Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
Gautama BuddhaRead
If there is only empty space, with no suns nor planets in it, then space loses its substantiality.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Empty space loses its meaning without celestial bodies to define it.
This quote by Gautama Buddha emphasizes the idea that context gives substance to seemingly empty concepts. Just as empty space becomes meaningful through the presence of suns and planets, our understanding of life, existence, and purpose is shaped by the relationships and experiences we encounter in our surroundings.
Themes
SpaceExistenceContextMeaningLife
In practice
Example use cases
In a lesson about perspective in art class, this quote can illustrate how the background enhances the subject.
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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Glorious indeed is the world of God around us, but more glorious the world of God within us.
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There are two ways of seeing: with the body and with the soul. The body's sight can sometimes forget, but the soul remembers forever.
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If life β the craving for which is the very essence of our being β were possessed of any positive intrinsic value, there would be no such thing as boredom at all: mere existence would satisfy us in itself, and we should want for nothing.
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