Dalai Lama (14th) — "Sometimes I think I am a little bit naughty, a little bit mischievous."

Sometimes I think I am a little bit naughty, a little bit mischievous.
Dalai Lama (14th) — Dalai Lama (14th) Contemporary · Spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism

Get This Quote & Author's Image Illustrated On:

Click any product to generate a realistic preview. Up to 3 at a time.
* Initial load can take up to 90 seconds — revising the preview in another color is nearly instant.

Kitchen

Apparel

Other

Details

Interview with The Guardian

Date: 2015

Wisdom

Verification

Unverifiable

Found in 1 providers: grok

1 source checked

Understanding this quote

What it means

The speaker acknowledges a playful, lighthearted side to their personality — a willingness to tease, joke, or bend expectations in small ways. It humanizes someone often placed on a pedestal, admitting they're not perfectly solemn or saint-like. This self-awareness about having a mischievous streak makes them relatable and signals that genuine warmth and humor coexist alongside deep wisdom and serious purpose.

Relevance to Dalai Lama (14th)

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, is globally recognized for his infectious laugh and playful demeanor during interviews, public talks, and exchanges with world leaders. Despite facing China's occupation of Tibet, decades of exile in Dharamsala, and immense geopolitical pressure, he consistently radiates humor. His friendship with Desmond Tutu, documented in 'The Book of Joy,' centered heavily on mutual teasing and laughter as spiritual practice.

The era

Born 1935, the 14th Dalai Lama has lived through Mao's Cultural Revolution, Tibet's forced annexation, Cold War geopolitics, and the modern human rights era. In a contemporary world that often demands leaders project gravity and gravitas, his openly admitting mischievousness challenges rigid expectations of religious authority, resonating with secular audiences who distrust sanctimony and respond to authentic, unguarded self-expression.

AI-generated insights based on extensive research and information for context. Factual errors? Email [email protected].

Your Cart

Your cart is empty