I became the Dalai Lama not on a voluntary basis.

 India is a geographical term. It is no more a united nation than the Equator. 

That's been one of my mantras - focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.

Knowledge of what is does not open the door directly to what should be.

A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.

For one swallow does not make a summer, nor does one day; and so too one day, or a short time, does not make a man blessed and happy.

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

And no, we don't know where it will lead. You just know there's something much bigger than any of us here. 

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

I am in the world feeling my way to light 'amid the encircling gloom.'

I started to make a study of the art of war and revolution and, whilst abroad, underwent a course in military training. If there was to be guerrilla warfare, I wanted to be able to stand and fight with my people and to share the hazards of war with them.

No distinctions of caste and creed should hamper us. All are the sons and daughters of India. We should all love our country and build our destiny on mutual love and help.