Rabindra Nath Tagore said of Swamiji: "If you want to know India, study Vivekananda. In him everything is positive and nothing negative."
Mahatma Gandhi paid his own tribute: "I have gone through his works very thoroughly, and after having gone through them, the love that I had for my country became a thousand-fold."
Swamiji was a scholar and a great exponent of scriptures. Throughout his life, he propounded the message of Upanishads.
He used to say that the primary teaching of the Upanishads is "Abhi", that is, "Be fearless".
Katha Upanishad was closest to his heart and Nachiketa was his hero. He wanted youths to attain immense self-confidence and be fearless like Nachiketa.
