The best Dalai Lama quotes to inspire you on the true meaning of happiness and compassion. The Dalai Lama has always been well revered for his value in promoting kindness, happiness, positive thinking and living life compassionately.
Following the Dalai Lama’s teachings, we have come together a list of his wisest words we can all learn about for a better life.
We hope that the list of 138 Dalai Lama quotes can inspire you. Please feel free to share this post to benefit and inspire others too.
138 Dalai Lama Quotes That Will Change The Way You Live Click To TweetBefore you dive into the top 138 Dalai Lama Inspirational quotes, here’s a beautiful video on 11 of the best Dalai Lama quotes.
Here are the best 138 Dalai Lama Quotes that will change the way you live.
2. “We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.” – Dalai Lama
3. “Although you may not always be able to avoid difficult situations, you can modify the extent to which you can suffer by how you choose to respond to the situation.” – Dalai Lama
4. “Whether one is rich or poor, educated or illiterate, religious or non-believing, man or woman, black, white, or brown, we are all the same. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, we are all equal. We all share basic needs for food, shelter, safety, and love. We all aspire to happiness and we all shun suffering. Each of us has hopes, worries, fears, and dreams. Each of us wants the best for our family and loved ones. We all experience pain when we suffer loss and joy when we achieve what we seek. On this fundamental level, religion, ethnicity, culture, and language make no difference.” – Dalai Lama
5. “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” ― Dalai Lama
6. “Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.” – Dalai Lama
7. “As people alive today, we must consider future generations: a clean environment is a human right like any other. It is therefore part of our responsibility toward others to ensure that the world we pass on is as healthy, if not healthier, than we found it.” – Dalai Lama
8. “We begin from the recognition that all beings cherish happiness and do not want suffering. It then becomes both morally wrong and pragmatically unwise to pursue only one’s own happiness oblivious to the feelings and aspirations of all others who surround us as members of the same human family. The wiser course is to think of others when pursuing our own happiness.” – Dalai Lama
Read more: 61 Beautiful Life Lesson Quotes to Live By Everyday
9. “The topic of compassion is not at all religious business; it is important to know it is human business, it is a question of human survival.” – Dalai Lama
10. “I believe compassion to be one of the few things we can practice that will bring immediate and long-term happiness to our lives. I’m not talking about the short-term gratification of pleasures like sex, drugs or gambling (though I’m not knocking them), but something that will bring true and lasting happiness. The kind that sticks.” ― Dalai Lama
11. “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” ― Dalai Lama
12. “Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.” – Dalai Lama
14. “What surprises me most is “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 doesn’t enjoy the present; The result being he doesn’t live in the present or the future; He lives as if he’s never going to die, and then he dies having never really lived.” – Dalai Lama
15. “Love and Compassion are the true religions to me. But to develop this, we do not need to believe in any religion.” ― Dalai Lama
16. “Someone else’s action should not determine your response.” – Dalai Lama
17. “Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.” ― Dalai Lama
18. “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” ― Dalai Lama
Read more: 108 Best Passion Quotes To Find Purpose In Life Again
19. “Love is the absence of judgment.” ― Dalai Lama
20. “It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others.” ― Dalai Lama
21. “I defeat my enemies when I make them my friends.” ― Dalai Lama
23. “Our ancient experience confirms at every point that everything is linked together, everything is inseparable.” ― Dalai Lama
25. “Anger is the ultimate destroyer of your own peace of mind.” – Dalai Lama
26. “There is only one important point you must keep in your mind and let it be your guide. No matter what people call you, you are just who you are. Keep to this truth. You must ask yourself how is it you want to live your life. We live and we die, this is the truth that we can only face alone. No one can help us, not even the Buddha. So consider carefully, what prevents you from living the way you want to live your life?” ― Dalai Lama
27. “Compassion naturally creates a positive atmosphere, and as a result you feel peaceful and content.” – Dalai Lama XIV
Read more: 121 Self Esteem Quotes That’ll Increase Your Confidence
28th Dalai Lama Quotes:
“Those who have little interest in spirituality shouldn’t think that human inner values don’t apply to you. The inner peace of an alert and calm mind are the source of real happiness and good health. Our human intelligence tells us which of our emotions are positive and helpful and which are damaging and to be restrained or avoided.” – Dalai Lama
29. “Through violence, you may ‘solve’ one problem, but you sow the seeds for another.” – Dalai Lama
30. “Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.” – Dalai Lama
31. “Inner peace is the key: if you have inner peace, the external problems do not affect your deep sense of peace and tranquility…without this inner peace, no matter how comfortable your life is materially, you may still be worried, disturbed, or unhappy because of circumstances.” ― Dalai Lama
32. “You must not hate those who do wrong or harmful things; but with compassion, you must do what you can to stop them — for they are harming themselves, as well as those who suffer from their actions.” – Dalai Lama
33. “Peace does not mean an absence of conflicts; differences will always be there. Peace means solving these differences through peaceful means; through dialogue, education, knowledge; and through humane ways.” ― Dalai Lama
35. “Happiness doesn’t always come from a pursuit. Sometimes it comes when we least expect it.” – Dalai Lama
