Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
One who is wise and disciplined, always kind and intelligent, humble and free from pride. One like this will be praised.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True wisdom combines discipline, kindness, humility, and intelligence, leading to praise.
This quote by Gautama Buddha highlights the qualities of a truly wise person. It suggests that wisdom is not just about knowledge but encompasses a balanced character that includes discipline, kindness, humility, and intelligence. Such a person is free from pride and is therefore more likely to be respected and admired by others. The essence of the quote signifies that moral virtues and intellectual capabilities together form the foundation of true wisdom, and those who embody these traits earn the praise and admiration of society.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a graduation speech highlighting the importance of character beyond academic achievement.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The tongue like a sharp knife ... Kills without drawing blood.
Similar quotes
The saints must be honored as friends of Christ and children and heirs of God. Let us carefully observe the manner of life of all the apostles, martyrs, ascetics, and just men who announced the coming of the Lord. And let us emulate their faith, charity, hope, zeal, life, patience under suffering, and perseverance unto death so that we may also share their crowns of glory.
If a man will kick a fact out of the window, when he comes back he finds it again in the chimney corner.
The thing about working with time, instead of against it, he thought, is that it is not wasted. Even pain counts.
Also, go inside and listen to your body, because your body will never lie to you. Your mind will play tricks, but the way you feel in your heart, in your guts, is the truth.
To write without pay until somebody offers pay. If nobody offers pay within three years, the candidate may look upon this circumstance with the most implicit confidence as the sign that sawing wood is what he was intended for.
It's important to have people who are absolutely willing to say you're wrong or who have a totally different perspective than you do on everything. Fresh ideas are hard to come by, and good ones are even harder.