Daisaku Ikeda Quotes

It is only through such real-life daily struggles and challenges that a genuine sensitivity to human rights can be inculcated. This is a truth that is not limited to school education: it applies to all of us. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Hope is the sun. It is light. It is passion. It is the fundamental force for life's blossoming. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Patience is, in and of itself, a great challenge and it often holds the key to breaking through a seeming impasse. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Speak out tirelessly with conviction. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

You must not for one instant give up the effort to build new lives for yourselves. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

When we care for others our own strength to live increases. When we help people expand their state of life, our lives also expand. Actions to benefit others are not separate from actions to benefit oneself. Our lives and the lives of others are ultimately inseparable. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Hardships make us strong. Problems give birth to wisdom. Sorrows cultivate compassion. Those who have suffered the most will become the happiest. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Instead of engaging in cutthroat competition, we should strive to create value. In economic terms, this means a transition from a consumer economy - the mad rush for ownership and consumption - to a constructive economy where all human beings can participate in the act of creating lasting worth. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

When human beings live together, conflict is inevitable. War is not. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

The determination to win is the better part of winning. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Adversity gives birth to greatness. The greater the challenges and difficulties we face, the greater the opportunity we have to grow and develop as people. A life without adversity, a life of ease and comfort, produces nothing and leaves us with nothing. This is one of the indisputable facts of life. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

There's no need for us to be held back by the past or how things have been so far. The important thing is what seeds we are sowing now for the future. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Never be shaken, no matter what happens or what others may say. Never be flustered; never lose confidence. This is the way we should strive to live our lives. Being able to do so is a sign of genuine character. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

What matters is the value we've created in our lives, the people we've made happy and how much we've grown as people. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Often the biggest obstacle in meeting life's challenges is actually our own fear of failure. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

One cannot, without reflection, make some into bearers of goodness and others into miscreants, judging them by relative positive or negative criteria. These, like everything else, change according to historical circumstances, the character of a society, the time and subjective points of view. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

If everything is smooth sailing right from the beginning, we cannot become people of substance and character. By surmounting paining setbacks and obstacles, we can create a brilliant history of triumph that will shine forever. That is what makes life so exciting and enjoyable. In any field of endeavour, those who overcome hardships and grow as human beings are advancing towards success and victory in life. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

But I think we need to remember that democracy everywhere is by its nature incomplete, a work in progress. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

It is crucial that we develop real awareness of ourselves as citizens of Earth, linked by mutual and indissoluble bonds. When we clearly recognize this reality and ground ourselves in it, we are compelled to take a strict accounting of our way of life. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

A commitment to human rights cannot be fostered simply through the transmission of knowledge. Action and experience play a crucial role in the learning process. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

The economy is after all driven by people. No matter how dire the situation may be, as long as people are firm, a turnaround, revival and progress can be possible. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

A great human revolution in just a single individual will help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation and, further, can even enable a change in the destiny of all humankind. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

The heart is what is important. There is nothing more vulnerable, nothing more corruptible than the human mind; nor is there anything as powerful, steadfast and ennobling. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Embrace your dreams and advance as far as they can take you. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

It is impossible to build one's own happiness on the unhappiness of others. This perspective is at the heart of Buddhist teachings. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Women are, in my view, natural peacemakers. As givers and nurturers of life, through their focus on human relationships and their engagement with the demanding work of raising children and protecting family life, they develop a deep sense of empathy that cuts through to underlying human realities. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Humanity's collective mission in the cosmos lies in the practice of compassion. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Genuine sincerity opens people's hearts, while manipulation causes them to close. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

The effects of human rights education can be dramatic in awakening people to the value and power of their own lives, as shown in the following stories. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Envying another's beauty will diminish your own. But when you praise beauty in others your own beauty deepens. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Strength is itself victory. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

World peace is not something that can be realized simply by politicians signing treaties, or by business leaders creating economic cooperation. True and lasting peace will be realized only by forging bonds of trust between people at the deepest level, in the depths of their very lives. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

