The educated differ from the uneducated as much as the living from the dead.

The difference between a learned man and an ignorant one is the same as that between a living man and a corpse.

The actuality of thought is life.

Men create gods after their own image, not only with regard to their form but with regard to their mode of life.

Man is a goal seeking animal. His life only has meaning if he is reaching out and striving for his goals.

Comedy aims at representing men as worse, Tragedy as better than in actual life.

“No single event can awaken within us a stranger whose existence we had never suspected. To live is to be slowly born.” 

"Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction."

"A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us. To live is to be slowly born."

"Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction"

"Life has meaning only if one barters it day by day for something other than itself."

“In those days, I didn't understand anything. I should have judged her according to her actions, not her words. She perfumed my planet and lit up my life. I should never have run away! I ought to have realized the tenderness underlying her silly pretensions. Flowers are so contradictory! But I was too young to know how to love her.” 

“In those days, I didn't understand anything. I should have judged her according to her actions, not her words. She perfumed my planet and lit up my life. I should never have run away! I ought to have realized the tenderness underlying her silly pretensions. Flowers are so contradictory! But I was too young to know how to love her.” 

"The notion of looking on at life has always been hateful to me. What am I if I am not a participant? In order to be, I must participate."

One great question underlies our experience, whether we think about it or not: what is the purpose of life?… From the moment of birth every human being wants happiness and does not want suffering. Neither social conditioning nor education nor ideology affects this. From the very core of our being, we simply desire contentment… Therefore, it is important to discover what will bring about the greatest degree of happiness.

“Happiness” means mainly a sense of deep satisfaction. The object of life or our goal, then, is satisfaction.

Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.

To remain indifferent to the challenges we face is indefensible. If the goal is noble, whether or not it is realized within our lifetime is largely irrelevant. What we must do therefore is to strive and persevere and never give up.

Everybody wants a happy life and a peaceful mind, but we have to produce peace of mind through our own practice.

As long as we observe love for others and respect for their rights and dignity in our daily lives, then whether we are learned or unlearned, whether we believe in the Buddha or God, follow some religion or none at all, as long as we have compassion for others and conduct ourselves with restraint out of a sense of responsibility, there is no doubt we will be happy.

Given the scale of life in the cosmos, one human life is no more than a tiny blip. Each one of us is a just visitor to this planet, a guest, who will only stay for a limited time. What greater folly could there be than to spend this short time alone, unhappy or in conflict with our companions? Far better, surely, to use our short time here in living a meaningful life, enriched by our sense of connection with others and being of service to them.

Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.

Our perspective toward life is our final and ultimate freedom.”

Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.