Timeless Wisdom: A Curated Collection of Inspirational Buddha Quotes

"Rule your mind or it will rule you."

- Gautama Buddha

"Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die."

- Buddha

"You will not be punished for your anger. You will be punished by your anger."

- Buddha

"Conquer anger with non-anger. Conquer badness with goodness. Conquer meanness with generosity."

- Buddha

"Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts."

- Gautama Buddha

"Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are cherished in the mind. Anger will disappear as soon as thoughts of resentment are forgotten."

- Buddha

"Silence the angry man with love. Silence the ill-natured man with kindness. Silence the miser with generosity. Silence the liar with truth."

- Buddha

"At the end of the day, I’m at peace because my intentions are good and my heart is pure."

- Buddha

"It’s better to travel well than to arrive."

- Buddha

"However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you If you do not act upon them?"

- Buddha

"To support mother and father, to cherish wife and children, and to be engaged in peaceful occupation — this is the greatest blessing."

- Buddha

"Friendship is the only cure for hatred, the only guarantee of peace."

- Buddha

"If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path."

- Gautama Buddha

"Train your mind to see something good in everything."

- Gautama Buddha

"The quieter you become, the more you can hear."

- Buddha

"No matter how hard the past, you can always begin."

- Buddha

"With our thoughts, we make the world."

- Gautama Buddha

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."

- Buddhist quote

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned."

- Buddah

"No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path."

- Buddha

"Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship."

- Buddha

"You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection."

- Buddha

"What we think, we become."

- Buddha

"There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting."

- Buddha

"Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill."

- Buddha

"Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely."

- Buddha

"Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life."

- Buddha

"You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger."

- Gautama Buddha

"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world."

- Buddha

"I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done."

- Gautama Buddha

"Without health life is not life; it is only a state of langour and suffering - an image of death."

- Buddha

"To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one's own in the midst of abundance."

- Buddha

"Better than worshiping gods is obedience to the laws of righteousness."

- Buddha

"He who loves 50 people has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes."

- Buddha

"Charity bestowed upon those who are worthy of it is like good seed sown on a good soil that yields an abundance of fruits. But alms given to those who are yet under the tyrannical yoke of the passions are like seed deposited in a bad soil. The passions of the receiver of the alms choke, as it were, the growth of merits."

- Buddha

"To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent."

- Buddha

"The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve."

- Buddha

"When one has the feeling of dislike for evil, when one feels tranquil, one finds pleasure in listening to good teachings; when one has these feelings and appreciates them, one is free of fear."

- Buddha

"I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act."

- Buddha

"In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves."

- Buddha

"The foolish man conceives the idea of 'self.' The wise man sees there is no ground on which to build the idea of 'self;' thus, he has a right conception of the world and well concludes that all compounds amassed by sorrow will be dissolved again, but the truth will remain."

- Buddha

"With fools, there is no companionship. Rather than to live with men who are selfish, vain, quarrelsome, and obstinate, let a man walk alone."

- Buddha

"All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain?"

- Buddha

"Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace."

- Buddha

"Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace."

- Buddha

"Virtue is persecuted more by the wicked than it is loved by the good."

- Buddha

"However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?"

- Gautama Buddha

"Let my skin and sinews and bones dry up, together with all the flesh and blood of my body! I welcome it! But I will not move from this spot until I have attained the supreme and final wisdom."

- Buddha

"He who gives away shall have real gain. He who subdues himself shall be free; he shall cease to be a slave of passions. The righteous man casts off evil, and by rooting out lust, bitterness, and illusion do we reach Nirvana."

- Buddha

"He who walks in the eightfold noble path with unswerving determination is sure to reach Nirvana."

- Buddha

"Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others."

- Buddha

"Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence."

- Buddha

"Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind."

- Buddha

"Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue."

- Buddha

"It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways."

- Buddha

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared."

- Buddha

"We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves."

- Buddha

"Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule."

- Buddha

"It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell."

- Buddha

"Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without."

- Gautama Buddha

"The mind is everything. What you think you become."

- Buddha

"To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear."

- Gautama Buddha

"To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him."

- Buddha

"Quiet the mind and the soul will speak."

- Buddha

"What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create."

- Buddha

"If you want to fly, give up everything that weighs you down."

- Buddha

"All suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their own happiness or satisfaction."

- Buddha

"Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?"

- Buddha

"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."

- M. Kathleen Casey

"Purity or impurity depends on oneself, no one can purify another."

