Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
Gautama BuddhaRead
All the holy words you read and all the holy words you speak are as nothing if you do not act upon them. Even if you read little and say little but live the right way, forsaking craving, hatred and delusion, you will know the truth and find calmness and will show others the path.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Reading and speaking words of wisdom matters little without action; true understanding comes from living righteously.
This quote emphasizes the importance of not just passively absorbing knowledge or religious texts, but actively applying that knowledge in one's life through righteous actions. Gautama Buddha suggests that true enlightenment and peace come from living in accordance with virtuous principles, while also guiding others towards a similar path, rather than merely articulating teachings without personal commitment.
Themes
ActionWisdomTruthCalmnessRighteousnessLiving
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal growth and ethics.
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When a wise man is advised of his errors, he will reflect on and improve his conduct. When his misconduct is pointed out, a foolish man will not only disregard the advice but rather repeat the same error.
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The tongue like a sharp knife ... Kills without drawing blood.
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