Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) — "You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and a…"
You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.
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More from Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)
"Should a seeker not find a friend, wiser or better than himself, let him rather walk alone; there is no fellowship with fools."
"We are but guests visiting this world, though most do not know this."
"Conquer the angry one by love. Conquer the evil one by good. Conquer the stingy one by generosity. Conquer the liar by truth."
"What we think, we become."
"The one who is wise, established in virtue, knows the meaning of words, has a tranquil mind, and has abandoned craving, is truly called a sage."
Details
Attributed, often cited in various Buddhist texts and teachings.
Date: c. 5th century BCE
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Understanding this quote
What it means
Self-love is not selfish but essential. You are just as worthy of your own kindness, care, and compassion as any other person. Many people extend patience and warmth to friends, family, even strangers, while treating themselves with harsh criticism. This saying flips that pattern, insisting that directing affection inward is a legitimate and necessary part of being human. You belong on your own list of people deserving care.
Relevance to Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)
The Buddha taught metta, or loving-kindness, as a meditation practice that begins with oneself before radiating outward to others. Having abandoned luxury as a prince and then extreme asceticism that nearly killed him, he discovered the Middle Way, which rejects self-punishment. His teachings on compassion consistently include the self, because a mind tormenting itself cannot free others from suffering. Self-regard was foundational, not incidental, to his path.
The era
In 5th-6th century BCE northern India, spiritual seekers commonly pursued severe self-mortification, fasting, and bodily denial to achieve liberation. Brahminical caste rules also determined who deserved respect, often excluding lower castes entirely. The Buddha's message that every person, regardless of birth, inherently deserves kindness, including from themselves, challenged both the ascetic extremism of wandering samanas and the hierarchical worth assigned by Vedic society during the Shramana movement's rise.
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