Looking for just the right words to put your life and circumstances into perspective? Check out this collection of 45 of the Dalai Lama’s most inspirational quotations.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, serves as a worldwide spiritual leader. He is committed to helping people of all religious traditions find happiness, and teaches values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline.

As a bonus, each quote includes a downloadable image that you can share to social media or use personally.

Quotes from the Dalai Lama About Service and Making a Difference

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” Dalai Lama

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

“To conquer oneself is a greater victory than to conquer thousands in a battle.” Dalai Lama

“There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow. Today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.” Dalai Lama

“Help others, and if you can’t help them at least don’t hurt them.” Dalai Lama

“The true hero is one who conquers his own anger and hatred.” Dalai Lama

“World peace must develop from inner peace.” Dalai Lama

“It is necessary to help others not in our prayers but in our daily lives.” Dalai Lama

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

“We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.” Dalai Lama

Quotes from the Dalai Lama About Happiness, Peace, and Joy

“When you think everything is someone else’s fault, you will suffer a lot. When you realize that everything springs only from yourself, you will learn both peace and joy.” Dalai Lama

“The first step toward living a happy life is to treat every other human with kindness.” Dalai Lama

“Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” Dalai Lama

“A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering.” Dalai Lama

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” Dalai Lama

“Man sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.” Dalai Lama

“Many of our problems stem from attitudes like putting ourselves first at all costs.” Dalai Lama

“People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.” Dalai Lama

“Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.” Dalai Lama

“Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.” Dalai Lama

“Inner peace is the key. If you have inner peace, the external problems do not affect your deep sense of peace and tranquility.” Dalai Lama

“When you are discontent, you always want more, more, more, more. Your desire can never be satisfied. But when you practice contentment, you can say to yourself, oh yes, I already have everything that I really need.” Dalai Lama

Quotes from the Dalai Lama About Love, Kindness, and Service

“Love is the absence of judgment.” Dalai Lama

“Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back, and reasons to stay.” Dalai Lama

“If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another.” Dalai Lama

“If you don’t love yourself, you cannot love others.” Dalai Lama

“I defeat my enemies when I make them my friends.” Dalai Lama

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” Dalai Lama

“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” Dalai Lama

“Compassion is the radicalism of our time.” Dalai Lama

“The more you are motivated by love, the more fearless and free your action will be.” Dalai Lama

“Anger or hatred is like a fisherman’s hook. It is very important for us to ensure that we are not caught by it.” Dalai Lama

Quotes About Wisdom for Life from the Dalai Lama

“When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know; But when you listen, you may learn something new.” Dalai Lama

“In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.” Dalai Lama

“Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.” Dalai Lama

“Silence is sometimes the best answer.” Dalai Lama

“Do not avoid the responsibility of your actions.” Dalai Lama

“When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.” Dalai Lama

“Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.” Dalai Lama

“If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then th ere is no need to worry. If it’s not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.” Dalai Lama

“Be happy to change your goals, but never change your values.” Dalai Lama

“The seed of goodness is found in the soil of appreciation.” Dalai Lama

“The goal is not to be better than the other man, but your previous self.” Dalai Lama

“It is very rare or almost impossible that an event can be negative from all points of view.” Dalai Lama

“Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.” Dalai Lama