Buddha means the awakened one, the one who has attained enlightenment.
Although you may think that enlightenment is possible only for rare people, like saints, Buddha actually teaches us that all human beings can reach nirvana.
Here’s a collection of 130 best Buddhist quotes to help you dive deeper into this ancient wisdom that transforms life.
10 Most Powerful Buddhist Quotes
1. “The root of suffering is attachment.” — Buddha
2. “There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.” — Buddha
3. “Pain is certain; suffering is optional.” — Buddha
4. “There is no fear for one whose mind is not filled with desires.” — Buddha
5. “If you find no one to support you on the spiritual path, walk alone.” — Buddha
See also: 100 Being Alone Quotes To Embrace The Beauty Of Solitude
6. “A disciplined mind brings happiness.” — Buddha
7. “You cannot travel the path until you have become the path itself.” — Buddha
8. “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” — Buddha
9. “No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.” — Buddha
10. “One moment can change a day, one day can change a life, and one life can change the world.” — Buddha
See also: 80 Powerful Making A Difference Quotes To Inspire Change
Most Famous Buddha Quotes
1. “What you are is what you have been. What you’ll be is what you do now.” — Buddha
2. “Three things can not hide for long: the Moon, the Sun and the Truth.” — Buddha
3. “Better than worshiping gods is obedience to the laws of righteousness.” — Buddha
4. “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
5. “The Way is not in the sky; the Way is in the heart.” — Buddha
6. “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.” — Buddha
See also: 130 Self-Love Affirmations To Help You Embrace Yourself
7. “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
8. “Purity or impurity depends on oneself. No one can purify another.” — Buddha
9. “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” — Buddha
10. “However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?” — Buddha
See also: 100 Actions Speak Louder Than Words Quotes To Live By
Inspirational Buddhist Quotes On Life
1. “The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on earth.” ― Línjì Yìxuán
2. “To support mother and father, to cherish wife and children, and to be engaged in peaceful occupation — this is the greatest blessing.” — Buddha
3. “Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.” — Buddha
4. “An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.” — Buddha
5. “Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.” — Buddha
6. “We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.” — Buddha
7. “For eternally and always there is only now, one and the same now; the present is the only thing that has no end.” ― Alan Wilson Watts
8. “It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.” — Buddha
9. “If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it’s fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. It would be much better to turn your attention to the fact that there’s an arrow in your heart…” ― Pema Chödrön
10. “If there is any religion that could respond to the needs of modern science, it would be Buddhism.” ― Albert Einstein
See also: 110 Amazing Albert Einstein Quotes To Think About
11. “Irrigators channel waters; fletchers straighten arrows; carpenters bend wood; the wise master themselves.” — Buddha
12. “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?” — Buddha
13. “Whether our action is wholesome or unwholesome depends on whether that action or deed arises from a disciplined or undisciplined state of mind. It is felt that a disciplined mind leads to happiness and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering, and in fact it is said that bringing about discipline within one’s mind is the essence of the Buddha’s teaching.” ― Dalai Lama XIV
14. “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
15. “Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.” — Buddha
16. “Living an ethical life is not a case of adhering to a set of regulations imposed on us from outside, such as the laws of a country. Rather it involves voluntarily embracing a discipline on the basis of a clear recognition of its value. In essence, living a true ethical life is living a life of self-discipline. When the Buddha said that “we are our own master, we are our own enemy,” he was telling us that our destiny lies in our own hands.” ― Dalai Lama
See also: 150 Discipline Quotes To Unlock Your Potential And Success
17. “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
18. “As you walk and eat and travel, be where you are. Otherwise you will miss most of your life.” — Buddha
19. “Those who have failed to work toward the truth have missed the purpose of living.” — Buddha
20. “Our work is not to become a better person, but to become present to the perfection we already are.” ― Allan Lokos
See also: 150 Wise Quotes Of Perfection To Propel You To Excellence
Inspirational Buddhist Quotes On Love & Compassion
1. “In separateness lies the world’s greatest misery; in compassion lies the world’s true strength.” — Buddha
2. “If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path.” — Buddha
3. “Hatred never ceases by hatred but by love alone is healed.” — Buddha
4. “Set your heart on doing good. Do it over and over again and you will be filled with joy.” — Unknown
See also: 80 Inspiring Quotes On Joy To Turn Your Frown Upside Down
5. “True love is born from understanding.” — Buddha
6. “Radiate boundless love towards the entire world.” — Buddha
