Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

Founder of Buddhism

Ancient influential 126 sayings

Sayings by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

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.

c. 5th-6th Century BCE — From a teaching on compassion and generosity
Philosophical Unverifiable

When watching after yourself, you watch after others. When watching after others, you watch after yourself.

c. 5th-6th Century BCE — From a teaching on interconnectedness
Philosophical Unverifiable

If the problem can be solved, why worry? If the problem cannot be solved, worrying will do you no good.

c. 5th-6th Century BCE — From a teaching on equanimity
Philosophical Unverifiable

Three things can not hide for long: the Moon, the Sun, and the Truth.

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

It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles.

c. 5th-6th Century BCE — From a teaching on self-mastery
Philosophical Unverifiable

There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations.

c. 5th-6th Century BCE — From a teaching on trust and doubt
Philosophical Unverifiable

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.

c. 5th-6th Century BCE — From the Dhammapada (Verse 1)
Philosophical Unverifiable

All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain?

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

It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.

c. 5th-6th Century BCE — From a teaching on internal struggle
Philosophical Unverifiable

A jug fills drop by drop.

c. 5th-6th Century BCE — From a teaching on patience and persistence
Philosophical Unverifiable

However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?

c. 5th-6th Century BCE — From a teaching on the importance of practice
Philosophical Confirmed

I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done.

c. 5th-6th Century BCE — From a teaching on continuous effort
Philosophical Unverifiable

By oneself is evil done; by oneself is one defiled. By oneself is evil left undone; by oneself is one made pure. Purity and impurity depend on oneself; no one can purify another.

c. 5th-6th Century BCE — From a teaching on personal responsibility (Dhammapada 165)
Philosophical Unverifiable

If anything is worth doing, do it with all your heart.

c. 5th-6th Century BCE — From a teaching on dedication
Philosophical Unverifiable

Much though he recites the sacred texts, but acts not accordingly, that heedless man is like a cowherd who only counts the cows of others.

c. 5th-6th Century BCE — From a teaching on hypocrisy (Dhammapada 19)
Philosophical Unverifiable

Let them not do the slightest thing that the wise would later reprove.

c. 5th-6th Century BCE — From a teaching on ethical conduct
Philosophical Unverifiable

Whoever doesn't flare up at someone who's angry wins a battle that's hard to win.

c. 5th-6th Century BCE — From a teaching on self-control (Dhammapada 223)
Philosophical Unverifiable

The Enlightened One is deep, boundless, hard to fathom, like the ocean.

c. 5th-6th Century BCE — From Saṃyutta Nikāya, 44.1
Philosophical Unverifiable

'As I am, so are they; as they are, so am I.' Comparing others with oneself, do not kill nor cause others to kill.

c. 5th-6th Century BCE — From the Sutta Nipata, a teaching on empathy
Philosophical Unverifiable

A mind unruffled by the vagaries of fortune, from sorrow freed, from defilements cleansed, from fear liberated — this is the greatest blessing.

c. 5th-6th Century BCE — From the Mangala Sutta
Philosophical Unverifiable