--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Renunciation is the very basis upon which…" description: "\"Renunciation is the very basis upon which ethics stands.\" — Swami Vivekananda" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/swami-vivekananda-53_bases_renunciation-is-the-very-basis-upon-whic_2142549.jpg" --- # Renunciation is the very basis upon which ethics stands. ![“Renunciation is the very basis upon which ethics stands.” quote by Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/swami-vivekananda-53_bases_renunciation-is-the-very-basis-upon-whic_2142549.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/swami-vivekananda-53_bases_renunciation-is-the-very-basis-upon-whic_2142549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fd/swami-vivekananda-53_bases_renunciation-is-the-very-basis-upon-whic_2142549.jpg) > “Renunciation is the very basis upon which ethics stands.” [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. Ethical principles arise from the act of renouncing selfish desires. **In simple terms:** Renunciation underlies moral behavior. Key Takeaway Practice self‑lessness to strengthen ethics. Themes ethics renunciation spirituality Mood serene inspired Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal growth - social service - leadership Key Concepts moral philosophy self‑discipline detachment Questions to Reflect On - How does letting go of ego improve ethical decisions? - What balance exists between self‑care and self‑lessness? A Different Perspective Renunciation can be misinterpreted as denial of pleasure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Renunciation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/renunciation/) ## Related quotes > [Renunciation is the very basis upon which ethics stands. There never was an ethical code preached which had not renunciation for its basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/renunciation-is-the-very-basis-upon-which-ethics-stands-there-never/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [This world is nothing. It is at best only a hideous caricature, a shadow of the Real. We must go to the Real. Renunciation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/this-world-is-nothing-it-is-at-best-only-a-hideous-caricature-a/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Custom has furnished the only basis which ethics have ever had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wood-krutch/custom-has-furnished-the-only-basis-which-ethics-have-ever-had/) [Joseph Wood Krutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wood-krutch/) > [Custom has furnished the only basis which ethics have ever had, and there is no conceivable human action which custom has not at one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wood-krutch/custom-has-furnished-the-only-basis-which-ethics-have-ever-had-and/) [Joseph Wood Krutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wood-krutch/) > [Live for an ideal and leave no place in the mind for anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/live-for-an-ideal-and-leave-no-place-in-the-mind-for-anything-else/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The test of progress is the amount of renunciation that one has attained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-test-of-progress-is-the-amount-of-renunciation-that-one-has/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The Bhakta (devotee) renounces all little loves for the almighty and omnipresent love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-bhakta-devotee-renounces-all-little-loves-for-the-almighty-and/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [There can be no love so long as there is lust- even a speck of it, as it were, in the heart. None but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/there-can-be-no-love-so-long-as-there-is-lust-even-a-speck-of-it-as/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Give up, renounce the world. Now we are like dogs strayed into a kitchen and eating a piece of meat, looking round in fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/give-up-renounce-the-world-now-we-are-like-dogs-strayed-into-a/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Highest love for God can never be achieved without renunciation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/highest-love-for-god-can-never-be-achieved-without-renunciation/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [That intense faith in another world, that intense hatred for this world, that intense power of renunciation, that intense faith in God, that intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/that-intense-faith-in-another-world-that-intense-hatred-for-this/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [To realize the spirit as spirit is practical religion. Everything else is good so far as it leads to this one grand idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/to-realize-the-spirit-as-spirit-is-practical-religion-everything-else/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“Buddha gave up his throne and renounced his position, that was true renunciation; but there cannot be any question of renunciation in the case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/buddha-gave-up-his-throne-and-renounced-his-position-that-was-true/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [There is no end to renunciation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/there-is-no-end-to-renunciation/) [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/) ## 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. 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