100+ Buddha Quotes: Guiding Lights for a Better Life

Buddha quotes have inspired and enlightened people for centuries. These quotes, attributed to the spiritual teacher and founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, offer wisdom and insight on topics such as mindfulness, compassion, and the path to enlightenment. Some of the best are showcased here.

122 Meaningful Buddha Quotes to Enlighten and Uplift your Spirits:

• A disciplined mind brings happiness.
• Conquer anger with non-anger. Conquer badness with goodness. Conquer meanness with generosity. Conquer dishonesty with truth.
• Those who cling to perceptions and views wander the world, offending people.
• Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the wise man, gathering it little by little, fills himself with good.
• Let none find fault with others; let none see the omissions and commissions of others. But let one see one’s own acts, done and undone.
• Should a person do good, let him do it again and again. Let him find pleasure therein, for blissful is the accumulation of good.
• Delight in heedfulness! Guard well your thoughts!
• Should you find a wise critic to point out your faults, follow him as you would a guide to hidden treasure.
• Should a seeker not find a companion who is better or equal, let them resolutely pursue a solitary course.
• In whom there is no sympathy for living beings: know him as an outcast.
• Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal.
• Live with no sense of ‘mine,’ not forming attachment to experiences.
• Better it is to live one day seeing the rise and fall of things than to live a hundred years without ever seeing the rise and fall of things.
• One is not called noble who harms living beings. By not harming living beings one is called noble.
• If a man going down into a river, swollen and swiftly flowing, is carried away by the current — how can he help others across?
• All conditioned things are impermanent – when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering.
• Ardently do today what must be done. Who knows? Tomorrow, death comes.
• The world is afflicted by death and decay. But the wise do not grieve, having realized the nature of the world.
• Resolutely train yourself to attain peace.
• To support mother and father, to cherish wife and children, and to be engaged in peaceful occupation — this is the greatest blessing.
• All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.
• They blame those who remain silent, they blame those who speak much, they blame those who speak in moderation. There is none in the world who is not blamed.
• Just as the great ocean has one taste, the taste of salt, so also this teaching and discipline has one taste, the taste of liberation.
• As an elephant in the battlefield withstands arrows shot from bows all around, even so shall I endure abuse.
• The one in whom no longer exist the craving and thirst that perpetuate becoming; how could you track that Awakened one, trackless, and of limitless range.
• The root of suffering is attachment.
• Whatever precious jewel there is in the heavenly worlds, there is nothing comparable to one who is Awakened.
• As a water bead on a lotus leaf, as water on a red lily, does not adhere, so the sage does not adhere to the seen, the heard, or the sensed.
• It is in the nature of things that joy arises in a person free from remorse.
• All experiences are preceded by mind, having mind as their master, created by mind.
• Purity and impurity depend on oneself; no one can purify another.
• Ceasing to do evil, Cultivating the good, Purifying the heart: This is the teaching of the Buddhas.
• Understanding is the heartwood of well-spoken words.
• He who can curb his wrath as soon as it arises, as a timely antidote will check snake’s venom that so quickly spreads — such a monk gives up the here and the beyond, just as a serpent sheds its worn-out skin.
• As I am, so are these. As are these, so am I. Drawing the parallel to yourself, neither kill nor get others to kill.
• Just as a solid rock is not shaken by the storm, even so the wise are not affected by praise or blame.
• We will develop love, we will practice it, we will make it both a way and a basis.
• There is no fear for one whose mind is not filled with desires.
• Whatever is not yours: let go of it. Your letting go of it will be for your long-term happiness & benefit.
• Meditate. Do not delay, lest you later regret it.
• Whatever has the nature of arising has the nature of ceasing.
• Know from the rivers in clefts and in crevices: those in small channels flow noisily, the great flow silent. Whatever’s not full makes noise. Whatever is full is quiet.
• 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.
• 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.
• Let him not deceive another nor despise anyone anywhere. In anger or ill will let him not wish another ill.
• 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.
• Good people keep on walking whatever happens. They do not speak vain words and are the same in good fortune and bad. If one desires neither children nor wealth nor power nor success by unfair means, know such a one to be good, wise, and virtuous.
• One who conquers himself is greater than another who conquers a thousand times a thousand men on the battlefield. Be victorious over yourself and not over others.
• Your own self is your master; who else could be? With yourself well controlled, you gain a master very hard to find.
• Not by rituals and resolutions, nor by much learning, nor by celibacy, nor even by meditation can you find the supreme, immortal joy of nirvana until you extinguish your self-will.
• It seems that although we thought ourselves permanent, we are not. Although we thought ourselves settled, we are not. Although we thought we would last forever, we will not.
• Don’t run after pleasure and neglect the practice of meditation. If you forget the goal of life and get caught in the pleasures of the world, you will come to envy those who put meditation first.
• Conquer anger through gentleness, unkindness through kindness, greed through generosity, and falsehood by truth.
• Train your eyes and ears; train your nose and tongue. The senses are good friends when they are trained. Train your body in deeds, train your tongue in words, train your mind in thoughts. This training will take you beyond sorrow.
• Like someone pointing to treasure is the wise person who sees your faults and points them out. Associate with such a sage.
• All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain?
• Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.
• I do not dispute with the world; rather it is the world that disputes with me.
• You cannot travel the path until you have become the path itself.
• Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
• If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.
• The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.
• Be truthful; do not yield to anger. Give freely, even if you have but little. The gods will bless you.
• The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.
• If anything is worth doing, do it with all your heart.
• It is easy to see the faults of others, but difficult to see one’s own faults. One shows the faults of others like chaff winnowed in the wind, but one conceals one’s own faults as a cunning gambler conceals his dice.
• When you attain victory over yourself, not even the gods can turn it into defeat.
• Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.
• What we think, we become.
• If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.
• Health is the best gift, contentment the best wealth, trust the best kinsman, nirvana the greatest joy. Drink the nectar of the dharma in the depths of meditation, and become free from fear and sin.
• Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded.
• Nothing remains without change.
• Faith and prayer both are invisible, but they make impossible things possible.
• Leave behind confused reactions and become patient as the earth; unmoved by anger, unshaken as a pillar, unperturbed as a clear and quiet pool.
• The way to happiness is: keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, give much. Fill your life with love. Do as you would be done by.
• With mindfulness, strive on.
• Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence.
• If the problem can be solved why worry? If the problem cannot be solved worrying will do you no good.
• Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.
• Life is suffering.
• Set your heart on doing good. Do it over and over again, and you will be filled with joy.
• Everything that happens to us is the result of what we ourselves have thought, said, or done. We alone are responsible for our lives.
• Love the whole world as a mother loves her only child.
• Health is the greatest gift, contentment is the greatest wealth.
• It is better to do nothing, than to do what is wrong. For whatever you do, you do to yourself.
• 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.
• To keep the body in good health is a duty. Otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.
• The mind is everything. What you think you become.
• Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.
• You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.
• We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.
• Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.
• Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.
• 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.
• With fools, there is no companionship. Rather than to live with men who are selfish, vain, quarrelsome, and obstinate, let a man walk alone.
• Better than worshiping gods is obedience to the laws of righteousness.
• I was born into the world as the king of truth for the salvation of the world.
• 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.
• He who loves 50 people has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes.
• In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves.
• 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.
• Virtue is persecuted more by the wicked than it is loved by the good.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.
• No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.
• Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.
• Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.
• Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.
• Unity can only be manifested by the Binary. Unity itself and the idea of Unity are already two.
• It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.
• However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?
• He who walks in the eightfold noble path with unswerving determination is sure to reach Nirvana.
• 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.
• 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.
• The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground.
• 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.
• Without health life is not life; it is only a state of langour and suffering – an image of death.
• 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?

