Underlying the many observations that Swami Vivekananda makes in this book is the message: Every nation is the expression of an idea. "This idea is working for the world and is necessary for its preservation." "Every nation has a national purpose of its own." East and West have much to learn from each other, but each is to be true to its own genius and vocation. Remaining of the East, Swami Vivekananda drank of what was good in the West. He gave himself to the world, and his teaching is for the world.