36. “When we are motivated by compassion and wisdom, the results of our actions benefit everyone, not just our individual selves or some immediate convenience. When we are able to recognize and forgive ignorant actions of the past, we gain strength to constructively solve the problems of the present.” ― Dalai Lama
Read more: 103 Motivational Self Confidence Quotes For Confidence Building
37. “I believe the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in that religion or this religion, we are all seeking something better in life. So, I think, the very motion of our life is towards happiness. – Dalai Lama
38. “Compassion is the radicalism of our time.” ― Dalai Lama
39. “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.” ― Dalai Lama
40. “Irrespective of whether we are believers or agnostics, whether we believe in God or karma, moral ethics is a code which everyone is able to pursue.” ― Dalai Lama
41. “Don’t ever mistake my silence for ignorance, my calmness for acceptance or my kindness for weakness. Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.” – Dalai Lama
43. “When we are motivated by compassion and wisdom, the results of our actions benefit everyone, not just our individual selves or some immediate convenience. When we are able to recognize and forgive ignorant actions of the past, we gain strength to constructively solve the problems of the present.” ― Dalai Lama
44. “I believe the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in that religion or this religion, we are all seeking something better in life. So, I think, the very motion of our life is towards happiness. – Dalai Lama
46. “I will not propose to you that my way is best. The decision is up to you. If you find some point which may be suitable to you, then you can carry out experiments for yourself. If you find that it is of no use, then you can discard it.” – Dalai Lama
Read more: 150 Stay Focused Quotes To Achieve Your Goals
47. “The way to change others’ minds is with affection, and not anger.” ― Dalai Lama
48. “If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry about it; if you cannot do anything, then there is also no need to worry.” ― Dalai Lama
49. “Instead of wondering WHY this is happening to you, consider why this is happening to YOU.” – Dalai Lama XIV
50th Dalai Lama Quotes:
“A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering.” – The Dalai Lama
51. “In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.” ― Dalai Lama
52. “Because we all share this planet earth, we have to learn to live in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. This is not just a dream, but a necessity.” ― Dalai Lama
53. “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” ― Dalai Lama
54. “In order to become prosperous, a person must initially work very hard, so he or she has to sacrifice a lot of leisure time.” – Dalai Lama
56. “Hard times build determination and inner strength. Through them we can also come to appreciate the uselessness of anger. Instead of getting angry nurture a deep caring and respect for troublemakers because by creating such trying circumstances they provide us with invaluable opportunities to practice tolerance and patience.” ― Dalai Lama
57. “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” ― Dalai Lama
58. “To conquer oneself is a greater victory than to conquer thousands in a battle.” – Dalai Lama
59. “Neither a space station nor an enlightened mind can be realized in a day.” – Dalai Lama
60. “Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend – or a meaningful day.” ― Dalai Lama
Read more: 150 Walking Away Quotes And Move On From A Relationship
61. “I don’t know whether the universe, with its countless galaxies, stars and planets, has a deeper meaning or not, but at the very least, it is clear that we humans who live on this earth face the task of making a happy life for ourselves. Therefore, it is important to discover what will bring about the greatest degree of happiness.” – Dalai Lama
62. “The more you are motivated by Love, The more Fearless & Free your action will be.” ― Dalai Lama
63. “Human potential is the same for all. Your feeling, “I am of no value”, is wrong. Absolutely wrong. You are deceiving yourself. We all have the power of thought – so what are you lacking? If you have willpower, then you can change anything. It is usually said that you are your own master.” ― Dalai Lama
64. “A truly compassionate attitude toward others does not change even if they behave negatively or hurt you.” ― Dalai Lama
66. “Compassion is not religious business, it is human business, it is not luxury, it is essential for our own peace and mental stability, it is essential for human survival.” – Dalai Lama
67. “The purpose of all the major religious traditions is not to construct big temples on the outside, but to create temples of goodness and compassion inside, in our hearts.” ― Dalai Lama
68. “One problem with our current society is that we have an attitude towards education as if it is there to simply make you more clever, make you more ingenious… Even though our society does not emphasize this, the most important use of knowledge and education is to help us understand the importance of engaging in more wholesome actions and bringing about discipline within our minds. The proper utilization of our intelligence and knowledge is to effect changes from within to develop a good heart.” – Dalai Lama
69. “The creatures that inhabit this earth-be they human beings or animals-are here to contribute, each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world.” – Dalai Lama
70. “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.” – Dalai Lama XIV
71. “Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.” – Dalai Lama
72. “When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.” ― Dalai Lama
73. “Let us try to recognize the precious nature of each day.” – Dalai Lama
74. “World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.” ― Dalai Lama
76. “Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us the tranquility and happiness we all seek.” ― Dalai Lama
77. “Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.” ― Dalai Lama
78. “Look at children. Of course they may quarrel, but generally speaking they do not harbor ill feelings as much or as long as adults do. Most adults have the advantage of education over children, but what is the use of an education if they show a big smile while hiding negative feelings deep inside? Children don’t usually act in such a manner. If they feel angry with someone, they express it, and then it is finished. They can still play with that person the following day.” ― Dalai Lama
