Quotes by Spiritual Teachers

Monks, mystics, theologians and spiritual teachers across traditions. This page lists all 52 of them with their quote counts, followed by a selection of their most-shared lines.

Gautama Buddha (51) Spiritual teacher · c. 563 BCE–c. 483 BCE

Rumi (51) Poet and mystic · 1207–1273

Swami Vivekananda (21) Hindu monk · 1863–1902

Albert Schweitzer (15) Theologian and physician · 1875–1965

Desmond Tutu (8) Archbishop, anti-apartheid activist · 1931–2021

Eckhart Tolle (7) Spiritual teacher and author · born 1948

Ramakrishna (4) Hindu mystic · 1836–1886

Osho (4) Spiritual teacher · 1931–1990

Meher Baba (4) Spiritual teacher · 1894–1969

Ram Dass (4) Spiritual teacher and author · 1931–2019

Kabir (3) Mystic poet · 1440–1518

Al-Ghazali (2) Theologian and philosopher · 1058–1111

Ajahn Chah (2) Buddhist monk · 1918–1992

Shantideva (2) Buddhist monk and scholar · 685–763

Sri Ramakrishna (2) Mystic · 1836–1886

Tenzin Gyatso (2) 14th Dalai Lama · born 1935

Gordon Hinckley (2) Religious leader · 1910–2008

Lama Yeshe (2) Tibetan Buddhist lama · 1935–1984

Swami Sivananda (1) Hindu spiritual teacher · 1887–1963

Kūkai (1) Monk and scholar · 774–835

John Paul II (1) Pope · 1920–2005

Abdurrahman Wahid (1) Religious leader and president · 1940–2009

Sheng Yen (1) Buddhist monk · 1930–2009

Ryokan (1) Zen monk and poet · 1758–1831

Julian of Norwich (1) Mystic and anchoress · born 1343

Hsing Yun (1) Buddhist monk · 1927–2023

Mansur al-Hallaj (1) Sufi mystic · 858–922

Buddhadasa Bhikkhu (1) Buddhist monk · 1906–1993

Thomas Aquinas (1) Theologian and philosopher · 1225–1274

Teresa of Ávila (1) Mystic and writer · 1515–1582

Baltasar Gracian (1) Writer & Jesuit Priest · 1601–1658

Bodhidharma (1) Buddhist Monk

Saint Augustine (1) Theologian and philosopher · 354–430

Lewis B. Smedes (1) Theologian and author · 1921–2002

Augustine of Hippo (1) Theologian & Philosopher · 354–430

Sri Chinmoy (1) Indian spiritual teacher and writer · 1931–2007

Tryon Edwards (1) American theologian · 1809–1894

Thomas Chalmers (1) Theologian · 1780–1847

Eknath Easwaran (1) Spiritual teacher and translator · 1910–1999

Joseph Roux (1) Priest and writer · 1834–1905

James Faust (1) Religious leader · 1920–2007

William Channing (1) American Unitarian theologian · 1780–1842

Soren Kierkegaard (1) Danish philosopher and theologian · 1813–1855

Paul Tillich (1) Theologian and philosopher · 1886–1965

Richard Whately (1) Archbishop and logician · 1787–1863

Frances de Sales (1) French bishop and saint · 1567–1622

Forrest Church (1) American minister and theologian · 1948–2009

Pierre Abelard (1) Philosopher and theologian · 1079–1142

John Powell (1) Priest, psychologist and author · 1925–2009

Thomas Kempis (1) German-Dutch monk and author · 1380–1471

Marianne Williamson (1) Author and spiritual teacher · born 1952

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1) German theologian · 1906–1945

Quotes by Spiritual Teachers

Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.

Gautama Buddha

He is able who thinks he is able.

Gautama Buddha

The minute I heard my first love story, I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was.

Rumi

Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.

Gautama Buddha

What we think, we become.

Gautama Buddha

It is better to travel well than to arrive.

Gautama Buddha

There is no path to happiness: happiness is the path.

Gautama Buddha

Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.

Rumi

Don't grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.

Rumi

The mind is everything. What you think you become.

Gautama Buddha

Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.

Rumi

In separateness lies the world's great misery, in compassion lies the world's true strength.

Gautama Buddha

Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others.

Gautama Buddha

Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.

Gautama Buddha

If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path.

Gautama Buddha

Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation.

Rumi

What you seek is seeking you.

Rumi

Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts.

Gautama Buddha

The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.

Gautama Buddha

You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.

Gautama Buddha

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.

Gautama Buddha

Something opens our wings. Something makes boredom and hurt disappear. Someone fills the cup in front of us: We taste only sacredness.

Rumi

Love is the bridge between you and everything.

Rumi

In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves.

Gautama Buddha

Explore more: Philosophers · Poets · Novelists · Playwrights · Scientists & Thinkers · Politicians & Leaders · Artists · Musicians · Actors & Filmmakers · Entrepreneurs · Activists & Reformers · Writers & Authors · Athletes & Coaches · Inventors & Engineers · All authors · Occasions