- Buddha

"Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most."

- Buddha

"In the end, only three things matters: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you."

- Buddha

"Don’t rush anything. When the time is right it’ll happen."

- Buddha

"To understand everything is to forgive everything."

- Buddha

"When it hurts, observe. Life is trying to teach you something."

- Buddha

"Change is never painful. Only resistance to change is painful."

- Buddha

"One moment can change a day, one day can change a life, and one life can change the world."

- Buddha

"The root of all suffering is attachment."

- Buddha

"Your mind is a powerful thing. When you start to filter it with positive thoughts your life will start to change."

- Buddha

"If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another."

- Buddha

"Be where you are; otherwise you will miss your life."

- Buddha

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought."

- Buddha

"Suffering is not holding you, you are holding suffering."

- Gautama Buddha

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."

- Buddha

"When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky."

- Buddha

"Give, even if you only have a little."

- Buddha

"You only lose what you cling to."

- Gautama Buddha

"I will not look at another’s bowl intent on finding a fault: a training to be observed."

- Buddha

"What is evil? Killing is evil, lying is evil, slandering is evil, abuse is evil, gossip is evil, envy is evil, hatred is evil, to cling to false doctrine is evil; all these things are evil. And what is the root of evil? Desire is the root of evil, illusion is the root of evil."

- Buddha

"It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways."

- Buddha

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts and made up of our thoughts. If a man speak or act with an evil thought, suffering follows him as the wheel follows the hoof of the beast that draws the wagon…. If a man speak or act with a good thought, happiness follows him like a shadow that never leaves him."

- Buddha

"It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you."

- Gautama Buddha

"Those who have failed to work toward the truth have missed the purpose of living."

- Buddha

"Long is the night to him who is awake; long is a mile to him who is tired; long is life to the foolish who do not know the true law."

- Buddha

"Ardently do today what must be done. Who knows? Tomorrow, death comes."

- Buddha

"Meditate… do not delay, lest you later regret it."

- Buddha

"One should strive to understand what underlies sufferings and diseases – and aim for health and well-being while gaining in the path."

- Buddha

"Delight in meditation and solitude. Compose yourself, be happy. You are a seeker."

- Buddha

"If a man’s thoughts are muddy, If he is reckless and full of deceit, How can he wear the yellow robe? Whoever is master of his own nature, Bright, clear and true, He may indeed wear the yellow robe."

- Buddha

"Like a fine flower, beautiful to look at but without scent, fine words are fruitless in a man who does not act in accordance with them."

- Buddha

"Meditate. Live purely. Be quiet. Do your work with mastery. Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds! Shine"

- Buddha

"For soon the body is discarded, Then what does it feel? A useless log of wood, it lies on the ground, Then what does it know? Your worst enemy cannot harm you As much as your own thoughts, unguarded. But once mastered, No one can help you as much, Not even your father or your mother."

- Buddha

"If you are quiet enough, you will hear the flow of the universe. You will feel its rhythm. Go with this flow. Happiness lies ahead. Meditation is key."

- Buddha

"Though one should live a hundred years without wisdom and control, yet better, indeed, is a single day’s life of one who is wise and meditative."

- Buddha

"If you meditate earnestly, pure in mind and kind in deeds, leading a disciplined life in harmony with the dharma, you will grow in glory. If you meditate earnestly, through spiritual disciplines you can make an island for yourself that no flood can overwhelm."

- Buddha

"If you light a lamp for someone else it will also brighten your path."

- Buddha

"Neither fire, nor wind, birth, nor death, can erase our good deeds."

- Buddha

"Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others."

- Buddha

"If we fail to look after others when they need help, who will look after us?"

- Buddha

"One who acts on truth is happy in this world and beyond."

- Buddha

"Remembering a wrong is like carrying a burden on the mind."

- Buddha

"There is no fear for one whose mind is not filled with desires."

- Buddha

"Irrigators channel waters; fletchers straighten arrows; carpenters bend wood; the wise master themselves."

- Buddha

"Stop, stop. Do not speak. The ultimate truth is not even to think."

- Buddha

"Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes."

- Gautama B.

"Avoid evil deeds as a man who loves life avoids poison."

- Gautama Buddha

"If anything is worth doing, do it with all your heart."

- Buddha

"You are far from the end of your journey. The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart. See how you love."

- Buddha

"You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserves your love and affection."

- Buddha

"There has to be evil so that good can prove its purity above it."

- Buddha

"True love is born from understanding."

