Dalai Lama Quotes: These famous Dalai Lama quotes will go straight to your heart, from inspiring quotes about life by the Dalai Lama to his sayings about love and more.
Dalai Lama messages that will inspire you, look no further. You may be inspired by some of the most famous and inspiring Dalai Lama quotes and sayings, as well as photos and captions, in our collection of the greatest Dalai Lama messages and images.
Known for his profound teachings about many parts of life, the Dalai Lama has become one of the most revered and prominent spiritual leaders in recent centuries.
He has spent his whole life working to make the world a more peaceful place by building bridges between countries and working on environmental issues.
Use these Dalai Lama quotes about mindfulness and serenity to gain some inspiration for your next meditation or quiet time. His Holiness has some more words of wisdom for you.
A Simple Path and The Little Book of Wisdom, two of his best-selling works, are great places to start. When it comes to spreading good qualities such as forgiveness, self-control, compassion, and tolerance, the Dalai Lama is one of the world’s most revered spiritual leaders.
He talks about how important health, happiness, and world peace are every minute of every day to his many followers all over the world.
Dalai Lama Quote
1. “Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.”
2. “The important thing is that men should have a purpose in life. It should be something useful, something good.”
3. “Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back, and reasons to stay.”
4. “A truly compassionate attitude toward others does not change even if they behave negatively or hurt you.”
5. “The more you are motivated by love, The more fearless & free your actions will be.”
6. “The topic of compassion is not at all religious business; it is important to know it is human business, it is a question of human survival.”
Top Inspiring Dalai Lama Quotes on Life
7. “People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.”
8. “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”
9. “Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.”
10. “When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.”
11. “Because motivation pervades all action, it is important that we have a positive motivation. Whatever we are involved in, whether it’s politics, education, medicine, law, engineering, science, business or industry, the nature of our motivation determines the character of our work.”
12. “We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.”
13. “Proper utilization of time is so important. While we have this body, and especially this amazing human brain, I think every minute is something precious.”
14. “There are two kinds of compassion. The first comes from a natural concern for friends and family who are close to us. This has a limited range but can be the seed for something bigger. We can also learn to extend a genuine concern for others’ well-being, whoever they are. That is real compassion, and only human beings are capable of developing it.”
15. “Although you may not always be able to avoid difficult situations, you can modify the extent to which you can suffer by how you choose to respond to the situation.”
16. “Instead of wondering WHY this is happening to you, consider why this is happening to YOU.”
17. “Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.”
18. “Whether one is rich or poor, educated or illiterate, religious or non-believing, man or woman, black, white, or brown, we are all the same. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, we are all equal. We all share basic needs for food, shelter, safety, and love. We all aspire to happiness and we all shun suffering. Each of us has hopes, worries, fears, and dreams. Each of us wants the best for our family and loved ones. We all experience pain when we suffer loss and joy when we achieve what we seek. On this fundamental level, religion, ethnicity, culture, and language make no difference.”
19. “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your gun.”
20. “When we are motivated by compassion and wisdom, the results of our actions benefit everyone, not just our ourselvessome immediate convenience. When we can recognize and forgive ignorant actions of the past, we gain strength to constructively solve the problems of the present.”
21. “Home is where you feel at home and are treated well.”
22. “Optimism doesn’t mean that you are blind to the reality of the situation. It means that you remain motivated to seek a solution to whatever problems arise.”
23. “Action is more important than meditation.”
24. “Peace does not mean an absence of conflicts; differences will always be there. Peace means solving these differences through peaceful means; through dialogue, education, knowledge; and through humane ways.”
25. “Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us the tranquility and happiness we all seek.”
26. “Hard times build determination and inner strength. Through them, we can also come to appreciate the uselessness of anger. Instead of getting angry, nurture a deep caring and respect for troublemakers because by creating such trying circumstances they provide us with invaluable opportunities to practice tolerance and patience.”
27. “I believe that to meet the challenges of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not just for oneself, one’s own family, or nation, but for the benefit of all humankind. Universal responsibility is the key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace.”
28. “Optimism leads to success; pessimism leads to defeat.”
29. “I don’t know whether the universe, with its countless galaxies, stars, and planets, has a deeper meaning or not, but at the very least, it is clear that we humans who live on this earth face the task of making a happy life for our ourselves. Therefore, it is important to discover what will bring about the greatest degree of happiness.”
30. “Through violence, you may ‘solve’ one problem, but you sow the seeds for another.”
