Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
Gautama BuddhaRead
Do not overlook tiny good actions, thinking they are of no benefit; even tiny drops of water in the end will fill a huge vessel. Do not overlook negative actions merely because they are small; however small a spark may be, it can burn down a haystack as big as a mountain.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Small actions, both good and bad, can have significant consequences over time.
This quote by Gautama Buddha emphasizes the importance of paying attention to small actions, both positive and negative. It suggests that while tiny good deeds may appear insignificant, they can accumulate to create substantial positive impacts, just as small drops of water fill a large vessel. Conversely, even minor negative actions can lead to major destructive outcomes, comparable to how a small spark can ignite a massive fire. Thus, it encourages mindfulness and awareness of our daily actions, as they can have far-reaching effects.
Themes
ActionsConsequencesMindfulnessSmall ThingsBuddha
In practice
Example use cases
In motivational speeches to encourage people to take action on their goals.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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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