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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love is not about possession. Love is about appreciation.

Wisdom and compassion must be developed equally and harmoniously.

Compassion is a verb.

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

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

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

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

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

Compassion is the radicalism of our time.

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

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

Compassion is not something we develop. It arises naturally as we see the truth of what is.

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.

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

To understand everything is to forgive everything.

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

The experience of emptiness engenders compassion.

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

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

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

A pure mind is always full of love - real love for all others.

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

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

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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.