99 Buddha Quotes That Will Enlighten You

No matter what your religious beliefs are or what background you come from there is great value to be taken from the teachings of the Buddha.

At the age of 35, Gautama Buddha decided to embark on his own spiritual path. Once enlightened, Buddha attracted a following and dedicated his life to teaching the path of enlightenment to them.

Having inspired generations of people for over 2500 years, Buddhism is now a way of life for around 300 million people worldwide that encompasses a peaceful, calm and fair way of life.

These are 99 Buddha quotes that will enlighten your mind. Read them, learn from them, apply them in your own life and share them.

99 Buddha Quotes

1. “Your actions are your only true belongings.” – Buddha

2. “You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.” – Buddha

3. “He is able who thinks he is able.” – Buddha

4. “Fools wait for a lucky day but every day is a lucky day for an industrious man.” – Buddha

5. “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha

6. “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.” – Buddha

7. “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” – Buddha

8. “In the end these things matter most: How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you let go?” – Buddha

9. “There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.” – Buddha

10. “Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.” – Buddha

11. “We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” – Buddha

12. “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.” – Buddha

13. ”If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another.” – Buddha

14. “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. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.” – Buddha

15. “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” – Buddha

16. “However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?” – Buddha

17. “Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.” – Buddha

18. “To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” – Buddha

19. “To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.” – Buddha

20. “The mind is everything. What you think you become.” – Buddha

21. “Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it.” – Buddha

22. “You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.” – Buddha

23. “Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.” – Buddha

24. “When you dig a well, there’s no sign of water until you reach it, only rocks and dirt to move out of the way. You have removed enough; soon the pure water will flow.” – Buddha

25. “Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.” – Buddha

26. “You only lose what you cling to.” – Buddha

27. “We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.” – Buddha

28. “It is better to travel well than to arrive.” – Buddha

29. “The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.” – Buddha

30. “Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” – Buddha

31. “A man is not called wise because he talks and talks again; but if he is peaceful, loving and fearless then he is in truth called wise.” – Buddha

32. “Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.” – Buddha

33. “In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves.” – Buddha

34. “Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.” – Buddha

35. “There is no fire like passion, there is no shark like hatred, there is no snare like folly, there is no torrent like greed.” – Buddha

36. “All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain?” – Buddha

37. “Purity or impurity depends on oneself. No one can purify another.” – Buddha

38. “No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.” – Buddha

39. “True love is born from understanding.” – Buddha

40. “To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others.” – Buddha

41. “There is no path to happiness: happiness is the path.” – Buddha

42. “If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.” – Buddha

43. “Pain is certain, suffering is optional.” – Buddha

44. “Long is the night to him who is awake; long is a mile to him who is tired; long is life to the foolish who do not know the true law.” – Buddha

45. “To understand everything is to forgive everything.” – Buddha

46. “An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.” – Buddha

47. “When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.” – Buddha

48. “Patience is key. Remember: A jug fills drop by drop.” – Buddha

49. “Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.” – Buddha

50. “A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker.” – Buddha

51. “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” – Buddha

52. “Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.” – Buddha

53. “Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.” – Buddha

54. “Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.” – Buddha

55. “In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.” – Buddha

56. “If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.” – Buddha

57. “The darkest night is ignorance.” – Buddha

58. “I never see what has been done, I only see what remains to be done.” – Buddha

59. “Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have.” – Buddha

60. “Give, even if you only have a little.” – Buddha

61. “One is not called noble who harms living beings. By not harming living beings one is called noble.” – Buddha

62. “There is no fear for one whose mind is not filled with desires.” – Buddha

63. “A disciplined mind brings happiness.” – Buddha

64. “They blame those who remain silent, they blame those speak much, they blame those who speak in moderation. There is none in the world who is not blamed.” – Buddha

65. “Conquer anger with non-anger. Conquer badness with goodness. Conquer meanness with generosity. Conquer dishonesty with truth.” – Buddha

66. “Whatever precious jewel there is in the heavenly worlds, there is nothing comparable to one who is awakened.” – Buddha

67. “In whom there is no sympathy for living beings: know him as an outcast.” – Buddha

68. “Radiate boundless love towards the entire world — above, below, and across — unhindered, without ill will, without enmity.” – Buddha

69. “The calmed say that what is well-spoken is best; second, that one should say what is right, not unrighteous; third, what’s pleasing, not displeasing; fourth, what is true, not false.” – Buddha

70. “Resolutely train yourself to attain peace” – Buddha

71. “The root of suffering is attachment.” – Buddha

72. “All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.” – Buddha

73. “Some do not understand that we must die, But those who do realize this settle their quarrels.” – Buddha

74. “Whoever doesn’t flare up at someone who’s angry wins a battle hard to win.” – Buddha

75. “Just as a solid rock is not shaken by the storm, even so the wise are not affected by praise or blame.” – Buddha

76. “To support mother and father, to cherish wife and children, and to be engaged in peaceful occupation — this is the greatest blessing.” – Buddha

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

78. “It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.” – Buddha

79. “There is nothing so disobedient as an undisciplined mind, and there is nothing so obedient as a disciplined mind.” – Buddha

80. “Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded.” – Buddha

81. “It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you.” – Buddha

82. “If you knew what I know about the power of giving you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way.” – Buddha

83. “If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path.” – Buddha

84. “In separateness lies the world’s greatest misery; in compassion lies the world’s true strength.” – Buddha

85. “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” – Buddha

86. “The whole secret of existence is to have no fear.” – Buddha

87. “If the problem can be solved why worry? If the problem cannot be solved worrying will do you no good.” – Buddha

88. “Wear your ego like a loose fitting garment.” – Buddha

89. “The trouble is, you think you have time.” – Buddha

90. “Remembering a wrong is like carrying a burden on the mind.” – Buddha

91. “There isn’t enough darkness in all the world to snuff out the light of one little candle.” – Buddha

92. “One moment can change a day, one day can change a life and one life can change the world.” – Buddha

93. “Hatred does not cease through hatred at any time. Hatred ceases through love. This is an unalterable law.” – Buddha

94. “Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else.” – Buddha

95. “Those who cling to perceptions and views wander the world offending people.” – Buddha

96. “Silence the angry man with love. Silence the ill-natured man with kindness. Silence the miser with generosity. Silence the liar with truth.” – Buddha

97. “If we fail to look after others when they need help, who will look after us?” – Buddha

98. “Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know what leads you forward and what holds you back and choose the path that leads to wisdom.” – Buddha

99. “If anything is worth doing, do it with all your heart.” – Buddha

Which of these Buddha quotes is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below! 🙂