepts mindfulness self‑discipline psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you cultivate inner strength daily? - What inner habits hinder your growth? A Different Perspective External success can be fleeting without inner stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-mind/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) ## Related quotes > [A scientist sets out to conquer nature through knowledge - external nature, external knowledge. By these means he may split the atom and achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/a-scientist-sets-out-to-conquer-nature-through-knowledge-external/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [External nature is only internal nature writ large.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/external-nature-is-only-internal-nature-writ-large/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [In every remodelling of the present, the existing condition of things must be supplanted by a new one. Now every variety of circumstances in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/in-every-remodelling-of-the-present-the-existing-condition-of-things/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [Internal and external nature, mind and matter, are in time and space, and are bound by the law of causation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/internal-and-external-nature-mind-and-matter-are-in-time-and-space/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [He who has conquered the internal nature controls the whole universe; it becomes his servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/he-who-has-conquered-the-internal-nature-controls-the-whole-universe/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Man has made remarkable strides in conquering outer space, but how futile have been his efforts in conquering inner space- the space in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/man-has-made-remarkable-strides-in-conquering-outer-space-but-how/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [The only possibility to have a knowledge of both the Earth's nature and our own internal nature is through traditional climbing when you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-messner/the-only-possibility-to-have-a-knowledge-of-both-the-earth-s-nature/) [Reinhold Messner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-messner/) > [ Men have never fully used \[their\] powers to advance the good in life, because they have waited upon some power external to themselves and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/men-have-never-fully-used-their-powers-to-advance-the-good-in-life/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [It is not a certain conformity of manners that the painting of Van Gogh attacks, but rather the conformity of institutions themselves. And even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-artaud/it-is-not-a-certain-conformity-of-manners-that-the-painting-of-van/) [Antonin Artaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-artaud/) > [External motion we call action; internal motion is human thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/external-motion-we-call-action-internal-motion-is-human-thought/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this divinity by controlling nature, external and internal. Do this either by work, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/each-soul-is-potentially-divine-the-goal-is-to-manifest-this-divinity/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Each atom is trying to fly off from its centre. In the internal world, each thought is trying to go beyond control. Again each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/each-atom-is-trying-to-fly-off-from-its-centre-in-the-internal-world/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [There is an idea that you can take the spiritual teachings of a religion outside of a religion and practice them; these ideas are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyyed-hossein-nasr/there-is-an-idea-that-you-can-take-the-spiritual-teachings-of-a/) [Seyyed Hossein Nasr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seyyed-hossein-nasr/) > [I have three words for you," EMT Guy said. "Possible internal bleeding." I turned back to him. "Don't you think if I was bleeding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/i-have-three-words-for-you-emt-guy-said-possible-internal-bleeding-i/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) ## More by Swami Vivekananda > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Renunciation is in our blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/renunciation-is-in-our-blood/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Let positive, strong, helpful thoughts enter into your brains from very childhood. Lay yourselves open to these thoughts, and not to weakening and paralysing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-positive-strong-helpful-thoughts-enter-into-your-brains-from-very/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Where can we go to find God if we cannot see Him in our own hearts and in every living being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/where-can-we-go-to-find-god-if-we-cannot-see-him-in-our-own-hearts/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is the free alone which never changes, and the unchangeable alone which is free; for change is produced by something exterior to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-the-free-alone-which-never-changes-and-the-unchangeable-alone/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Above all, India is the land of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/above-all-india-is-the-land-of-religion/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The awakening of the soul to its bondage and its effort to stand up and assert itself - this is called life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-awakening-of-the-soul-to-its-bondage-and-its-effort-to-stand-up/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is the Prana that is manifesting as motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-the-prana-that-is-manifesting-as-motion/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Though an atom is invisible, unthinkable, yet in it are the whole power and potency