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

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

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

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

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

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

Wisdom and compassion must be developed equally and harmoniously.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love is not about possession. Love is about appreciation.

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 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.

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

The experience of emptiness engenders compassion.

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.

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

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

When you realize the emptiness of all phenomena, compassion will arise in your heart for all sentient beings who do not understand this truth.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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