Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
Do not be jealous of others' good qualities, but out of admiration adopt them yourself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Instead of feeling envy towards the positive traits of others, learn from them and incorporate those qualities into your own life.
This quote by Gautama Buddha emphasizes the importance of viewing the admirable qualities of others not with jealousy, but with a desire to learn and grow. Rather than allowing envy to breed negativity, we should seek inspiration in the achievements and characteristics of those we admire, adopting their good qualities to improve ourselves. This approach fosters personal development and encourages a positive mindset within ourselves and towards others.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about personal development during a workshop, one might say, 'As we grow, remember the words of Buddha: do not be jealous of others' good qualities.'
More from Gautama Buddha
All quotes →A kind man who makes good use of wealth is rightly said to possess a great treasure; but the miser who hoards up his riches will have no profit.
There are having flowers in Spring, breezes in Summer, moon in Autumn, snows in Winter. If there is nothing worrying over you, it will be the best seasons at all times.
Make an island of yourself, make yourself your refuge; there is no other refuge. Make truth your island, make truth your refuge; there is no other refuge.
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.
The tongue like a sharp knife ... Kills without drawing blood.
Similar quotes
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At last I understood that the way over, or through this dilemma, the unease at writing about 'petty personal problems' was to recognize that nothing is personal, in the sense that it is uniquely one's own. Writing about oneself, one is writing about others, since your problems, pains, pleasures, emotions—and your extraordinary and remarkable ideas—can't be yours alone. [...] Growing up is after all only the understanding that one's unique and incredible experience is what everyone shares.
Choices lead to habits. Habits become talents. Talents are labeled gifts. You’re not born this way, you get this way.
The condition of the most passionate enthusiast is to be preferred over the individual who, because of the fear of making a mistake, won't in the end affirm or deny anything
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.
I hate this shallow Americanism which hopes to get rich by credit, to get knowledge by raps on midnight tables, to learn the economy of the mind by phrenology, or skill without study, or mastery without apprenticeship.