Dhammapada (Max Müller)

52 quotes

Era: Ancient / 1881 English
Place: Ancient India (Pali Buddhist tradition)

Early Buddhist verse anthology. English on these cards is F. Max Müller’s public-domain Dhammapada (Sacred Books of the East, Vol. X, 1881). Verse numbers follow Müller.

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All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.
— Dhammapada 2 (Müller)Buddhist
For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love, this is an old rule.
— Dhammapada 5 (Müller)Buddhist
By rousing himself, by earnestness, by restraint and control, the wise man may make for himself an island which no flood can overwhelm.
— Dhammapada 25 (Müller)Buddhist
It is good to tame the mind, which is difficult to hold in and flighty, rushing wherever it listeth; a tamed mind brings happiness.
— Dhammapada 35 (Müller)Buddhist
Not a mother, not a father will do so much, nor any other relative; a well-directed mind will do us greater service.
— Dhammapada 43 (Müller)Buddhist
As a solid rock is not shaken by the wind, wise people falter not amidst blame and praise.
— Dhammapada 81 (Müller)Buddhist
Wise people, after they have listened to the laws, become serene, like a deep, smooth, and still lake.
— Dhammapada 82 (Müller)Buddhist
He who formerly was reckless and afterwards became sober, brightens up this world, like the moon when freed from clouds.
— Dhammapada 172 (Müller)Buddhist
Let us live happily then, not hating those who hate us! among men who hate us let us dwell free from hatred!
— Dhammapada 197 (Müller)Buddhist
Health is the greatest of gifts, contentedness the best riches; trust is the best of relationships, Nirvana the highest happiness.
— Dhammapada 204 (Müller)Buddhist
Let a man overcome anger by love, let him overcome evil by good; let him overcome the greedy by liberality, the liar by truth!
— Dhammapada 223 (Müller)Buddhist
Not to commit any sin, to do good, and to purify one’s mind, that is the teaching of (all) the Awakened.
— Dhammapada 183 (Müller)Buddhist
You yourself must make an effort. The Tathagatas (Buddhas) are only preachers. The thoughtful who enter the way are freed from the bondage of Mara.
— Dhammapada 276 (Müller)Buddhist
Rouse thyself! do not be idle! Follow the law of virtue! The virtuous rests in bliss in this world and in the next.
— Dhammapada 168 (Müller)Buddhist
Make thyself an island, work hard, be wise! When thy impurities are blown away, and thou art free from guilt, thou wilt enter into the heavenly world of the elect (Ariya).
— Dhammapada 236 (Müller)Buddhist
There is no suffering for him who has finished his journey, and abandoned grief, who has freed himself on all sides, and thrown off all fetters.
— Dhammapada 90 (Müller)Buddhist
Let a man leave anger, let him forsake pride, let him overcome all bondage! No sufferings befall the man who is not attached to name and form, and who calls nothing his own.
— Dhammapada 221 (Müller)Buddhist
He who lives without looking for pleasures, his senses well controlled, moderate in his food, faithful and strong, him Mara will certainly not overthrow, any more than the wind throws down a rocky mountain.
— Dhammapada 8 (Müller)Buddhist
These wise people, meditative, steady, always possessed of strong powers, attain to Nirvana, the highest happiness.
— Dhammapada 23 (Müller)Buddhist
As a fletcher makes straight his arrow, a wise man makes straight his trembling and unsteady thought, which is difficult to guard, difficult to hold back.
— Dhammapada 33 (Müller)Buddhist
Not the perversities of others, not their sins of commission or omission, but his own misdeeds and negligences should a sage take notice of.
— Dhammapada 50 (Müller)Buddhist
He who drinks in the law lives happily with a serene mind: the sage rejoices always in the law, as preached by the elect.
— Dhammapada 79 (Müller)Buddhist
If a man does what is good, let him do it again; let him delight in it: happiness is the outcome of good.
— Dhammapada 118 (Müller)Buddhist
All men tremble at punishment, all men fear death; remember that you are like unto them, and do not kill, nor cause slaughter.
— Dhammapada 129 (Müller)Buddhist
Self is the lord of self, who else could be the lord? With self well subdued, a man finds a lord such as few can find.
