Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
Gautama BuddhaRead
The gift of the Truth beats all other gifts. The flavour of the Truth beats all other tastes. The joy of the Truth beats all other joys, and the cessation of desire conquers all suffering
Interpretation
What this quote means
The truth is the most valuable possession, bringing joy and alleviating suffering.
This quote by Gautama Buddha emphasizes the profound impact of truth on human existence. It suggests that while material gifts, pleasures, and joys may be enticing, the reality of truth surpasses them all. Moreover, it links the understanding of truth to the cessation of desire, which is a significant aspect of Buddhist philosophy, indicating that recognizing and embracing truth can lead to the alleviation of suffering and ultimately, enlightenment.
Themes
TruthJoyDesireSufferingWisdom
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about honesty and integrity, one might quote this to highlight the importance of truthfulness.
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.
Gautama BuddhaRead
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