7. “Just as a mother would protect her only child with her life, even so let one cultivate a boundless love towards all beings.” — Buddha
8. “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
9. “True compassion is undirected & holds no conceptual focus. That kind of genuine, true compassion is only possible after realizing emptiness.” ― Tsoknyi Rinpoche
10. “When you find out that there was never anything in the dark side to be afraid of … Nothing is left but to love.” ― Alan Watts
11. “We will develop and cultivate the liberation of mind by lovingkindness, make it our vehicle, make it our basis, stabilize it, exercise ourselves in it, and fully perfect it.” — Buddha
12. “If with a pure mind a person speaks or acts, happiness follows them like a never-departing shadow.” — Buddha
13. “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
14. “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.” — Buddha
15. “If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.” — Buddha
See also: 70 Self Compassion Quotes To Help You Love Yourself More
16. “The path to true enlightenment is shrouded in mystery, yet revealed to those who embrace the journey with compassionate hearts and unwavering integrity.” ― Shawpelle Mellowness
17. “Give, even if you only have a little.” — Buddha
18. “Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.” — Buddha
19. “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.” — Buddha
20. “Silence the angry man with love. Silence the ill-natured man with kindness. Silence the miser with generosity. Silence the liar with truth.” — Buddha
See also: 160 Best Quotes About Liars To Help You Deal With Them
Buddhist Quotes About Karma
1. “You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.” — Buddha
2. “All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.” — Buddha
3. “Once you know the nature of anger and joy is empty and you let them go, you free yourself from karma.” — Buddha
4. “Don’t underestimate yourself thinking goodness is beyond you. Just as tiny drops of water can fill a pot, so also little good deeds, can fill a wise man with goodness.” — Buddha
5. “All that we are is the result of what we have thought.” — Buddha
6. “If you propose to speak, always ask yourself: is it true, is it necessary, is it kind.” — Buddha
7. “One is not called noble who harms living beings. By not harming living beings one is called noble.” — Buddha
8. “Avoid evil deeds as a man who loves life avoids poison.” — Buddha
9. “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.” — Buddha
10. “The righteous man rejoices in this world, the next; and in both. He rejoices, delighted with the purity of his own actions.” — Buddha
11. “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
12. “As I am, so are these. As are these, so am I. Drawing the parallel to yourself, neither kill nor get others to kill.” — Buddha
13. “Set your heart on doing good. Do it over and over again, and you will be filled with joy.” — Buddha
14. “When action comes out of nothing, it creates no karma.” — Buddha
15. “To go from mortal to Buddha, you have to put an end to karma, nurture your awareness, and accept what life brings.” — Buddha
See also: 130 Wise Acceptance Quotes To Help You Grow And Prosper
Buddhism Quotes To Achieve Peace Of Mind
1. “Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have.” — Buddha
2. “Offend in neither word nor deed. Eat with moderation. Live in your heart. Seek the highest consciousness. Master yourself according to the law. This is the simple teaching of the awakened.” — Buddha
3. “Many people think excitement is happiness…. But when you are excited you are not peaceful. True happiness is based on peace.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
4. “The victorious ones have said that emptiness is the relinquishing of all views. For whomever emptiness is a view, that one has achieved nothing.” ― Nāgārjuna
5. “It is my conviction that there is no way to peace – peace is the way.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
6. “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
7. “Without giving up hope—that there’s somewhere better to be, that there’s someone better to be—we will never relax with where we are or who we are.” ― Pema Chödrön
8. “Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts.” — Buddha
9. “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
10. “The quieter you become, the more you can hear.” — Buddha
See also: 150 Silence Quotes When Silence Speaks Louder Than Words
11. “The coolness of Buddhism isn’t indifference but the distance one gains on emotions, the quiet place from which to regard the turbulence. From far away you see the pattern, the connections, and the thing as whole, see all the islands and the routes between them. Up close it all dissolves into texture and incoherence and immersion, like a face going out of focus just before a kiss.” ― Rebecca Solnit
12. “The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend a personal God and avoid dogmas and theology. Covering both the natural and the spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity. Buddhism answers this description.” ― Albert Einstein
13. “But people of the deepest understanding look within, distracted by nothing. Since a clear mind is the Buddha, they attain the understanding of a Buddha without using the mind.” ― Bodhidharma
14. “The secret of Buddhism is to remove all ideas, all concepts, in order for the truth to have a chance to penetrate, to reveal itself.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
