Thich Nhat Hanh Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old Thich Nhat Hanh quotes, Thich Nhat Hanh sayings, and Thich Nhat Hanh proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.'

Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones. Thich Nhat Hanh
Every thought you produce, anything you say, any action you do, it bears your signature. Thich Nhat Hanh
People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar. Thich Nhat Hanh
Total relaxation is the secret to enjoying sitting meditation. I sit with my spine upright, but not rigid; and I relax all the muscles in my body. Thich Nhat Hanh
Anger is like a storm rising up from the bottom of your consciousness. When you feel it coming, turn your focus to your breath. Thich Nhat Hanh
Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos- the trees, the clouds, everything. Thich Nhat Hanh
When we love someone, we should look deeply into the nature of that love. If we want to be with someone so that we can feel safe, that’s understandable, but it’s not true love. True love doesn’t foster suffering or attachment. On the contrary, it brings well-being to ourselves and to others. True love is generated from within. For true love to be there, you need to feel complete in yourself, not needing something from outside. True love is like the sun, shining with its own light, and offering that light to everyone. Thich Nhat Hanh
'Love' is a beautiful word, and we have to restore its meaning. When we say, 'I love hamburgers,' we spoil the word. We have to make the effort to heal words by using them properly and carefully. True love includes a sense of responsibility and accepting the other person as she is, with all her strengths and weaknesses. If you only like the best things in a person, that is not love. You have to accept her weaknesses and bring your patience, understanding, and energy to help her transform. This kind of love brings protection and safety. Thich Nhat Hanh
It is possible to live happily in the here and now. So many conditions of happiness are available-more than enough for you to be happy right now. You don't have to run into the future in order to get more. Thich Nhat Hanh
Anger is like a storm rising up from the bottom of your consciousness. When you feel it coming, turn your focus to your breath. Thich Nhat Hanh
Smiling is very important. If we are not able to smile, then the world will not have peace. It is not by going out for a demonstration against nuclear missiles that we can bring about peace. It is with our capacity of smiling, breathing, and being peace that we can make peace. Thich Nhat Hanh
If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile and blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace. Thich Nhat Hanh
Our smile affirms our awareness and determination to live in peace and joy. The source of a true smile is an awakened mind. Thich Nhat Hanh
If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. Thich Nhat Hanh
Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness. If in our heart, we still cling to anything – anger, anxiety, or possessions – we cannot be free. Thich Nhat Hanh
If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today. Thich Nhat Hanh
Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.” Thich Nhat Hanh
With the fork in my hand I will be thinking about what to do next, and the texture and flavor of the desert, together with the pleasure of eating it, will be lost. Thich Nhat Hanh
When you look at the sun during your walking meditation, the mindfulness of the body helps you to see that the sun is in you; without the sun there is no life at all and suddenly you get in touch with the sun in a different way. Thich Nhat Hanh
Happy teacher will change the world. Thich Nhat Hanh
If our students learn mindfulness too, and everyone shares the same practices and manages their own behavior mindfully, our task is easier; but even without such conditions, mindfulness helps the teacher stay solid. Thich Nhat Hanh
To love our enemy is impossible. The moment we understand our enemy, we feel compassion towards him/her, and he/she is no longer our enemy. Thich Nhat Hanh
Go slowly, breathe and smile. Thich Nhat Hanh
Compassion is a verb. Thich Nhat Hanh
It is not a matter of faith. It is a matter of practice. Thich Nhat Hanh
Love has no limits. Love never ends. Love is reborn and reborn and reborn. Thich Nhat Hanh
Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today. Thich Nhat Hanh
Learning to touch deeply the jewels of our own tradition will allow us to understand and appreciate the values of other traditions. Thich Nhat Hanh
To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. you need to accept yourself. Thich Nhat Hanh
We are here to awaken from the illusion of separateness. Thich Nhat Hanh