70 Buddha Quotes on Mind, Peace and Happiness

Buddhism has been around for over 2,500 years and is a way of life that about 300 million people around the world follow.

At the age of 35, Gautama left the palace walls where he had grown up and ventured into the real world to walk his own spiritual path. Sitting under a Bodhi tree until he became enlightened, ‘Buddha’ attracted a following and dedicated the rest of his life teaching the path of enlightenment and awakening to them.

Buddhism is a very calm, peaceful and fair way of life and these Buddha quotes encompass the philosophy of Buddha’s teachings.

Here are 70 of The Best and Highly Shared Buddha Quotes to enlighten your mind and soul.

Buddha Quotes on the Mind & Thoughts

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

2. “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

3. “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

4. “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

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

6. “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

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

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

9. “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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Buddha Quotes on Peace & Happiness

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

18. “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

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

20. “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

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

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

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

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

25. “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

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

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

Buddha Quotes on Compassion & Kindness

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

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

30. “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

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

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

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

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

35. “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

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

37. “If you don’t tend to one another, who then will tend to you?” – Buddha

38. “Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.” –Buddha

39. “Understanding is the heartwood of well-spoken words.”- Buddha

40. “Speak only endearing speech, speech that is welcomed. Speech, when it brings no evil to others, is a pleasant thing.”- Buddha

41. “Radiate boundless love towards the entire world…” – Buddha

Buddha Quotes on Suffering, Anger & Letting Go

42. “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

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

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

45. “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

46. “You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger.” – Buddha

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

48. “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

49. “People with opinions just go around bothering each other.” – Buddha

50. “It is easy to see the faults of others, but difficult to see one’s own faults.” – Buddha

51. “That deed is not well done, if one has to repent for having done it, and if, with a tearful face, one has to weep as a result of that deed.” – Buddha

Buddha Quotes on Wisdom, Purpose & The Path

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

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

54. “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

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

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

57. “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

58. “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

59. “Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.”

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

61. “Doubt everything. Find your own light.” – Buddha

62. “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

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

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

65. “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

66. “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

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

68. “The darkest night is ignorance” – Buddha

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

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

How to use these quotes: choose one that speaks to what you’re dealing with right now, read it slowly each morning, and take a minute of quiet to notice how it changes the way you respond. Small, repeated reminders like this tend to do more than reading the whole list once.