Top 500 Dalai Lama XIV Quotes (2025 Update)
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51. “Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend – or a meaningful day.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

52. “This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple. Your philosophy is simple kindness.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

53. “The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of all kinds.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

54. “There is a saying in Tibetan, ‘Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.’ No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

55. “All suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their own happiness or satisfaction.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

56. “The past is past, and the future is yet to come. That means the future is in your hands – the future entirely depends on the present. That realization gives you a great responsibility.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

57. “If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it’s not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

58. “We are visitors on this planet. We are here for one hundred years at the very most. During that period we must try to do something good, something useful, with our lives. If you contribute to other people’s happiness, you will find the true meaning of life.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

59. “Peace does not mean an absence of conflicts; differences will always be there. Peace means solving these differences through peaceful means; through dialogue, education, knowledge; and through humane ways.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

60. “It’s not enough to be compassionate. You must act.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

61. “You need self-confidence and determination: feeling depressed and losing hope will never really help to correct any situation.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

62. “Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

63. “Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

64. “Smile if you want a smile from another face.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

65. “In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

66. “In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

67. “Change only takes place through action, not through meditation and prayer.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

68. “I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

69. “Because we all share this planet earth, we have to learn to live in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. This is not just a dream, but a necessity.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

70. “Hard times build determination and inner strength. Through them we can also come to appreciate the uselessness of anger.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

71. “Generosity is the most natural outward expression of an inner attitude of compassion and loving-kindness .”

— Dalai Lama XIV

72. “The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

73. “Never give up. No matter what is happening, no matter what is going on around you, never give up.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

74. “Spend some time alone every day.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

75. “According to Buddhist psychology most of our troubles stem from attachment to things that we mistakenly see as permanent.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

76. “Compassion is the radicalism of our time.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

77. “It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

78. “World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

79. “A truly compassionate attitude toward others does not change even if they behave negatively or hurt you.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

80. “A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

81. “If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry about it; if you cannot do anything, then there is also no need to worry.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

82. “The most important thing is to have a sense of responsibility, commitment, and concern for each of our fellow human beings.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

83. “If you want to be wisely selfish, care for others.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

84. “By setting our motivation strongly in the morning when our mind is fresh and clear, we are much more likely to remember it during the day and act with that intention.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

85. “A thousand candles can be lit from one candle, however the life of the original candle is not shortened in the least.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

86. “Love and Compassion are the true religions to me. But to develop this, we do not need to believe in any religion.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

87. “Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

88. “Man sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

89. “Overcoming negative tendencies and enhancing positive potential are the very essence of the spiritual path.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

90. “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

91. “True enlightenment is nothing but the nature of one’s own self being fully realized.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

92. “When we are motivated by compassion and wisdom, the results of our actions benefit everyone, not just our individual selves or some immediate convenience. When we are able to recognize and forgive ignorant actions of the past, we gain strength to constructively solve the problems of the present.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

93. “In our concern for others, we worry less about ourselves.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

94. “Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

95. “If one assumes a humble attitude, one’s own good qualities will increase. Whereas if one is proud, one will become jealous of others, one will look down on others, and due to that there will be unhappiness in society.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

96. “The essence of all religions is love, compassion and tolerance. Kindness is my true religion. No matter whether you are learned or not, whether you believe in the next life or not, whether you believe in God or Buddha or some other religion or not, in day-to-day life you must be a kind person.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

97. “Anger may bring extra energy, but it eclipses the best part of our brain: its rationality. The energy of anger is almost always unreliable.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

98. “Like the lotus which thrives in mud, the potential for realization grows in the rich soil of everyday life.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

99. “With genuine love and compassion, another person’s appearance or behavior has no effect on your attitude.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

100. “The creatures that inhabit this earth – be they human beings or animals – are here to contribute, each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world.”

— Dalai Lama XIV