QuoteProject
Peace starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. When our community is in a state of peace, it can share peace with neighboring communities, and so on. When we feel love and kindness towards others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.
Dalai Lama
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Inner peace leads to external peace and fosters love and kindness in communities.

This quote by the Dalai Lama emphasizes that true peace begins from within ourselves. When we cultivate inner tranquility, we can extend that peace to those around us, creating a harmonious community. This interconnectedness suggests that our internal state influences our relationships with others and that fostering love and kindness can lead to greater happiness and peace for both ourselves and the communities we belong to.

Themes

PeaceInner PeaceCommunityLoveKindnessHappiness

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about community building, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of fostering peace within individuals.

More from Dalai Lama

Human beings are not intrinsically selfish, which isolates us from others. We are essentially social animals who depend on others to meet our needs. We achieve happiness, prosperity and progress through social interaction. Therefore, having a kind and helpful attitude contributes to our own and others' happiness.
Dalai LamaRead
Material objects give rise to physical happiness, while spiritual development gives rise to mental happiness. Since we experience both physical and mental happiness, we need both material and spiritual development. This is why, for our own good and that of society we need to balance material progress with inner development.
Dalai LamaRead
All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.
Dalai LamaRead
The ultimate source of a happy life is warm-heartedness. This means extending to others the kind of concern we have for ourselves. On a simple level we find that if we have a compassionate heart we naturally have more friends. And scientists today are discovering that while anger and hatred eat into our immune system, warm-heartedness and compassion are good for our health.
Dalai LamaRead
My religion is kindness. _x000D_ A good mind, a good heart, _x000D_ warm feelings these are _x000D_ the most important things.
Dalai LamaRead
If a person's basic state of mind is serene and calm, then it is possible for this inner peace to overwhelm a painful physical experience. On the other hand, if someone is suffering from depression, anxiety, or any form of emotional distress, then even if he or she happens to be enjoying physical comforts, he will not really be able to experience the happiness that these could bring.
Dalai LamaRead

Similar quotes

Negotiation and discussion are the greatest weapons we have for promoting peace and development.
Nelson MandelaRead
In these days of wars and rumors of wars - haven't you ever dreamed of a place where there was peace and security, where living was not a struggle but a lasting delight?
Frank CapraRead
Even if my country remains in war with yours. . .remember. . . i am not your enemy.
A.J. CroninRead
There is a certain kind of peace that is not merely the absence of war. It is larger than that. The peace I am thinking of is not at the mercy of history's rule, nor is it a passive surrender to the status quo. The peace I am thinking of is the dance of an open mind when it engages another equally open one -- an activity that occurs most naturally, most often in the reading/writing world we live in. Accessible as it is, this particular kind of peace warrants vigilance.
Toni MorrisonRead
This rally must send a message to the Israeli people, to the Jewish people around the world, to the many people in the Arab world, and indeed to the entire world, that the Israeli people want peace, support peace. For this, I thank you.
Yitzhak RabinRead
After World War II, it seemed that humanity understood something, and nothing like that would happen again. _x000D_ _x000D_ Humanity has understood nothing. _x000D_ _x000D_ Religious, tribal, national wars continue. The world continues to be in a sea of blood. _x000D_ _x000D_ The world can be better if there's love, tolerance and humility.
Irena SendlerRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.