of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/though-an-atom-is-invisible-unthinkable-yet-in-it-are-the-whole-power/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Nothing can be produced without a cause, and the effect is but the cause reproduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/nothing-can-be-produced-without-a-cause-and-the-effect-is-but-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [All the strength and succour you want is within yourselves. Therefore make your own future. "Let the dead past bury its dead." The infinite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/all-the-strength-and-succour-you-want-is-within-yourselves-therefore/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Be brave! Be strong! Be fearless! Once you have taken up the spiritual life, fight as long as there is any life in you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/be-brave-be-strong-be-fearless-once-you-have-taken-up-the-spiritual/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“there is a continuity of mind, as the Yogis call it. The mind is universal. Your mind, my mind, all these little minds, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/there-is-a-continuity-of-mind-as-the-yogis-call-it-the-mind-is/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) [Explore all 1,889 Swami Vivekananda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## More Conquer quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Man will not always stay on Earth; the pursuit of light and space will lead him to penetrate the bounds of the atmosphere, timidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/man-will-not-always-stay-on-earth-the-pursuit-of-light-and-space-will/) [Konstantin Tsiolkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/) > [It is not enough to dream of the Impossible Love - it is necessary to conquer it too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-is-not-enough-to-dream-of-the-impossible-love-it-is-necessary-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I'm ready to conquer anything thrown at me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-pritchard/i-m-ready-to-conquer-anything-thrown-at-me/) [A. J. Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-pritchard/) > [“They had been dreamers. Her father always said that this was why they had been easy to conquer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-rutkoski/they-had-been-dreamers-her-father-always-said-that-this-was-why-they/) [Marie Rutkoski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-rutkoski/) > [The moment you conquer one fear is the minute you conquer many fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/the-moment-you-conquer-one-fear-is-the-minute-you-conquer-many-fears/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [“In quixotically trying to conquer death doctors all too frequently do no good for their patients’ “ease” but at the same time they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/in-quixotically-trying-to-conquer-death-doctors-all-too-frequently-do/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [Yet hold it more humane, more heav'nly, first, By winning words to conquer willing hearts, And make persuasion do the work of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/yet-hold-it-more-humane-more-heav-nly-first-by-winning-words-to/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [At the time when this famous historical battle was fought in Kosovo, the people were looking at the stars, expecting aid from them. Now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slobodan-milosevi/at-the-time-when-this-famous-historical-battle-was-fought-in-kosovo/) [Slobodan Milosević](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slobodan-milosevi/) > [I can conquer the world with one hand, as long as you are holding the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-smith/i-can-conquer-the-world-with-one-hand-as-long-as-you-are-holding-the/) [Megan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-smith/) > [ To conquer \[our enemies\] we must dare, and dare again, and dare for ever; and thus will France be saved ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-danton/to-conquer-our-enemies-we-must-dare-and-dare-again-and-dare-for-ever/) [Georges Danton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-danton/) > [I consider that the Golden Rule requires that if I like a program I must share it with other people who like it. Software…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/i-consider-that-the-golden-rule-requires-that-if-i-like-a-program-i/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) Browse all 1,557 Conquer quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is good and very grand to conquer external nature, but grander still to conquer our internal nature… This conquering of the inner man, understanding the secrets of the subtle workings that are within the human mind, and knowing its wonderful secrets, belong entirely to religion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Swami Vivekananda" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-good-and-very-grand-to-conquer-external-nature-but-grander/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conquer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-good-and-very-grand-to-conquer-external-nature-but-grander/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6a/swami-vivekananda-53_conquer_it-is-good-and-very-grand-to-conquer-ext_2604163.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6a/swami-vivekananda-53_conquer_it-is-good-and-very-grand-to-conquer-ext_2604163.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6a/swami-vivekananda-53_conquer_it-is-good-and-very-grand-to-conquer-ext_2604163.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is good and very grand to conquer external nature, but grander still to conquer our internal nature… This…” — Swami Vivekananda", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Swami Vivekananda", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is good and very grand...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-good-and-very-grand-to-conquer-external-nature-but-grander/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-good-and-very-grand-to-conquer-external-nature-but-grander/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```