31. “A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering.”
32. “Friendship depends on trust, not money, not power, not mere education or knowledge. Only if there is trust will there be friendship.”
33. “Compassion naturally creates a positive atmosphere, and as a result, you feel peaceful and content.”
34. “Silence is sometimes the best answer”
35. “Neither a space station nor an enlightened mind can be realized in a day.”
36. No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful the experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster.”
37. “You must not hate those who do wrong or harmful things; but with compassion, you must do what you can to stop them — for they are harming themselves, as well as those who suffer from their actions.”
38. “When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways–either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits or by using the challenge to find our inner strength.”
39. “In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.”
40. “To remain indifferent to the challenges we face is indefensible. If the goal is noble, whether or not it is realized within our lifetime is largely irrelevant. What we must do therefore is to strive and persevere and never give up.”
41. “As you breathe in, cherish yourself. As you breathe out, cherish all beings.”
42. “Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.”
43. “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
44. “When we feel love and kindness towards others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it also helps us to develop inner happiness and peace.”
45. “Happiness doesn’t always come from a pursuit. Sometimes it comes when we least expect it.”
46. “Calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that’s very important for good health.”
47. “An open heart is an open mind.”
48. “We are the controller of technology. If we become slaves to technology, then that’s not good.”
49. “The remedy is to look deeper and recognize that we human beings are physically, mentally, and emotionally the same.”
50. “Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.”
51. “The goal is not to be better than the other man, but your previous self.”
52. “Don’t ever mistake my silence for ignorance, my calmness for acceptance, or my kindness for weakness. Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.”
53. “Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, and I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, expand my heart to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts toward others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”
54. “Love and Compassion are the true religions to me. But to develop this, we do not need to believe in any religion.”
55. “The purpose of all the major religious traditions is not to construct big temples on the outside, but to create temples of goodness and compassion inside, in our hearts.”
56. “I defeat my enemies when I make them my friends.”
57. “There is a saying in Tibetan, ‘Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.’
58. “Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.”
59. “The true hero is one who conquers his own anger and hatred.”
60. “Smile if you want a smile from another face.”
61. “When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it also helps us to develop inner happiness and peace.”
62. “It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others.”
63. “Love is the absence of judgment.” – Dalai Lama
64. “I believe compassion to be one of the few things we can practice that will bring immediate and long-term happiness to our lives. I’m not talking about the short-term gratification of pleasures like sex, drugs, or gambling (though I’m not knocking them), but something that will bring true and lasting happiness. The kind that sticks.”
65. “There is only one important point you must keep in your mind and let it be your guide. No matter what people call you, you are just who you are. Keep to this truth. You must ask yourself how you want to live your life. We live and we die, this is the truth that we can only face alone. No one can help us, not even the Buddha. So consider carefully, what prevents you from living the way you want to live your life?”
66. “Someone else’s action should not determine your response.”
67. “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.”
68. “Virtually all of us have benefited from our mother’s affection at the start of our lives. When someone is on their deathbed if he or she is surrounded by loved ones they can pass away peacefully. From birth to death we all need affection.”
69. “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.”
70. “All major religious traditions carry the same message, that is love, compassion, and forgiveness. The important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.”
71. “We begin from the recognition that all beings cherish happiness and do not want to suffer. It then becomes both morally wrong and pragmatically unwise to pursue only one’s happiness oblivious to the feelings and aspirations of all others who surround us as members of the same human family. The wiser course is to think of others when pursuing our happiness.”
72. “What surprises me most is “Man” because he sacrifices his health to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he doesn’t enjoy the present; The result being he doesn’t live in the present or the future; He lives as if he’s never going to die, and then he dies having never really lived.”
73. “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others, and if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.”
74. “Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.”
75. “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.”
76. “Compassion is the radicalism of our time.”
77. “Be honest, truthful, and altruistic. If you concern yourself with taking care of others, there’ll be no room for lies, bullying, and cheating. If you’re truthful you can live transparently, which will enable you to establish trust, the basis for making friends.”
78. “We all have the power of thought—so what are you lacking? If you have willpower, then you can change anything.”
79. “Even an animal, if you show genuine affection, gradually trust develops… If you are always showing a bad face and beating, how can you develop friendship?”
80. “World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just the mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.”
81. “I want to be just a pure spiritual leader.”
82. “If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry about it; if you cannot do anything, then there is also no need to worry.”
