A Collection of Wisdom

Wisdom of the World's Religions

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Jesus, Matthew 5:8) Christianity

The best and surest way to be one with the divine is makoto [sincerity]. (Shinto Proverb) Shinto

All birds, even those of the same species, are not alike, and it is the same with animals and humans. The reason Wakan Tanka [God / the Great Mystery] does not make two birds, or animals, or human beings exactly the same is because each is placed here by Wakan Tanka to be an independent individual and to rely upon itself. (Shooter) Native American Religions

The superior person is in harmony, but does not merely conform. The inferior person merely conforms, but is not in harmnoy. (Confucius, Analects 13:23) Confucianism

Doing good to others is not a duty—it is a joy, for it increases your own health and happiness. (Avesta) Zoroastrianism

The Earth is but one country, and mankind is its citizens. (Baha’u’llah) Bahai

The greatest and supreme science among sciences is the study that frees man from all kinds of miseries. (Isibhasiya 7:1) Jainism

Whoever goes rightly, does so for his own soul; and whoever goes astray, does so to his own detriment. (Qur’an 17:15) Islam

Every deed has its outcome. There’s no escape from what we do. I enjoy the supreme treasure and joy, due to my virtue. (Uttaradhyayana Sutra 13:10) Jainism

There was no one that Confucius could not learn from, and yet there was no one who was his only teacher. (Tzu Kung, Analects 19:22) Confucianism

Strive to be shining examples for all of mankind. (Baha’u’llah) Bahai

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works… (Jesus, Matthew 5:16) Christianity

Do not take the example of another as an excuse for your own wrongdoing. (Hazrat Inayat Khan) Sufism

And why do you behold the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me pull out the speck out of your eye,” and at that time a beam is in your own eye? …First cast out the beam out of your own eye; and then shall you see clearly to cast out the speck out of your brother’s eye. (Jesus, Matthew 7:3-5) Christianity

When the superior person deals with the world, he is not [biased] for or against anything—he just follows what is right. (Confucius, Analects 4:10) Confucianism

Knowledge alone does not enable a task to be accomplished. (Acaranga Niryukti 1156) Jainism

Knowledge that remains on the tongue is very superficial; the main value and excellence of knowledge is to apply it. (Muhammad, Hadith) Islam

I have no preset rigid determinations for what should or should not be done… (Confucius, Analects 18:8) Confucianism

Changes of time and place and circumstance always cause changes in the duties as well. The law for people is one in time of peace, and quite another in calamity. (Mahabharata) Hinduism

n. But those who exert themselves at the proper time, feel no remorse afterwards. (Sutrakritanga-Sutra 1:3:4:15) Jainism

Make the best of the moment… (Paul, Ephesians 5:16) Christianity

Do not procrastinate. What you have to do, do today itself, for lurking death may lay its cruel hands on you at any moment. (Brhatkalpa-bhasya 4674) Jainism

Follow the path of righteousness, and do not waste a single moment. Life is full of obstacles, and so one should not postpone anything for tomorrow. (Brhatkalpa-bhasya 4675) Jainism

All appetites are natural, hence divine gifts, and the temperate enjoyment of them is a divine power. If a person oversteps the limits of moderation, he pollutes his body and mind. To be god-like is to be natural; to be natural is to follow Nature… within the limits set by instinct and reason. (Inazo Nitobe) Shinto

The Way diminishes where there is too much, and supplements where there is not enough (Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching Chapter 77) Taoism

In order to train the ego it is necessary that one should distinguish what is the right of the ego and what is not its right. The ego has a tendency to want what it needs and also what it does not need. The first is its natural appetite and the second is greed. … The ego has a tendency to want more and more of what it likes, regardless of right and justice, also regardless of the after-effect. (Hazrat Inayat Khan) Sufism

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Jesus, Matthew 16:26) Christianity

The most honorable among you are those who carry themselves with the most outstanding conduct. (Muhammad, Hadith) Islam

When others sleep, be awake. Be wise, trust nobody, and always be prudent. Time is unpredictable. The body is vulnerable. Always be alert like the Bharunda bird [who has two necks and three legs]. (Uttaradhyayana Sutra 4:6) Jainism

A prudent man foresees the evil and protects himself from it…(Proverbs 22:3) Judaism / Christianity

… [The righteous are] steadfast in trial and adversity… (Qur’an 2:177) Islam

Blessed is the man who endures during challenges… (James 1:12) Christianity

… He did it with all his heart, and prospered. (II Chronicles 31:21) Judaism / Christianity

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness… (II Timothy 4:7-8) Christianity

Though the road/way be short, if a person does not travel on it, he will never get there. Though a matter be small, if he does not do it, it will never be accomplished. (Hsun Tzu, Hsun Tzu Ch. 2) Confucianism

If a wicked person turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does what is just and right, he shall save his soul alive. (Ezekiel 18:27) Judaism / Christianity

Do not seek guidance over and over, like an untrained steed that needs to wait for a lash. Avoid sin, like a trained steed that sees the whip [and avoids danger]. (Uttaradhyayana Sutra 1:12) Jainism

When raw nature and training are combined well, there is a superior person. (Confucius, Analects 6:16) Confucianism

I have heard and experienced that bondage and liberation are both within yourself. (Acaranga Sutra 1:5:2:36) Jainism

Victory over one’s self is better than victory over thousands of enemies on the battlefield. A true conqueror is he who conquers his own self.
Fight the fight within—why fight external foes? He who conquers himself through himself obtains supreme joy. (Uttaradhyayana Sutra 9:34-35) Jainism

And even in their own solitary ways, people contemplate and abide by what they think others want them to see, hear, think, feel, and do, and they discredit what their own selves feel and think; and so they lose the happiest moments of the present, and cannot really give way [to themselves] for one hour. Is this really that much different from being a chained prisoner? (Yang Chu, Lieh Tzu Ch. 7) Yangism