If you want to see the best Buddha quotes in one place, then you’ll LOVE this post.
I’ve personally gone through hundreds of Buddha quotes to pick out his top 100.
In fact, this is the list of quotes that inspired my latest eBook, The No-Nonsense Guide to Buddhism and Eastern Philosophy.
And you can filter through the list below to find the topics that most interest you.
But first, a brief introduction about the great man named Gautama Buddha.
Who Was Gautama Buddha?
Buddha was a spiritual teacher who lived in India sometime between the sixth and fourth centuries BC.
His philosophy ended up creating the religion Buddhism, and tends to counter much of what we’re taught in the West.
After many years spent in deep meditation, he realized that attachment and desiring lead to unhappiness.
He believed that enlightenment, or “Nirvana“, was achieved when one’s mind is compassionate, free of attachment and focused on the present moment.
He spent his entire life teaching others how to free themselves from suffering and live a life of compassion, fearlessness and joy.
So without further ado, here are the most inspiring 50 quotes from Gautama Buddha:
On Living In The Present Moment
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.”
“Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.”
“Be where you are; otherwise you will miss your life.”
“What you are is what you have been. What you’ll be is what you do now.”
“It is better to travel well than to arrive.”
On Achieving Enlightenment
“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”
“A man is not called wise because he talks and talks again; but if he is peaceful, loving and fearless then he is in truth called wise.”
“Purity or impurity depends on oneself, no one can purify another.”
“Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again.”
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
“What is evil? Killing is evil, lying is evil, slandering is evil, abuse is evil, gossip is evil, envy is evil, hatred is evil, to cling to false doctrine is evil; all these things are evil. And what is the root of evil? Desire is the root of evil, illusion is the root of evil.”