— Dhammapada 160 (Müller)Buddhist
Victory breeds hatred, for the conquered is unhappy. He who has given up both victory and defeat, he, the contented, is happy.
— Dhammapada 201 (Müller)Buddhist
Let a wise man blow off the impurities of his self, as a smith blows off the impurities of silver one by one, little by little, and from time to time.
— Dhammapada 239 (Müller)Buddhist
A man is not learned because he talks much; he who is patient, free from hatred and fear, he is called learned.
— Dhammapada 258 (Müller)Buddhist
If by leaving a small pleasure one sees a great pleasure, let a wise man leave the small pleasure, and look to the great.
— Dhammapada 290 (Müller)Buddhist
Be not thoughtless, watch your thoughts! Draw yourself out of the evil way, like an elephant sunk in mud.
— Dhammapada 327 (Müller)Buddhist
Earnest among the thoughtless, awake among the sleepers, the wise man advances like a racer, leaving behind the hack.
— Dhammapada 29 (Müller)Buddhist
Those who bridle their mind which travels far, moves about alone, is without a body, and hides in the chamber of the heart, will be free from the bonds of Mara.
— Dhammapada 37 (Müller)Buddhist
As many kinds of wreaths can be made from a heap of flowers, so many good things may be achieved by a mortal when once he is born.
— Dhammapada 53 (Müller)Buddhist
The odour of good people travels even against the wind; a good man pervades every place.
— Dhammapada 54 (Müller)Buddhist
Good people walk on whatever befall, the good do not prattle, longing for pleasure; whether touched by happiness or sorrow wise people never appear elated or depressed.
— Dhammapada 83 (Müller)Buddhist
If you see an intelligent man who tells you where true treasures are to be found, who shows what is to be avoided, and administers reproofs, follow that wise man; it will be better, not worse, for those who follow him.
— Dhammapada 76 (Müller)Buddhist
Let him admonish, let him teach, let him forbid what is improper--he will be beloved of the good, by the bad he will be hated.
— Dhammapada 77 (Müller)Buddhist
He is happy when he thinks of the good he has done; he is still more happy when going on the good path.
— Dhammapada (Müller)Gratitude
The virtuous man is happy in this world, and he is happy in the next; he is happy in both.
— Dhammapada (Müller)Buddhist
“He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,”—in those who do not harbour such thoughts hatred will cease.
— Dhammapada 4 (Müller)Buddhist
The world does not know that we must all come to an end here;—but those who know it, their quarrels cease at once.
— Dhammapada 6 (Müller)Buddhist
As the bee collects nectar and departs without injuring the flower, or its colour or scent, so let a sage dwell in his village.
— Dhammapada 49 (Müller)Buddhist
Like a beautiful flower, full of colour and full of scent, are the fine and fruitful words of him who acts accordingly.
— Dhammapada 52 (Müller)Buddhist
Well-makers lead the water; fletchers bend the arrow; carpenters bend a log of wood; wise people fashion themselves.
— Dhammapada 80 (Müller)Buddhist
If one man conquer in battle a thousand times thousand men, and if another conquer himself, he is the greatest of conquerors.
— Dhammapada 103 (Müller)Buddhist
Do not speak harshly to anybody; those who are spoken to will answer thee in the same way.
— Dhammapada 133 (Müller)Buddhist
Better than sovereignty over the earth, better than going to heaven, better than lordship over all worlds, is the reward of the first step in holiness.
— Dhammapada 178 (Müller)Buddhist
Let us live happily then, though we call nothing our own! We shall be like the bright gods, feeding on happiness!
— Dhammapada 200 (Müller)Buddhist
He who has tasted the sweetness of solitude and tranquillity, is free from fear and free from sin, while he tastes the sweetness of drinking in the law.
— Dhammapada 205 (Müller)Buddhist
The fault of others is easily perceived, but that of oneself is difficult to perceive.
— Dhammapada 252 (Müller)Buddhist
Through zeal knowledge is gotten, through lack of zeal knowledge is lost.
— Dhammapada 282 (Müller)Buddhist
The gift of the law exceeds all gifts; the sweetness of the law exceeds all sweetness; the delight in the law exceeds all delights; the extinction of thirst overcomes all pain.
— Dhammapada 354 (Müller)Buddhist