Top 20 Most Inspiring Dalai Lama Quotes

The Dalai Lama is one of the most beloved and inspirational figures of the last century. As the political and spiritual leader of the Chinese province of Tibet, the Dalai Lama's tireless and decades-long work as a builder of bridges, seeker of peace, and campaigner for Tibetan independence has elevated him into one of the world's great moral leaders, with countless supporters and admirers around the world.

Born in 1935 to a peasant family in northeastern Tibet, the boy born Lhamo Thondup was anointed the 14th Dalai Lama at age 2, following Tibetan Buddhist traditions. He began his religious education at age 6, and at age 16 assumed full power as the political leader of Tibet. The young Dalai Lama's activism for a free and democratic Tibet sparked a Chinese military occupation of the province in 1959, which forced the leader's government and supporters into exile in India, where he has lived ever since.

The Dalai Lama has devoted his life since then to the pursuit of humanitarian and environmental causes, global peace, and dialogue between religions and peoples of all horizons. He has written many bestselling and inspirational books, and is the recipient of countless honors from across the globe, including the Nobel Peace Prize, which he was awarded in 1989.

Here are the top 20 most inspiring quotes from the Dalai Lama.

Top 20 Most Inspiring Dalai Lama Quotes

The Dalai Lama is full of inspiration and is dedicated to compassion, so enjoy the following love quotes for your fellow man.

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

Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.

We need to learn to want what we have, not to have what we want, in order to get stable and steady happiness.

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

Compassion is the radicalism of our time.

To conquer oneself is a greater victory than to conquer thousands in a battle.

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

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

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.

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

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

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

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.

The world doesn't belong to leaders. The world belongs to all humanity.

A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering.

Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.

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

Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.

Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.