Altruism is not a luxury, it is a necessity for the survival of humanity.

The only reason we don't open our hearts and minds to other people is that they trigger confusion in us that we don't feel brave enough or sane enough to deal with.

When you begin to see that your enemy is suffering, that is the beginning of insight.

Buddhist practice is not to eliminate life's problems but to grow with them patiently and with compassion.

The cultivation of loving-kindness has the power to transform enmity into amity, hostility into hospitality.

The teaching is simple: act with kindness and compassion. If you cannot do this, at least try not to harm others.

Happiness is found in the simplest of things. It is not in the things you own, but in the love you share.

The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of all kinds.

In the moment of anger, abandon anger but not the person. In the moment of attachment, abandon attachment but not the person.

If we learn to open our hearts, anyone, including the people who drive us crazy, can be our teacher.

It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others.

The source of love is deep in us and we can help others realize a lot of happiness. One word, one action, one thought can reduce another person's suffering and bring that person joy.

As long as our orientation is toward perfection or success, we will never learn about unconditional friendship with ourselves, nor will we find compassion.

The essence of Buddhist practice is to reduce our selfishness and to work for the benefit of others.

Kindness is the solution to all of life's problems.

The ultimate source of happiness is not money and power, but warm-heartedness.

True happiness comes from a sense of inner peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved through cultivation of altruism, of love, of compassion.

When we understand others, we understand ourselves. When we love others, we love ourselves.

The practice of metta begins with oneself, for only when we have developed loving-kindness towards ourselves can we truly offer it to others.

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

The purpose of life is to be happy, to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate. It is not to be well known, cited, or powerful.

If you want to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be miserable, expect something in return.

If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.

Compassion is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength.

The purpose of our lives is to be happy, and happiness is found in benefiting others.

People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost.

The ultimate purpose of Buddhism is to serve and benefit humanity.

May all beings be happy, be peaceful, be liberated.

We can learn the art of fierce compassion - redefining strength, deconstructing isolation and renewing a sense of community, practicing letting go of rigid us-vs.-them thinking.

Loving-kindness is not something we need to manufacture. It's a natural expression of our awakened nature.

The more you understand, the more you love; the more you love, the more you understand.

Just as a mother would protect her only child with her life, even so let one cultivate a boundless love towards all beings.

To understand everything is to forgive everything.

When you look deeply into your anger, you will see that the person you call your enemy is also suffering. As soon as you see that, the capacity for accepting and having compassion for them is there.

The ultimate source of happiness is not money and power, but warm-heartedness.

Compassion is the radicalism of our time.

Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.

Metta is the ability to embrace all parts of ourselves, as well as all parts of the world.

Metta (loving-kindness) becomes truly effective only when it arises from a peaceful mind, a pure mind, a balanced mind.

The ultimate source of a happy life is warm-heartedness. This means extending to others the kind of concern we have for ourselves.

Compassion is not just about being kind to others. It's about being kind to ourselves as well.

The root of happiness is altruism — the wish to be of service to others.

We don't set out to save the world; we set out to wonder how other people are doing and to reflect on how our actions affect other people's hearts.

Life is glorious, but life is also wretched. It is both. Appreciating the gloriousness inspires us, encourages us, cheers us up, gives us a bigger perspective, energizes us. We feel connected. But if that's all that's happening, we get arrogant and start to look down on others, and there is a sense of making ourselves a big deal and being really serious about it, wanting it to be like that forever. The gloriousness becomes tinged by craving and addiction. On the other hand, wretchedness--life's painful aspect--softens us up considerably. Knowing pain is a very important ingredient of being there for another person.

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.

When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect toward others.

When the heart is still, it can be kind. When the mind is still, it can see clearly.

The best way to solve a problem is to help someone else solve their problem.

Just as parents care for their children, you should bear in mind the whole universe.

Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

Wisdom and compassion must be developed equally and harmoniously.

Love is the wish that others be happy, and compassion is the wish that they be free from suffering.

When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce.

The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes.

The way to change others' minds is with affection, and not anger.

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.

Compassion is a verb.

Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.