Quotessence
Home / Authors / Nhat Hanh
Nhat Hanh

Nhat Hanh Quotes

Monk

Filter quotes by topic

AllIfsSufferingMomentsPracticeWayMindfulnessCompassionPeoplePeace Is Every StepUnderstanding

Famous Nhat Hanh Quotes

“We are determined not to take as the aim of our life fame, profit, wealth, or sensual pleasure, nor to accumulate wealth while millions are hungry and dying. We are committed to living simply and sharing our time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need.”

NeedsEnergyWealthPleasureMillionsOur LivesDyingMaterialsFameResourcesAimProfitCommittedDeterminedHungrySensualOur TimeConsumerismOverconsumptionSensual Pleasure
Book:Being Peace
Create image

“A bodhisattva is someone who has compassion within himself or herself and who is able to make another person smile or help someone suffer less. Every one of us is capable of this.”

PersonsHelpingAbleSufferingCompassionCapableBodhisattva
Book:Be Free Where You Are: A Talk Given at the Maryland Correctional Institute: Easyread Super Large 24pt Edition
Create image

“Recognize that it is not really possible to steadily help others when we ourselves are not in good physical, mental, or emotional state. We may be able to carry on for a while, but sooner or later we end up feeling depleted, discouraged, or weak. We cannot keep on giving when we are running on an empty tank. We need to be solid.”

NeedsGivingMayEndsStatesHelpingFeelingsMotivationalRunningAbleEmotionalEmptyWeakHelping OthersSooner Or LaterDiscouragedTanks
Author:Nhat Hanh
Create image

“When we smile, the muscles around our mouth are stretched and relaxed, just like doing yoga. Smiling is mouth yoga. We release the tension from our face as we smile. Others who run into us notice it, even strangers, and are likely to smile back. It is a wonderful chain reaction that we can initiate, touching the joy in anyone we encounter. Smiling is an ambassador of goodwill.”

MotivationalRunningFacesJoyWonderfulMouthsYogaStrangerReactionsChainsReleaseTensionEncountersMusclesTouchingRelaxedGoodwillAmbassadorsInitiateChain Reactions
Author:Nhat Hanh
Create image

“We must look deeply into the nature of our volition to see whether it is pushing us in the direction of liberation from suffering and toward peace and compassion, or in the direction of affliction and misery. What is it that we really want deep in our heart? Is it money, fame, power? Or is it finding inner peace, being able to live life fully and enjoy the present moment?”

WantLooksHeartMomentsMotivationalAbleSufferingEnjoyCompassionFameFindingsMiseryInner PeaceLiberationLive LifePushingPresent MomentAfflictionEnjoy LifeFollow Your HeartListen To Your HeartMoments In TimeListen To YourselfVolitionCherish Every MomentFinding Inner Peace
Author:Nhat Hanh
Create image

“As a population, if a large number of people make even small moves to eat less meat and more plant-based foods, the livestock industry will shrink. Over time, farmers will find other crops to support their livelihoods. Through such collective awakening we can make a difference in our world.”

PeopleIfsWorldMotivationalMovingDifferencesNumbersSupportIndustryPlantPopulationAwakeningMeatMaking A DifferenceCollectivesOur WorldFarmersShrinksCropsLarge NumbersLivelihoodLivestock
Author:Nhat Hanh
Create image

“When you suffer, you can look deeply at your situation and find the many blessings that are already surrounding you. It is wonderful to sit with a pen and paper and write down all the conditions for happiness that are already there, already available to you right in this moment.”

WritingLooksMomentsMotivationalSufferingSituationWonderfulConditionsBlessingPaperAvailablePensMany Blessings
Book:Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life
Create image

“Each minute we spend worrying about the future and regretting the past is a minute we miss in our appointment with life - a missed opportunity to engage life and to see that each moment gives us the chance to change for the better, to experience peace and joy.”

GivingMomentsMotivationalPastJoyOpportunityChanceWorryMinutesMissingRegretAppointmentsChange For The BetterPeace And JoyMissed Opportunity
Book:Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life
Create image

“Guarding knowledge is not a good way to understand. Understanding means to throw away your knowledge. You have to be able to transcend your knowledge the way people climb a ladder. If you are on the fifth step of a ladder and think that you are very high, there is no hope for you to climb to the sixth.”

PeopleIfsThinkingWayMeanAbleUnderstandingGrowthStepsClimbsFifthLaddersGood WayNo HopeGuarding
Book:Being Peace: Easyread Super Large 24pt Edition
Create image

“There are so many things that can provide us with peace. Next time you take a shower or a bath, I suggest you hold your big toes in mindfulness. We pay attention to everything except our toes. When we hold our toes in mindfulness and smile at them, we will find that our bodies have been very kind to us. We know that any cell in our toes can turn cancerous, but our toes have been behaving very well, avoiding that kind of problem. Yet, we have not been nice to them at all. These kinds of practices can bring us happiness.”

KnowsWellsKindHas BeensProblemBodyBigsTurnsNextPayAttentionPracticeNiceAwarenessMindfulnessCellsPay AttentionShowersNext TimeToesAvoidingBaths
Author:Nhat Hanh
Create image