“All that we are is the result of what we have thought.”
Buddha
MindThoughts
Buddha Quotes
Indian - Spiritual Teacher|c. 563 BC - c. 483 BC
50 FAMOUS QUOTES · SPIRITUAL TEACHER
Buddha Quotes
Read 50 genuine Buddha quotes on peace, mindfulness, anger, love and wisdom, taken from the Dhammapada and early Buddhist teachings.
“If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.”
Buddha
HappinessPure Mind
"He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me": in those who harbour such thoughts hatred will never cease.”
Buddha
ResentmentLetting Go
“Hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love. This is an old rule.”
Buddha
LoveOvercoming Hate
“Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace.”
Buddha
WordsPeace
“Though one may conquer a thousand times a thousand men in battle, yet he indeed is the noblest victor who conquers himself.”
Buddha
Self MasteryVictory
“Health is the greatest of gifts, contentedness the greatest riches; trust is the best of relationships.”
Buddha
HealthContentment
“Let a man overcome anger by love, let him overcome evil by good; let him overcome the greedy by liberality, the liar by truth.”
Buddha
AngerGoodness
“As rain breaks through an ill-thatched house, passion will break through an unreflecting mind.”
Buddha
MindSelf Control
“Earnestness is the path of immortality, thoughtlessness the path of death.”
Buddha
MindfulnessEffort
“By rousing himself, by earnestness, by restraint and control, the wise man may make for himself an island which no flood can overwhelm.”
Buddha
Inner StrengthDiscipline
“Whatever a hater may do to a hater, or an enemy to an enemy, a wrongly-directed mind will do us greater harm.”
Buddha
MindWisdom
“As the bee collects nectar and departs without injuring the flower, so let a sage dwell in his village.”
Buddha
GentlenessWisdom
“Like a beautiful flower, full of colour, but without scent, are the fine but fruitless words of him who does not act accordingly.”
Buddha
ActionWords
“Long is the night to him who is awake; long is a mile to him who is tired.”
Buddha
LifePerspective
“The fool who knows his foolishness is wise at least so far. But a fool who thinks himself wise, he is called a fool indeed.”
Buddha
HumilityWisdom
“As a solid rock is not shaken by the wind, wise people falter not amidst blame and praise.”
Buddha
CalmWisdom
“Do not think lightly of good, saying, "It will not come to me." Even by the falling of water drops a water-pot is filled.”
Buddha
Small StepsGoodness
“Self is the lord of self; who else could be the lord?”
Buddha
Self RelianceShort Quotes
“By oneself the evil is done, by oneself one suffers; by oneself evil is left undone, by oneself one is purified. No one can purify another.”
Buddha
ResponsibilitySelf Reliance
“Look upon the world as a bubble, look upon it as a mirage.”
Buddha
ImpermanenceDetachment
“Victory breeds hatred, for the conquered is unhappy. He who has given up both victory and defeat, he, the contented, is happy.”
Buddha
PeaceContentment
“There is no fire like passion; there is no losing throw like hatred.”
Buddha
PassionHatred
“Let us live happily then, not hating those who hate us.”
Buddha
HappinessForgiveness
“You yourself must strive; the Buddhas only point the way.”
Buddha
EffortGuidance
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About Buddha
Indian - Spiritual Teacher | c. 563 BC - c. 483 BC
The Buddha, born Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini (in present-day Nepal), was a prince of the Shakya clan who gave up his royal life at 29 to search for the cause of human suffering. After years of seeking, he attained enlightenment while meditating under the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, India, and became known as the Buddha, "the Awakened One."
He gave his first teaching at Sarnath near Varanasi and spent the next 45 years travelling across northern India, teaching the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. His teachings were later written down in the Pali Canon, including the much-loved *Dhammapada*. Today Buddhism is followed by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Here are 50 genuine Buddha quotes from the early teachings.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Buddha and these famous quotes.
Who was the Buddha?
The Buddha, born Siddhartha Gautama, was a spiritual teacher from ancient India and the founder of Buddhism. After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, he taught for 45 years until his death at Kushinagar, aged about 80.
What is the Dhammapada?
The *Dhammapada* is a collection of 423 verses of the Buddha's teachings, preserved in the Pali Canon. It's one of the most widely read and translated Buddhist texts in the world.
Which popular Buddha quotes are fake?
"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future," "Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal," and "Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle" don't appear in the early Buddhist texts. They're modern sayings attached to his name.
Where did the Buddha attain enlightenment?
He attained enlightenment while meditating under a Bodhi (fig) tree at Bodh Gaya in Bihar, India. The Mahabodhi Temple there is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What were the Buddha's last words?
According to the *Mahaparinibbana Sutta*, his final words were "All conditioned things are impermanent. Strive on with diligence."
What are the Four Noble Truths?
They are the core of the Buddha's teaching: life involves suffering; suffering has a cause (craving); suffering can end; and the way to end it is the Noble Eightfold Path.