Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
Gautama BuddhaRead
When words are both true and kind, they can change the world.
Interpretation
Kind and truthful words have the power to bring about significant change.
This quote emphasizes the profound impact of words that carry both truth and kindness. Gautama Buddha suggests that when we communicate in a way that is honest yet compassionate, we can inspire transformation not only within ourselves but also in the world around us, fostering understanding and peace among individuals and communities.
In practice
During a speech at a charity event, you could use this quote to emphasize the importance of communication in fostering kindness.
Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
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.
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.
The measure of your enlightenment is the degree to which you are comfortable with paradox, contradiction, and ambiguity.
The greatest tragedy to befall a person is to have sight but lack vision.
If one can only see things according to one's own belief system, one is destined to become virtually deaf, dumb, and blind.
Indeed I do not think we should be justified in using any but the more sombre tones and colours while our people, our Empire, and indeed the whole English-speaking world are passing through a dark and deadly valley.
Pithy sentences are like sharp nails which force truth upon our memory.
My favorite definition of an intellectual: 'Someone who has been educated beyond his/her intelligence'.
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