5 Karma Buddha Quotes

Karma Buddha quotes explore the interconnections between actions, consequences, and the path to enlightenment according to the teachings of the Buddha. Here are some of the best:

• Don’t waste your time on revenge. Those who hurt you will eventually face their own karma.
• One, who previously made bad karma, but who reforms and creates good karma, brightens the world like the moon appearing from behind a cloud.
• Once you know the nature of anger and joy is empty and you let them go, you free yourself from karma.
• I am the owner of my karma. I inherit my karma. I am born of my karma. I am related to my karma. I live supported by my karma. Whatever karma I create, whether good or evil, that I shall inherit.
• To go from mortal to Buddha, you have to put an end to karma, nurture your awareness, and accept what life brings.

5 Buddha Quotes in Hindi

Here are some enlightening Buddha quotes in Hindi:

• जो व्यक्ति थोड़े में ही खुश रहता है सबसे अधिक खुशी उसी के पास होती हे इसलिए आपके पास जितना है उसी में खुश रहिए।
• मनुष्य का सबसे बड़ा शत्रु है क्रोध इसलिए मनुष्य को अपने क्रोध‌ पर नियंत्रण रखना चाहिए।
• संदेह और शक की आदत सबसे ज्यादा भयानक होती है क्योंकि यह किसी भी रिश्ते को बर्बाद कर सकता है।
• दुनिया में तीन चीज जो कभी भी लंबे समय तक छुप नहीं सकती, वह है सुर्य, चंद्रमा और सत्य यही ब्रह्मांड का अटल सत्य है।
• एक पल एक दिन को , एक दिन एक जीवन को और एक जीवन इस पूरी दुनिया को बदल सकता है।

4 Inner Peace Buddha Quotes

Check these beautiful inner peace Buddha quotes that will help you gain peace from within:

• Everything that has a beginning has an ending. Make your peace with that and all will be well.
• At the end of the day, I’m at peace because my intentions are good and my heart is pure.
• Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.
• Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.

