However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?

There is not a liberal America and a conservative America - there is the United States of America. There is not a black America and a white America and latino America and asian America - there's the United States of America.

Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition. Whether it be true or not, I can say, for one, that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow-men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem. How far I shall succeed in gratifying this ambition is yet to be developed.

If you want to shine like a sun, first burn like a sun.

Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.

I became the Dalai Lama not on a voluntary basis.

Compromise is the easy option adopted by the inhabitants of the comfort zone.

Your worth consists in what you are and not in what you have.

We have to shed mutual bickering, shed the difference of being high or low, develop a sense of equality and banish untouchability. We have to restore the conditions of Swaraj prevalent prior to British rule and live like children of the same father.

Compassion can make friends out of enemies.

We shall draw from the heart of suffering itself the means of inspiration and survival.

We can't afford to be killing one another.