The challenge of preventing any further proliferation of nuclear weapons is just such a trial in the quest for world peace, one that cannot be achieved if we are defeated by a sense of helplessness. The crucial element is to ensure that any struggle against evil is rooted firmly in a consciousness of the unity of the human family, something only gained through the mastery of our own inner contradictions. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Hope is life's greatest treasure. If you have no hope, create some! ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Humanity has experienced many revolutionary changes over the course of history: revolutions in agriculture, in science, industrial production, as well as numerous political revolutions. But these have all been limited to the external aspects of our individual and collective lives. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Like the ocean that remains calm in its depths even when waves rage over its surface, and like the sun that continues shining on high even during storms, we can at each moment create value and develop our state of life, enjoying our existence to the fullest in times of both suffering and joy. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

People who are rooted in the here and now, who are not defeated by their limitations, who don't compare themselves to others, who confidently advance along their chosen path-such people are happy, such people are truly great. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Health is not simply the absence of illness. Real health is the will to overcome every form of adversity and use even the worst of circumstances as a springboard for new growth and development. Simply put, the essence of health is the constant renewal and rejuvenation of life. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Poems and songs penned as an unstoppable outpouring of the heart take on a life of their own. They transcend the limits of nationality and time as they pass from person to person, from one heart to another. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Dialogue starts from the courageous willingness to know and be known by others. It is the painstaking and persistent effort to remove all obstacles that obscure our common humanity. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

I was always reaching for love, but it turns out love doesn't involve reaching. I was always dreaming of the big love, the ultimate love, the love that would sweep me off my feet or 'break open the hard shell of my lesser self' (Daisaku Ikeda). The love that would bring on my surrender. The love that would inspire me to give everything. As I lay there, it occurred to me that while I had been dreaming of this big love, this ultimate love, I had, without realizing it, been giving and receiving love for most of my life. As with the trees that were right in front of me, I had been unable to value what sustained me, fed me, and gave me pleasure. And as with the trees, I was so busy waiting for and imagining and reaching and dreaming and preparing for this huge big love that I had totally missed the beauty and perfection of the soft-boiled eggs and Bolivian quinoa. ~ Eve Ensler

To possess both wisdom and compassion is the heart of our human revolution. If you have wisdom alone and lack compassion, it will be a cold, perverse wisdom. If you have compassion alone and lack wisdom, you cannot give happiness to others. You are even likely to lead them in the wrong direction, and you won't be able to achieve your own happiness. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

[Love that would] break open the hard shell of my lesser self. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

The greatest tragedy in life is not to die, it is to live as if dead, to let the life within us wither. Toward what goal or achievement are we striving in life? This is the important question to ask ourselves. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

There are no greater treasures than the highest human qualities such as compassion, courage and hope. Not even tragic accident or disaster can destroy such treasures of the heart. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

A person, who no matter how desperate the situation, gives others hope, is a true leader. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Culture is an elevated expression of the inner voice which the different peoples of the Earth have heard in the depths of their being, a voice which conveys the vibrant compassion and wisdom of the cosmic life. For different cultures to engage in interaction is to catalyze each other's souls and foster mutual understanding. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

What is defeat in life? It is not merely making a mistake; defeat means giving up on yourself in the midst of difficulty. What is true success in life? True success means winning in your battle with yourself. Those who persist in the pursuit of their dreams, no matter what the hurdles, are winners in life, for they have won over their weaknesses. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Have the depth of faith to regard everything as a source for creating happiness and value. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

The gratification of desire is not happiness. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

No matter how healthy, intelligent or affluent we may be, if our minds are weak, then our happiness will also be frail and brittle. Our minds of faith, moreover, enable us to bring out the full potential in all things and situations, so it is crucial that we strive to forge our minds of faith. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

