Dalai Lama

“If some people have the belief or view that the Dalai Lama has some miracle power, that's totally nonsense. I am just one human being.”

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

“World belongs to humanity, not this leader, that leader or that king or prince or religious leader. World belongs to humanity.”

“Number of people have said to me, after hearing your thinking, their mind becomes much more happier.”

“I always tell people that religious institutions and political institutions should be separate. So while I'm telling people this, I myself continue with them combined. Hypocrisy!”

“The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.”

“The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual's own reason and critical analysis.”

“If you have a particular faith or religion, that is good. But you can survive without it.”

“Open-minded people tend to be interested in Buddhism because Buddha urged people to investigate things - he didn't just command them to believe.”

“I am just one human being.”

“If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.”

“There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness.”

“Even an animal, if you show genuine affection, gradually trust develops... If you always showing bad face and beating, how can you develop friendship?”

“If you have religious faith, very good, you can add on secular ethics, then religious belief, add on it, very good. But even those people who have no interest about religion, okay, it's not religion, but you can train through education.”

“If I had remained in Lhasa, even without the Chinese occupation, I would probably have carried the ceremonial role in some orthodox way.”

“Conversion is not my intention. Changing religion is not easy. You may develop some kind of confusion or difficulties.”

“Home is where you feel at home and are treated well.”

“A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity.”

“I think really, China, Chinese, I think they really have a long history of civilization, rich culture.”

“When you are discontent, you always want 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.'”