Quotes from Gautama Buddha

There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.

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

Greater in battle than the man who would conquer a thousand-thousand men, is he who would conquer just one — himself. Better to conquer yourself than others. When you've trained yourself, living in constant self-control, neither a deva nor gandhabba, nor a Mara banded with Brahmas, could turn that triumph back into defeat.

Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it

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.

Words do not express thoughts very well; every thing immediately becomes a little different, a little distorted, a little foolish. And yet it also pleases me and seems right that what is of value and wisdom of one man seems nonsense to another.

It is like a lighted torch whose flame can be distributed to ever so many other torches which people may bring along; and therewith they will cook food and dispel darkness, while the original torch itself remains burning ever the same. It is even so with the bliss of the Way. [Sutra of 42 Sections]

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.

The Buddhas do but tell the way; it is for you to swelter at the task.

Through zeal, knowledge is gotten; through lack of zeal, knowledge is lost.

Let your diet be spare, your wants moderate, your needs few. So, living modestly, with no distracting desires, you will find content.

As irrigators lead water where they want, as archers make their arrows straight, as carpenters carve wood, the wise shape their minds.

O seeker! Rely on nothing until you want nothing.

The whole secret of existence is to have no fear.

The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground.

War ends only when people love each other.

Reverence, humility, contentment, gratitude and hearing the good Dhamma, this is the best good luck.

Being generous, just helping one's relatives and being blameless in one's actions; this is the best good luck.

To refrain from evil and from strong drink and to be always, steadfast in virtue; this is the good luck.

Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.

Those who are truly wise will remain unmoved by feelings of happiness and suffering, fame and disgrace, praise and blame, gain and loss.They will remain calm like the eye of a hurricane.

Do not give your attention to what others do or fail to do; give it to what you do or fail to do.

"All conditioned things are impermanent" - when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering.

Master your words. Master your thoughts. Never allow your body to do harm. Follow these three roads with purity And you will find yourself upon the one way, The way of wisdom.