May both the layman and he who has left the world think that this is done by me; may they be subject to me in everything which is to be done or is not to be done, thus is the mind of the fool, and his desire and pride increase.
—The Dhammapada
There is no satisfying lusts, even by a shower of gold pieces; he who knows that lusts have a short taste and cause pain, he is wise.
—The Dhammapada
A man is not an elder because his head is grey; his age may be ripe, but he is called ‘Old-in-vain.’
—The Dhammapada
There is no suffering for him who has finished his journey, and abandoned grief, who has freed himself on all sides, and thrown off all fetters.
—The Dhammapada
Him I call indeed a Brahmana from whom anger and hatred, pride and envy have dropt like a mustard seed from the point of a needle.
—The Dhammapada
There is no path through the air, a man is not a Samana by outward acts. No creatures are eternal; but the awakened (Buddha) are never shaken.
—The Dhammapada
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who does not cling to pleasures, like water on a lotus leaf, like a mustard seed on the point of a needle.
—The Dhammapada
If an intelligent man be associated for one minute only with a wise man, he will soon perceive the truth, as the tongue perceives the taste of soup.
—The Dhammapada
A man is not a Muni because he observes silence (mona, i.e. mauna), if he is foolish and ignorant; but the wise who, taking the balance, chooses the good and avoids evil, he is a Muni, and is a Muni thereby; he who in this world weighs both sides is called a Muni.
—The Dhammapada
Beware of the anger of the tongue, and control thy tongue! Leave the sins of the tongue, and practise virtue with thy tongue!
—The Dhammapada
He who overcomes this fierce thirst, difficult to be conquered in this world, sufferings fall off from him, like water-drops from a lotus leaf.
—The Dhammapada
The best of ways is the eightfold; the best of truths the four words; the best of virtues passionlessness; the best of men he who has eyes to see.
—The Dhammapada
Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone.
—The Dhammapada
Topics: Travel
If a man is tossed about by doubts, full of strong passions, and yearning only for what is delightful, his thirst will grow more and more, and he will indeed make his fetters strong.
—The Dhammapada
I do not call a man a Brahmana because of his origin or of his mother. He is indeed arrogant, and he is wealthy: but the poor, who is free from all attachments, him I call indeed a Brahmana.
—The Dhammapada
After a man has once understood the law as taught by the Well-awakened (Buddha), let him worship it carefully, as the Brahmana worships the sacrificial fire.
—The Dhammapada
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who finds no fault with other beings, whether feeble or strong, and does not kill nor cause slaughter.
—The Dhammapada
As a fish taken from his watery home and thrown on dry ground, our thought trembles all over in order to escape the dominion of Mara (the tempter).
—The Dhammapada
The brilliant chariots of kings are destroyed, the body also approaches destruction, but the virtue of good people never approaches destruction,—thus do the good say to the good.
—The Dhammapada
If a man find a prudent companion who walks with him, is wise, and lives soberly, he may walk with him, overcoming all dangers, happy, but considerate.
—The Dhammapada
He who formerly was reckless and afterwards became sober, brightens up this world, like the moon when freed from clouds.
—The Dhammapada
The fields are damaged by weeds, mankind is damaged by lust: therefore a gift bestowed on those who are free from lust brings great reward.
—The Dhammapada
Better it would be to swallow a heated iron ball, like flaring fire, than that a bad unrestrained fellow should live on the charity of the land.
—The Dhammapada
Topics: Buddhism
Through zeal knowledge is gotten, through lack of zeal knowledge is lost; let a man who knows this double path of gain and loss thus place himself that knowledge may grow.
—The Dhammapada
He who lives without looking for pleasures, his senses well controlled, moderate in his food, faithful and strong, him Mara will certainly not overthrow, any more than the wind throws down a rocky mountain.
—The Dhammapada
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who fosters no desires for this world or for the next, has no inclinations, and is unshackled.
—The Dhammapada
Him I call indeed a Brahmana who takes nothing in the world that is not given him, be it long or short, small or large, good or bad.
—The Dhammapada
The Bhikshu whose body and tongue and mind are quieted, who is collected, and has rejected the baits of the world, he is called quiet.
—The Dhammapada
If anything is to be done, let a man do it, let him attack it vigorously! A careless pilgrim only scatters the dust of his passions more widely.
—The Dhammapada
He whose wickedness is very great brings himself down to that state where his enemy wishes him to be, as a creeper does with the tree which it surrounds.
—The Dhammapada
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- The Jataka Tales Genre of Buddhist Literature
Leave a Reply