The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibet — and a spiritual presence held in high regard around the globe. These famous Dalai Lama quotes will go straight to your heart, from inspiring quotes about life by the Dalai Lama to his sayings about love and more.
Top 70 Dalai Lama Quotes On Life, Happiness And Love “Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it.”
Dalai Lama Quotes
The Dalai Lama is one of the most inspirational speakers of our time. Here’s over 70 Dalai Lama quotes to inspire you to live better.
“1. If you live your life honestly and truthfully, you’ll be open and transparent, which leads to trust. And trust leads to friendship.”
“2. Giving in to anger, fear and suspicion disturbs our minds and our physical well-being, whereas trust and friendship are the basis of society”
“3. If we’re motivated by a genuine sense of universal responsibility our relations with the environment and our neighbors will be more balanced”
“4. As human beings we are all responsible for each other; we all have the potential to be kind and affectionate.”
“5. The moment you think of others, your mind widens.”
“6. Being aware of a single shortcoming within yourself is far more useful than being aware of a thousand in someone else.”
“7. Deep down we must have a real affection for each other, a clear recognition of our shared status as human beings.”
“8. Fundamentally, all spiritual traditions help us train our minds, overcome our negativities and fulfill our inner potential.”
“9. When our mind is calm, we’re better able to find peace of mind and live a joyful life.”
“10. Only tolerance and patience can protect us from the destructive effects of anger and hatred.”
Dalai Lama Quotes on Life
“11. What makes our human life precious is our marvelous brain. We have an ability to cultivate compassion in a way no other beings can do.”
“12. Material development only gives us sensory pleasure, but to be lastingly happy we need to develop our minds. We need calm minds.”
“13. Common sense tells us we’ll be happy even if we’re poor if we’re warm-hearted, whereas if we’re wealthy but self-centered we’ll be miserable”
“14. Changing the world is up to us. If each of us tries, the next generation may see a happier, more peaceful world emerge.”
“15. It is important to teach young people at school that violence is a fruitless approach to solving problems.”
“16. Kindness and compassion give rise to self-confidence, which in turn empowers us to be honest, truthful and transparent.”
“17. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to base all our hopes for happiness on external development alone.”
“18. We need to promote the oneness of all human beings, on the basis of which there are no grounds for killing or exploiting others.”
“19. Many think that happiness is to be found outside ourselves in material things, but actually, happiness is something that comes from within.”
“20. Compassion reduces our fear, boosts our confidence, and opens us to inner strength.”
Dalai Lama Quotes On Happiness
“21. Patience acts as a counterforce to anger for every negative state, we can identify one which opposes it. Humility opposes pride; contentment opposes greed; perseverance opposes indolence. If we wish to overcome the unwholesome states which arise when negative thoughts and emotions are allowed to develop, cultivating virtue should not be seen as separate from restraining our response to afflictive emotion.”
“22. Doing harm to others may bring temporary satisfaction, but being helpful to them is the only real source of lasting joy.”
“23. Our potential for positive and negative emotions is the same, but intelligence is our special quality. Use it well; be successful and happy.”
“24. Tolerance is always important, it helps us overcome difficulties. Without it, small things irritate us and we overreact.”
“25. To serve others and not only to secure their welfare, but also to avoid harming them, is the standard of a meaningful life.”
“26. True compassion isn’t just an emotional response, it’s a firm commitment founded on reason, which doesn’t change if others behave badly.”
“27. To create a happier humanity we have to pay more attention to our inner values, whether we are religious or not.”
“28. Loving is of even greater importance than being loved.”
“29. As human beings, equipped with marvelous intelligence and the potential for developing a warm heart, each of us can become a force for good”
“30. It’s unrealistic to think that the future of humanity can be achieved through prayer or good wishes alone; what we need is to take action.”
Dalai Lama Quotes On Love
“31. It is possible to use our intelligence and extend our compassion to others, including even our enemies.”
“32. “We are visitors on this planet. We are here for ninety, a hundred years at the very most. During that period we must try to do something good, something useful in our lives. Try to be at peace with yourself and help others share that peace. If you contribute to other people’s happiness, you will find the true goal, the true meaning of life.”
“33. Anger cannot be overcome by anger. If someone is angry with you, and you show anger in return, the result is a disaster. On the other hand, if you control your anger and show its opposite- love, compassion, tolerance and patience-not only will you remain peaceful, but the other person’s anger will also diminish.”
“34. When you help others, do so out of respect. Don’t look down on them. Serve other human beings with a compassionate intent.”
“35. Friendship doesn’t depend on fame, money or physical strength. It’s based on trust and trust depends on love and affection.”
“36. A truthful, compassionate attitude is a sign of strength. It’s lying and anger that betray weakness.”
“37. We have a marvelous brain but have to use it properly. It’s scientific to be skeptical, to research and experiment. An approach I admire.”
“38. The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, answered “man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”
“39. The purpose of religion is not building grand temples but cultivating positive human qualities like tolerance, generosity & love.”
“40. Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.”
Inspiring Dalai Lama Quotes
“41. The real troublemaker is within us. Our true enemies are our own destructive tendencies.”
“42. Anger cannot coexist with inner peace, which is the principal characteristic of happiness.”
“43. The future is in your hands, but for it to be peaceful and happy requires a sense of compassion and concern for others’ well-being.”
“44. Never give up no matter what is going on never give up develop the heart too much energy in your country is spent developing the mind instead of the heart. Develop the heart, be compassionate! Not just to your friends but to everyone. Be compassionate! Work for peace in your heart and in the world work for peace, and I say again never give up no matter what is happening no matter what is going on around you never give up!”
“45. What is important today is that we consciously cultivate a sense of the oneness of humanity, because we all depend on each other.”
“46. We have to make a special effort to think of each other as fellow human beings, as our brothers and sisters.”
“47. “Most of our troubles are due to our passionate desire for and attachment to things that we misapprehend as enduring entities.”
“48. When you think everything is someone else’s fault, you will suffer a lot. When you realize that everything springs only from yourself, you will learn peace & joy”
“49. Friends are made on the basis of trust and trust only grows if you are kind to people.”
“50. We need to strike a balance between material and spiritual progress, a balance achieved on the basis of love and compassion.”
Inspirational Quotes by the Dalai Lama
“51. To reduce destructive emotions we need to strengthen constructive emotions. For example, to counter anger we cultivate love and compassion.”
“52. 18 Rules of life. 1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk. 2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson. 3. Follow the three: Respect for self Respect for others responsible for all your actions 4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. 5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly. 6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship. 7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. 8. Spend some time alone every day. 9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values. 10 Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. 11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time. 12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life. 13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality. 15. Be gentle with the earth. 16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before. 17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other. 18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.”
“53. When faced with problems, don’t lose hope. Keep up your self-confidence and don’t be too impatient to achieve quick results.”
“54. Each of us has responsibility for all humankind. It is time for us to think of other people as true brothers and sisters and to be concerned with their welfare, with lessening their suffering.”
Dalai Lama
The 14th Dalai Lama (spiritual name Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, also known as Tenzin Gyatso; né Lhamo Thondup), and known to the Tibetan people as Gyalwa Rinpoche, as the incumbent Dalai Lama is the highest spiritual leader and head of Tibet.
Access above best 70 of the best Dalai Lama quotes today. Some quotes are about love, compassion, happiness, anger, peace, health, friendship, education, religion, humanity (and some have great images!).