15. “Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.” — Buddha
16. “If you use your mind to look for a Buddha, you won’t see the Buddha.” — Bodhidharma
17.“No coming, no going, no after, no before. I hold you close, I release you to be free. I am in you and you are in me.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
18. “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
See also: 120 Best Spiritual Universe Quotes To Contemplate Life
19. “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
20. “Everything that has a beginning has an ending. Make your peace with that and all will be well.” — Buddha
Buddhist Quotes to Give You Inner Strength
1. “Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” — Buddha
2. “Do not look for a sanctuary in anyone except yourself.” — Buddha
3. “No matter how hard the past, you can always begin.” — Buddha
4. “To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one’s own in the midst of abundance.” — Buddha
5. “Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.” — Buddha
6. “The Buddha asks us to see things as they really are. He does not ask us to cling to optimistic views of eternity or pessimistic views of annihilation but simply to examine our experience.” ― Red Pine
7. “It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you.” — Buddha
8. “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
9. “Pain is not wrong. Reacting to pain as wrong initiates the trance of unworthiness. The moment we believe something is wrong, our world shrinks and we lose ourselves in the effort to combat the pain.” ― Tara Brach
10. “Learn this from water: loud splashes the brook but the ocean’s depth are calm.” — Buddha
See also: 260 Gripping Water Captions For Instagram To Inspire Change
11. “Do not ask for less responsibility to be free and relaxed–Ask for more strenght!” ― Master Chen Yen
12. “Conquer anger with non-anger. Conquer badness with goodness. Conquer meanness with generosity. Conquer dishonesty with truth.” — Buddha
13. “We have two alternatives: either we question our beliefs – or we don’t. Either we accept our fixed versions of reality- or we begin to challenge them. In Buddha’s opinion, to train in staying open and curious – to train in dissolving our assumptions and beliefs – is the best use of our human lives.” ― Pema Chodron
14. “Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness. If, in our heart, we still cling to anything – anger, anxiety, or possessions – we cannot be free.” — Buddha
15. “Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else.” — Buddha
16. “Faith does play an important role in Buddhism, including in Zen: faith as preliminary trust and ultimately faith as true self-confidence.” ― Bret W Davis
See also: 160 Believe In Yourself Quotes To Bask In Your Confidence
17. “Even as a solid rock is unshaken by the wind, so are the wise unshaken by praise or blame.” — Buddha
18. “Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes.” — Buddha
19. “Your own self is your master; who else could be? With yourself well controlled, you gain a master very hard to find.” — Buddha
20. “What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. And What you imagine, you create.” — Buddha
See also: 130 Law Of Attraction Quotes To Transform Your Mindset
Buddhist Quotes On Change And Death
1. “Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again.” — Buddha
2. “Nothing is forever except change.” — Buddha
3. “The world is afflicted by death and decay. But the wise do not grieve, having realized the nature of the world.” — Buddha
4. “Whatever has the nature of arising has the nature of ceasing.” — Buddha
5. “All conditioned things are impermanent – when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering.” — Buddha
6. “Everything is changeable, everything appears and disappears; there is no blissful peace until one passes beyond the agony of life and death.” — Buddha
7. “Learning to let go should be learned before learning to get. Life should be touched, not strangled. You’ve got to relax, let it happen at times, and at others move forward with it.” ― Ray Bradbury
8. “No one can force us to transform our minds, not even Buddha. We must do so voluntarily. Therefore Buddha stated, ‘You are your own master’.” — Dalai Lama
9. “Birth is okay and death is okay, if we know that they are only concepts in our mind. Reality transcends both birth and death.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
10. “If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly our whole life would change.” — Buddha
See also: 130 Beautiful Short Flower Quotes To Add Color To Your Day
11. “We long for permanence but everything in the known universe is transient. That’s a fact but one we fight.” ― Sharon Salzberg
12. “Only those few who are able to surpass their fear of death completely can fully experience the highest forms of life; not the mundane life of the mortal, but the godly life of the resurrected.” ― Zeena Schreck
13. “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
14. “Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness. If, in our heart, we still cling to anything – anger, anxiety, or possessions – we cannot be free.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
15. “Ardently do today what must be done. Who knows? Tomorrow, death comes.” — Buddha
See also: 100 Tomorrow Is Not Promised Quotes To Seize The Day
Final Words
More philosophy than a religion, Buddhism can help all truth-seekers, regardless of their religious beliefs. I hope these Buddhist quotes have inspired you on your path to enlightenment.