There is no true joy in a life lived closed up in the little shell of the self. When you take one step to reach out to people, when you meet with others and share their thoughts and sufferings, infinite compassion and wisdom well up within your heart. Your life is transformed. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

The reactions of the human heart are not mechanical and predictable but infinitely subtle and delicate. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Creativity means to push open the heavy, groaning doorway to life. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

It's important to resolve to yourself, 'I will absolutely win!' Then this firm commitment will serve as the wellspring of great wisdom and courage that surges forth from within. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

To be fearless no matter what happens-that is the root of true happiness. To move forward resolutely regardless of what lies in store-that is the spirit, the resolve, that leads to human victory. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

The place where you are now is vital. The path toward victory opens from where you stand. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

It is much more valuable to look for the strength in others. You can gain nothing by criticizing their imperfections. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Creating harmony amidst diversity is a fundamental issue of the twenty-first century. While celebrating the unique characteristics of different peoples and cultures, we have to create solidarity on the level of our common humanity, our common life. Without such solidarity, there will be no future for the human race. Diversity should not beget conflict in the world, but richness. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Human beings are inherently endowed with the power to bring out the best possible results from the worst possible circumstances. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Everything begins with the resolve to take the first step. From that action, wisdom arises and change begins. Without action, nothing changes. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Effort and hard work construct the bridge that connects your dreams to reality. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

A moment's encounter can decide the direction of one's entire life ~ Daisaku Ikeda

So long as human history continues, we will face the perennial challenge of realizing, maintaining and strengthening peace through dialogue, of making dialogue the sure and certain path to peace. We must uphold and proclaim this conviction without cease, whatever coldly knowing smiles or cynical critiques may greet us. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

I cannot say this too strongly: Do not compare yourselves to others. Be true to who you are, and continue to learn with all your might. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

What may look like a small act of courage is courage nevertheless. The important thing is to be willing to take a step forward. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Lack of wisdom does not make a fool. A fool, in the truest sense, is the man who regards his own misfortunes or those of others as a source of doubt or criticism of the infinite mercy of the Gohonzon.-Josei Toda ~ Daisaku Ikeda

People who cease to grow can't inspire others. Leadership begins with challenging
oneself. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Life can unfold unlimitedly as long as we have a heart of appreciation and an undefeated mind. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Victory lies in not getting defeated. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

The power of growth, of improvement, the power to overcome all stagnation and break through every obstacle and transform a barren wasteland into a verdant field - that unstoppable power of hope resides right within your own heart. It wells up from the rich earth of your innermost being when you face the future without doubt or fear: "I can do more. I can grow. I can become a bigger and better human being." ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Courage and compassion are two sides of the same coin. Compassion without courage is not genuine. You may have a compassionate thought or impulse, but if you don't do or say anything, it's not real compassion. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

One thing is certain: The power of belief, the power of thought, will move reality in the direction of what we believe and conceive of it. If you really believe you can do something, you can. This is a fact. When you clearly envision a victorious outcome, engrave it in your heart and are firmly convinced that you will attain it, your brain makes every effort to realize the mental image you have created. And then, through your unceasing efforts, that victory is finally made a reality. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

We are responsible for our own destiny. What matters is how we improve ourselves from this moment forward. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Extreme poverty threatens people's right to life itself and makes impossible the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms essential to a humane way of life. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

The power of art can break the shackles that bind and divide human beings. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

A truly beautiful person is one who is good at discovering beauty. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Youthfulness is not determined by age. It is determined by one's life force. One who possesses hope is forever young. One who continually advances is forever beautiful.
~ Daisaku Ikeda

Do something! Start something! As you make consistent efforts, you will begin to see your goals come into focus. You will discover your mission
the one only you can fulfill. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Great art is created only through diligent and painstaking effort to perfect and polish oneself. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Just as a diamond can only be polished by another diamond, it is only through genuine, all-out engagement with others that people can polish their character, and help each other to reach greater heights. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Changing the destiny of one individual in the word today, it becomes possible to change the destiny of all mankind ~ Daisaku Ikeda

