Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
Gautama BuddhaRead
Though thousand times a thousand in battle one may conquer, yet should one conquer just oneself, one is the greatest conqueror.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True victory lies in mastering oneself rather than defeating others.
This quote by Gautama Buddha emphasizes the idea that the greatest challenge and achievement lies in self-control and self-mastery. While winning battles or conflicts can bring temporary glory, true greatness is found in conquering oneβs own desires, fears, and shortcomings, leading to inner peace and enlightenment.
Themes
Self-MasteryConquestInner PeaceSelf-ControlGreatness
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal development.
More from Gautama Buddha
All quotes βA 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.
Gautama BuddhaRead
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.
Gautama BuddhaRead
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.
Gautama BuddhaRead
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.
Gautama BuddhaRead
The tongue like a sharp knife ... Kills without drawing blood.
Gautama BuddhaRead
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She suffers as a miser. She must be miserly with her pleasures, as well. I wonder if sometimes she doesn't wish she were free of this monotonous sorrow, of these mutterings which start as soon as she stops singing, if she doesn't wish to suffer once and for all, to drown herself in despair. In any case, it would be impossible for her: she is bound.
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Right from the moment of our birth, we are under the care and kindness of our parents, and then later on in our life when we are oppressed by sickness and become old, we are again dependent on the kindness of others. Since at the beginning and end of our lives we are so dependent on other's kindness, how can it be in the middle that we would neglect kindness towards others?
Dalai LamaRead
There was something awesome in the thought of the solitary mortal standing by the open window and summoning in from the gloom outside the spirits of the nether world.
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The misery of man proceeds not from any single crush of overwhelming evil, but from small vexations continually repeated.
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