- Gautama Buddha

"Just as a mother would protect her only child with her life, even so let one cultivate a boundless love towards all beings."

- Buddha

"Ambition is like love, impatient both of delays and rivals."

- Buddha

"Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again."

- Buddha

"Everything that has a beginning has an ending. Make your peace with that and all will be well."

- Buddhist saying

"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly."

- Buddha

"To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others."

- Buddha

"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change."

- Buddha

"To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one’s own in the midst of abundance."

- Buddha

"If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete."

- Buddha

"Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little."

- Buddha

"Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity."

- Buddha

"Imagine that every person in the world is enlightened but you. They are all your teachers, each doing just the right things to help you learn perfect patience, perfect wisdom, perfect compassion."

- Buddha

"As rain falls equally on the just and the unjust, do not burden your heart with judgement but rain your kindness equally on all."

- Buddha

"In separateness lies the world’s greatest misery; in compassion lies the world’s true strength."

- Buddha

"For the good of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world."

- Buddha

"People with opinions just go around bothering each other."

- Buddha

"Whatever living beings there may be feeble or strong, long, stout, or of medium size, short, small, large, those seen or those unseen, those dwelling far or near, those who are born as well as those yet to be born may all beings have happy minds."

- Buddha

"The tongue like a sharp knife kills without drawing blood."

- Buddha

"We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think."

- Buddha

"Every human being is the author of his own health or disease."

- Buddha

"The mind is everything. What you think, you become."

- Buddha

"The past is already gone, the future is not yet here. There’s only one moment for you to live."

- Buddha

"Nothing is permanent."

- Gautama Buddha

"Set your heart on doing good. Do it over and over again and you will be filled with joy."

- Gautama Buddha

"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly our whole life would change."

- Gautama Buddha

"Three things cannot be long hidden: the Moon, the Sun and the Truth."

- Buddha

"The mind is everything; what you think, you become."

- Buddha

"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world."

- Buddha

"Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded."

- Gautama Buddha

"Learn this from water: loud splashes the brook but the oceans depth are calm."

- Gautama Buddha

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it, not even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."

- Buddha

"It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles."

- Buddha

"The truth is, we can let circumstances rule us, or we can take charge and rule our lives from within."

- Buddha

"A man is not called wise because he talks and talks again; but if he is peaceful, loving and fearless then he is in truth called wise."

- Buddha

"In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you."

- Buddha

"Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have."

- Buddha

"A man is not called wise because he talks and talks again; but if he is peaceful, loving, and fearless then he is in truth called wise."

- Buddha

"Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are. It solely relies on what you think."

- Buddha

"Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom."

- Buddha

"Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth."

- Buddha

"The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows."

- Buddha

"You don’t have a Soul. You are a soul. You have a body."

- Buddha

"The only real obstacle in your path to success is the story you keep telling yourself that you cannot achieve it."

- Buddha

"To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear."

- Buddha

"It is not enough to be compassionate. You must act."

- Buddha

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing."

- Socrates

"The root of suffering is attachment."

- Buddha

"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly."

- Buddha

"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful."

- Buddha

"It is better to travel well than to arrive."

- Buddha

"I am not the first Buddha who came upon Earth, nor shall I be the last. In due time, another Buddha will arise in the world - a Holy One, a supremely enlightened One, endowed with wisdom in conduct, auspicious, knowing the universe, an incomparable leader of men, a master of angels and mortals."

- Buddha

"A jug fills drop by drop."

- Buddha

"Of those beings who live in ignorance, shut up and confined, as it were, in an egg, I have first broken the eggshell of ignorance and alone in the universe obtained the most exalted, universal Buddhahood."

- Buddha

"I was born into the world as the king of truth for the salvation of the world."

- Buddha

"Unity can only be manifested by the Binary. Unity itself and the idea of Unity are already two."

- Buddha

"What is the appropriate behavior for a man or a woman in the midst of this world, where each person is clinging to his piece of debris? What's the proper salutation between people as they pass each other in this flood?"

- Buddha

"The virtues, like the Muses, are always seen in groups. A good principle was never found solitary in any breast."

- Buddha

"The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground."

- Buddha

"The tongue like a sharp knife… Kills without drawing blood."

- Buddha

"A woman of the world is anxious to exhibit her form and shape, whether walking, standing, sitting, or sleeping. Even when represented as a picture, she desires to captivate with the charms of her beauty and, thus, to rob men of their steadfast heart."

- Buddha

"The trouble is, you think you have time."

"If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way."