It is natural for us, as human beings, to look forward. Our eyes naturally look ahead. In this sense, we are made for moving toward a goal. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

No matter how complex global problems may seem, it is we ourselves who have given rise to them. They cannot be beyond our power to resolve ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Reading is a dialog with oneself; it is self-reflection, which cultivates profound humanity. Reading is therefore essential to our development. It expands and enriches the personality like a seed that germinates after a long time and sends forth many blossom-laden branches.
People who can say of a book, 'this changed my life' truly understand the meaning of happiness. Reading that sparks inner revolution is desperately needed to escape drowning in the rapidly advancing information society. Reading is more than intellectual ornamentation; it is a battle for the establishment for the self, a ceaseless challenge that keeps us young and vigorous. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

You will pass through storms and heavy rains, and at times you will suffer defeat. The essence of the creative life, however, is not to give up in the face of defeat but to follow the rainbow that exists within your heart. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

All people have a natural desire to be needed, to have their importance to others tangibly confirmed. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Human wisdom has advanced to the point where man can construct satellites. And yet man in his wisdom cannot find a way to rescue and old woman in Vietnam from her tragic plight. We can't wait to find out what the pockmarked face of the far side of the moon loks like, but we have no time to consider what meaning those wrinkles of sorrow etched deep into tha face of an old woman may have for us ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Many things happen in life. There are joyous days and times of suffering. Sometimes unpleasant things occur. But that's what makes life so interesting. The dramas we encounter are part and parcel of being human. If we experienced no change or drama in our lives, if nothing unexpected ever happened, we would merely be like automatons, our lives unbearably monotonous and dull. Therefore, please develop a strong self so that you can enact the drama of your life with confidence and poise in the face of whatever vicissitudes you may encounter. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

If we look at the world with a love of life, the world will reveal its beauty to us. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Faith and daily life, faith and work-these are not separate things. They are one and the same. To think of them as separate-that faith is faith, and work is work-is theoretical faith. Based on the recognition that work and faith are one and the same, we should put one hundred percent of our energy into our jobs and one hundred percent into our faith, too. When we resolve to do this, we enter the path of victory in life. Faith means to show irrefutable proof of victory amid the realities of society and in our own daily lives. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Life isn't always smooth. If it were, we would never grow & develop
as human beings. If we succeed, we are envied; if we fail, we are
ridiculed & attacked. Sadly, this is how people are. Unexpected
grief & suffering may lie ahead of you. But it is precisely when you
encounter such trying times that you must not be defeated. NEVER GIVE
UP! NEVER RETREAT! ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Having lived through the transition from totalitarianism, I am acutely mindful of the need to never take for granted the basic freedoms of thought, expression and belief that democracy brings. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

People need to be made conscious of a very simple reality: we have no choice but to share this planet, this small blue sphere floating in the vast reaches of space, with all of our fellow 'passengers.' ~ Daisaku Ikeda

If we are to put the era of nuclear terror behind us, we must struggle against the real 'enemy.' That enemy is not nuclear weapons per se, nor is it the states that possess or develop them. The real enemy that we must confront is the ways of thinking that justify nuclear weapons; the readiness to annihilate others when they are seen as a threat or as a hindrance to the realization of our objectives. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Ultimately, all human activities have as their goal the realization of happiness. Why, then, have we ended up producing the opposite result? Could the underlying cause be our failure to correctly understand the true nature of happiness? ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Hopes, dreams, faith and a sense of mission enable us to open up our lives. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

What our world most requires now is the kind of education that foster love for humankind, that develops character-that provides an intellectual basis for realization of peace and empowers learners to contribute to and improve society. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Where there is an absence of international political leadership, civil society should step in to fill the gap, providing the energy and vision needed to move the world in a new and better direction. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

So long as nuclear weapons continue to exist, so will the temptation to threaten others with overwhelming military force. ~ Daisaku Ikeda