79. “The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual’s own reason and critical analysis.” – Dalai Lama
80. “People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.” ― Dalai Lama
81. “The whole purpose of religion is to facilitate love and compassion, patience, tolerance, humility, and forgiveness.” ― Dalai Lama
82. “If you can cultivate the right attitude, your enemies are your best spiritual teachers because their presence provides you with the opportunity to enhance and develop tolerance, patience and understanding.” ― Dalai Lama
83. “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.” – Dalai Lama
84. “As you breathe in, cherish yourself. As you breathe out, cherish all Beings.” – Dalai Lama
86. “It is very rare or almost impossible that an event can be negative from all points of view.” – Dalai Lama
87. “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” ― Dalai Lama
88th Dalai Lama Quotes:
“If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it’s not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.” ― Dalai Lama
89. “The ultimate source of happiness is not money and power, but warm-heartedness” – Dalai Lama
90. “This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple. Your philosophy is simple kindness.” ― Dalai Lama
91. “The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation.” – The Dalai Lama
92. “Silence is sometimes the best answer” ― Dalai Lama
93. “The true hero is one who conquers his own anger and hatred.” – Dalai Lama
94. “In our struggle for freedom, truth is the only weapon we possess.” – Dalai Lama
96. “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” ― Dalai Lama
97. “Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.” ― Dalai Lama
98. “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.” – Dalai Lama
99. “The goal is not to be better than the other man, but your previous self.” – Dalai Lama
100. “An eye for an eye….we are all blind” – Dalai Lama
101. “A spoon cannot taste of the food it carries. Likewise, a foolish man cannot understand the wise man´s wisdom even if he associates with a sage.” – Dalai Lama
102. “There is a saying in Tibetan, ‘Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.’
No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster.” ― Dalai Lama
103. “Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.” ― Dalai Lama
104. “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.” ― Dalai Lama
105. “Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back and reasons to stay.” – Dalai Lama
106. “Time passes unhindered. When we make mistakes, we cannot turn the clock back and try again. All we can do is use the present well.” – Dalai Lama
107. “An open heart is an open mind.” – Dalai Lama
108. “True friendship develops not as a result of money or power but on the basis of genuine human affection.” – Dalai Lama
109. “Death means change our clothes. Clothes become old, then time to come change. So this body become old, and then time come, take young body.” – Dalai Lama
110. “My faith helps me overcome such negative emotions and find my equilibrium.” – Dalai Lama
111. “Generally speaking, if a human being never shows anger, then I think something’s wrong. He’s not right in the brain.” – Dalai Lama
112. “The best way to resolve any problem in the human world is for all sides to sit down and talk.” – Dalai Lama
113. “Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open.” – Dalai Lama
114. “Home is where you feel at home and are treated well.” – Dalai Lama
115. “Some mischievous people always there. Last several thousand years, always there. In future, also.” – Dalai Lama
116. “A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity.” – Dalai Lama
117. “Because of lack of moral principle, human life becomes worthless. Moral principle, truthfulness, is a key factor. If we lose that, then there is no future.” – Dalai Lama
118. “When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect toward others.” – Dalai Lama
119. “Sleep is the best meditation.” – Dalai Lama
120. “I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.” – Dalai Lama
121. “The purpose of our lives is to be happy.” – Dalai Lama
122. “This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.” – Dalai Lama
123. “When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect toward others.” – Dalai Lama
124. “When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways–either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength.” – Dalai Lama
125. “In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision.” – Dalai Lama
126. “More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other’s well-being, is source of happiness.” – Dalai Lama
127. “We all have to live together, so we might as well live together happily.” – Dalai Lama
128. “Calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that’s very important for good health.” – Dalai Lama
129. “Even an animal, if you show genuine affection, gradually trust develops… If you always showing bad face and beating, how can you develop friendship?” – Dalai Lama
130. “If you have a particular faith or religion, that is good. But you can survive without it.” – Dalai Lama
131. “Too much self-centered attitude, you see, brings, you see, isolation. Result: loneliness, fear, anger. The extreme self-centered attitude is the source of suffering.” – Dalai Lama
132. “The important thing is that men should have a purpose in life. It should be something useful, something good.” – Dalai Lama
133. “Even when we have physical hardships, we can be very happy.” – Dalai Lama
134. “It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come.” – Dalai Lama
135. “When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.” – Dalai Lama
136. “When reason ends, then anger begins. Therefore, anger is a sign of weakness.” – Dalai Lama
137. “The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of all kinds.” – Dalai Lama
138. “Smile if you want a smile from another face.” – Dalai Lama
Which Dalai Lama quotes inspired you the most?
We’re certain you’ll find the list of quotes by the Dalai Lama helpful in many areas of your life. We can definitely learn a thing or two from the Dalai Lama teachings regardless of the good and bad situations we have in our everyday lives. Let us know if there’s any Dalai Lama quotes and sayings not listed in the above by commenting below. Share them with us!
