Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) — "If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another."
If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another.
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More from Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)
"Whoever doesn't flare up at someone who's angry wins a battle that's hard to win."
"The mind is everything. What you think you become."
"To abstain from all evil, to cultivate the good, and to purify one's mind — this is the teaching of all Buddhas."
"If a man foolishly does me wrong, I will return to him the protection of my boundless love. The more evil that comes from him, the more good will go from me."
"The wise ones who are intent on meditation, who delight in the peace of renunciation, such mindful ones, perfect in wisdom, collect like bees the nectar of flowers."
Details
A popular modern sentiment, reflecting Buddhist ideals but not a direct quote.
Date: c. 5th century BCE
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Understanding this quote
What it means
Genuine self-love isn't vanity or selfishness but a deep acceptance and inner peace. When you're truly at ease with yourself, you have no need to lash out, demean, or harm others. Most cruelty comes from unresolved pain, insecurity, or self-hatred projected outward. A person who has healed their own wounds and cultivated genuine compassion toward themselves naturally extends that same kindness to everyone they encounter.
Relevance to Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)
The Buddha taught that suffering stems from craving, aversion, and ignorance rooted in a misunderstood self. After abandoning royal life and years of extreme asceticism, he discovered the Middle Way and awakened under the Bodhi tree. He emphasized metta (loving-kindness) beginning with oneself before radiating outward to all beings. This saying reflects his core insight that inner liberation and outward compassion are inseparable aspects of the same awakened mind.
The era
In 5th-century BCE northern India, the Vedic caste system dictated worth by birth, and harsh ascetic traditions taught self-mortification as the path to liberation. Warfare between small kingdoms was common, and ritual animal sacrifice was widespread. The Buddha's teaching that kindness toward oneself and others mattered more than ritual purity or caste was radical, offering a psychological and ethical path accessible to everyone regardless of social standing.
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