Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

Founder of Buddhism

Ancient influential 126 sayings

Sayings by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the wise man, gathering it little by little, fills himself with good.

c. 5th century BCE — Dhammapada, Chapter 9, Verse 122
Humorous Unverifiable

The wise ones who are intent on meditation, who delight in the peace of renunciation, such mindful ones, perfect in right understanding, cast off the net of Māra.

c. 5th century BCE — Dhammapada, Chapter 14, Verse 205
Humorous Unverifiable

Conquer the angry one by love. Conquer the evil one by good. Conquer the stingy one by generosity. Conquer the liar by truth.

c. 5th century BCE — Dhammapada, Chapter 17, Verse 223
Humorous Confirmed

Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are. It solely relies on how you think.

c. 5th century BCE — A modern distillation, but reflects core Buddhist principles about the mind.
Humorous Unverifiable

It is in the nature of things that joy arises in a person free from remorse.

c. 5th century BCE — Anguttara Nikaya 10.1
Humorous Unverifiable

Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.

c. 5th century BCE — Dhammapada, Chapter 15, Verse 204
Humorous Confirmed

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.

c. 5th century BCE — Often attributed, reflecting the principle of metta (loving-kindness).
Humorous Unverifiable

One day, in the morning, having put on his undergarment and taken his outer robe and bowl, the Blessed One entered Sāvatthī for alms.

c. 5th century BCE — A common descriptive phrase in the Pali Canon, often unintentionally comedic due to its repetitive f…
Humorous Unverifiable

Monks, I will teach you the all. Listen and pay close attention. I will speak. And what is the all? The eye and forms, ear and sounds, nose and odors, tongue and tastes, body and tactile sensations, intellect and mental phenomena. This is called the all.

c. 5th century BCE — Sabba Sutta (SN 35.23)
Humorous Unverifiable

If you find no one to support you on the spiritual path, walk alone. There is no companionship with the immature.

c. 5th century BCE — Dhammapada, Chapter 14, Verse 199
Humorous Unverifiable

The thoughtless man, even if he can recite a large portion of the law, but is not a doer of it, has no share in the priesthood, but is like a cowherd counting the cows of others.

c. 5th century BCE — Dhammapada, Chapter 1, Verse 19
Humorous Unverifiable

He who is not disturbed by the clamor of the world, nor by its sorrows, nor by its joys, is truly a wise man.

c. 5th century BCE — A distillation of various teachings on equanimity, not a direct quote.
Humorous Unverifiable

Just as a mother would protect her only child with her life, even so let one cultivate a boundless love towards all beings.

c. 5th century BCE — Metta Sutta (Snp 1.8)
Humorous Confirmed

Do not pursue the past. Do not lose yourself in the future. The past no longer is. The future has not yet come. Looking deeply at life as it is in the very here and now, the practitioner dwells in stability and freedom.

c. 5th century BCE — Often attributed, but a modern poetic rendering of mindfulness teachings.
Humorous Unverifiable

May all beings be happy and safe, and may their hearts be filled with joy.

c. 5th century BCE — A common translation of a phrase from the Metta Sutta (Snp 1.8), often used in metta meditation.
Humorous Unverifiable

If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another.

c. 5th century BCE — A popular modern sentiment, reflecting Buddhist ideals but not a direct quote.
Humorous Unverifiable

What is the world? It is a fleeting show, a transient dream. What is life? It is a momentary flash, a passing shadow.

c. 5th century BCE — A poetic summary of anicca (impermanence), not a direct quote.
Humorous Unverifiable

There is no path to happiness: happiness is the path.

c. 5th century BCE — A popular modern quote often attributed to Buddha, but not found in the Pali Canon.
Humorous Confirmed

Let him not despise what he has received, nor should he envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.

c. 5th century BCE — Dhammapada, Chapter 15, Verse 200
Humorous Unverifiable

Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded.

c. 5th-6th Century BCE — From a teaching on the power of the mind
Philosophical Unverifiable