"We can never obtain peace in the world if we neglect the inner world and don't make peace with ourselves. World peace must develop out of inner peace. Without inner peace it is impossible to achieve world peace, external peace. Weapons themselves do not act. They have not come out of the blue. Man has made them. But even given those weapons, those terrible weapons, they cannot act by themselves. As long as they are left alone in storage they cannot do any harm. A human being must use them. Someone must push the button. Satan, the evil powers, cannot push that button. Human beings must do it."

6 likes

Source: His Holiness The Dalai Lama (2013). “Kindness, Clarity, and Insight”, p.138, Shambhala Publications

About the author

Dalai Lama

Spiritual Leader

The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, known for his teachings on compassion, peace, and mindfulness.

All quotes by Dalai Lama →

Same author

More quotes by Dalai Lama

See all →
Dalai Lama Spiritual Leader

"Man surprised me most about humanity.Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived."

Read quote
Dalai Lama Spiritual Leader

"There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday and the other is called Tomorrow. Today is the right day to Love, Believe, Do and mostly Live."

Read quote
Dalai Lama Spiritual Leader

"Don't ever mistake my silence for ignorance, my calmness for acceptance or my kindness for weakness. Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength."

Read quote