83. “As people alive today, we must consider future generations: a clean environment is a human right like any other. It is, therefore, part of our responsibility toward others to ensure that the world we pass on is as healthy, if not healthier than we found it.”
84. “Time passes unhindered. When we make mistakes, we cannot turn the clock back and try again. All we can do is use the present well.”
85. “Most people prefer a smile to a frown. It’s human nature. Even dogs respond with wagging tails to a smile and other shows of affection.”
86. “Love is the absence of judgment.”
87. “Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.”
88. “To be kind, honest and have positive thoughts; to forgive those who harm us and treat everyone as a friend; to help those who are suffering and never to consider ourselves superior to anyone else: even if this advice seems rather simplistic, make the effort of seeing whether by following it you can find greater happiness.”
89. “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
90. “I believe the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in that religion or this religion, we are all seeking something better in life. So, I think, the very motion of our life is towards happiness.”
91. “Never give up. No matter what is going on. Never give up.”
92. “Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back and reasons to stay.”
93. “The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of all kinds.”
94. “I believe the ultimate source of blessings is within us.”
95. “Because we all share this planet earth, we have to learn to live in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. This is not just a dream, but a necessity.”
96. “As individuals, we can influence our own families. Our families can influence our communities and our communities can influence our nations.”
97. “Anger is the ultimate destroyer of your own peace of mind.”
98. “An eye for an eye… we are all blind.”
99. “We all have to live together, so we might as well live together happily.”
100. “Anger or hatred is like a fisherman’s hook. We need to ensure that we are not caught by it.”
101. “Our ancient experience confirms at every point that everything is linked together, everything is inseparable.”
102. “It’s good to remember that other human beings are like us. We are born the same way; we die the same way. While we’re alive it’s better to be able to trust each other as friends.”
103. “Too much self-centered attitude, you see, brings, you see, isolation. Result: loneliness, fear, anger. The extreme self-centered attitude is the source of suffering.”
104. “Happiness is not something readymade, it comes from your own actions.”
105. “I find hope in the darkest days, and focus on the brightest.”
106. “Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, and a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend – or a meaningful day.”
107. “If a problem can be solved it will be. If it can not be solved there is no use worrying about it.”
108. “Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.”
109. “Those who have little interest in spirituality shouldn’t think that human inner values don’t apply to you. The inner peace of an alert and calm mind is the source of real happiness and good health. Our human intelligence tells us which of our emotions are positive and helpful and which are damaging and to be restrained or avoided.”
110. “Open your arms to change but don’t let go of your values.”
111. “If we are sincere in taking care of others, if we protect their lives and respect their rights, we’ll be able to conduct our lives transparently and that is the basis of trust, which in turn is the basis of friendship.”
112. “Sleep is the best meditation.”
113. “Compassion is not religious business, it is human business, it is not luxury, it is essential for our peace and mental stability, it is essential for human survival.”
114. “The creation of a more peaceful and happier society has to begin from the level of the individual, and from there it can expand to one’s family, to one’s neighborhood, to one’s community and so on.”
115. “When you practice gratitude, there is a sense of respect toward others.”
116. “I will not propose to you that my way is best. The decision is up to you. If you find some point which may be suitable to you, then you can carry out experiments for yourself. If you find that it is of no use, then you can discard it.”
117. “I have always had this view about the modern education system: we pay attention to brain development, but the development of warmheartedness we take for granted.”
118. “Human potential is the same for all. Your feeling, “I am of no value”, is wrong. Wrong. You are deceiving yourself. We all have the power of thought – so what are you lacking? If you have willpower, then you can change anything. It is usually said that you are your own master.”
119. “Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates a significant impression by remaining silent.”
120. “To become prosperous, a person must initially work very hard, so he or she has to sacrifice a lot of leisure time.”
121. “Let us try to recognize the precious nature of each day.”
122. “The more you are motivated by love, the more fearless and free your actions will be.”
123. “In order to carry out a positive action we must develop a positive vision.”
124. “Even when we have physical hardships, we can be very happy.”
125. “Inner peace is the key: if you have inner peace, the external problems do not affect your deep sense of peace and tranquility…without this inner peace, no matter how comfortable your life is material, you may still be worried, disturbed, or unhappy because of circumstances.”
126. “Irrespective of whether we are believers or agnostics, whether we believe in God or karma, moral ethics is a code which everyone can pursue.”
127. “Once a year, go somewhere you’ve never been before.”