5 Buddha Purnima Quotes

Here are a few Buddha Purnima quotes to send your friends and family on this special occasion:

• On Buddha Purnima, here’s wishing you peace, happiness, good health and prosperity.
• May Lord Buddha enlighten you on the path of love, peace and truth. Happy Buddha Purnima!
• May the celebration of Buddha Purnima bring you inner peace and contentment.
• Wishing you a joyous and meaningful Buddha Purnima, filled with love and understanding.
• May the teachings of Buddha inspire you to live a life of kindness and compassion on this special day and always. Happy Buddha Purnima!

5 Buddha Quotes on Life

Check these powerful Buddha quotes on life:

• To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one’s own in the midst of abundance.
• One moment can change a day, one day can change a life, and one life can change the world.
• What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: Our life is the creation of our mind.
• Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.
• Our life is shaped by our mind. We become what we think. Joy follows a pure thought like a shadow that never leaves.

5 Buddha Quotes on Love

Here are some beautiful Buddha quotes on love to send to your loved ones:

• Radiate boundless love towards the entire world.
• Just as a mother would protect her only child with her life, even so let one cultivate a boundless love towards all beings.
• You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.
• Ambition is like love, impatient both of delays and rivals.
• Love is a gift of one’s innermost soul to another so both can be whole.

5 Good Morning Buddha Quotes

Here are some good morning Buddha quotes to start your day on a positive note:

• Good morning! May the teachings of Buddha guide you through the day and bring you peace and joy.
• Wake up to a new day full of possibilities and the wisdom of Buddha. Good morning!
• May the words of Buddha fill your mind and heart with positivity as you start your day.
• Good morning! May the peaceful teachings of Buddha bring you tranquility and strength for the day ahead.
• Good morning! Wake up and start your day with the mindfulness and compassion of Buddha. 

3 Self Love Buddha Quotes

Here are a couple of self love Buddha quotes to remind you that self love is important:

• Don’t compare your life to others. There’s no comparison between the sun and the moon. They shine when it’s their time.
• You must love yourself before you love another.
• If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another.

5 Happiness Quotes by Buddha

These happiness quotes by Buddha are essential to remember in trying times:

• 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.
• 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.
• There is no path to happiness. Happiness is the path.
• If with a pure mind a person speaks or acts happiness follows him like his never-departing shadow.
• Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others.

10 ​​Buddha Motivational Quotes

Check these Buddha motivational quotes that’ll help you get through the toughest of time:

• Quiet the mind and the soul will speak.
• What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create.
• If you want to fly, give up everything that weighs you down.
• There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.
• Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.
• Don’t rush anything. When the time is right it’ll happen.
• When it hurts, observe. Life is trying to teach you something.
• Change is never painful. Only resistance to change is painful.
• Your mind is a powerful thing. When you start to filter it with positive thoughts your life will start to change.
• Be where you are; otherwise you will miss your life.

5 Inspirational Gautam Buddha Quotes

These inspirational Gautam Buddha quotes will surely help you keep going:

• When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.
• Give, even if you only have a little.
• I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done.
• I will not look at another’s bowl intent on finding a fault: a training to be observed.
• It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you.

5 Truth Buddha Quotes

Check these meaningful Buddha quotes on truth that’ll help you get going in life:

• Those who have failed to work toward the truth have missed the purpose of living.
• One who acts on truth is happy in this world and beyond.
• Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.
• Silence the angry man with love. Silence the ill-natured man with kindness. Silence the miser with generosity. Silence the liar with truth.
• 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.

4 Buddha Quotes on Success

These Buddha quotes on success will help you reach your goal:

• Fools wait for a lucky day but every day is a lucky day for an industrious man.
• He is able who thinks he is able.
• In the end these things matter most: How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you let go?
• Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it.

5 Buddha Quotes on Silence

Here are some Buddha quotes on silence that teach us how powerful silence is:

• You throw thorns, falling in my silence they become flowers.
• Silence is an empty space, space is the home of the awakened mind.
• Do not speak – unless it improves on silence.
• Do not interrogate silence because silence is mute; do not expect anything from the gods, nor should you try to bribe them with gifts, because it is in ourselves that we must look for liberation.
• Bring your mind to noble silence. Unify your mind in noble silence. Concentrate your mind in noble silence. Enter into rapture and pleasure born of silence derived of concentration and awareness that is free from thought and fabrication.

4 Gratitude Quotes Buddha

Here are some gratitude quotes by Buddha to remember to be thankful for what we have in life:

• You have no cause for anything but gratitude and joy.
• Good men and bad men differ radically. Bad men never appreciate kindness shown to them, but wise men appreciate and are grateful. Wise men try to express their appreciation and gratitude by some return of kindness, not only to their benefactor, but to everyone else.
• A noble person is mindful and thankful for the favors he receives from others.
• Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little.

3 Wisdom Buddha Quotes

Read these wisdom Buddha quotes to help you understand life from a different perspective:

• Sometimes, simply by sitting, the soul collects wisdom.
• The ignorant man is an ox. He grows in size, not in wisdom.
• Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance.

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