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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

Love is not about possession. Love is about appreciation.

Compassion is a verb.

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

If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another.

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

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

Wisdom and compassion must be developed equally and harmoniously.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

The experience of emptiness engenders compassion.

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

A pure mind is always full of love - real love for all 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 teaching is simple: act with kindness and compassion. If you cannot do this, at least try not to harm others.

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.

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

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

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

Compassion is the radicalism of our time.

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.

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

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

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.

The more you give, the more you have. That's the economics of kindness.

Compassion is not mere sentiment but a powerful force that can transform both ourselves and others.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Conquer anger with non-anger. Conquer evil with good. Conquer stinginess with giving. Conquer deceit with truth.

World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.

Radiate boundless love towards the entire world — above, below, and across — unhindered, without ill will, without enmity.

The way to overcome anger is to be too busy being kind to have time to be angry.

Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It's a relationship between equals.

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.

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

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

The essence of the teaching is emptiness and compassion. Without emptiness, compassion can become attachment. Without compassion, emptiness can become cold and distant.

When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need punishment; he needs help.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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