Religious belief is not a precondition either of ethical conduct or of happiness.

Buddha urged people to investigate things - he didn't just command them to believe.

The only way to fail is to quit.

The question is not to know what is the meaning of life, but what meaning I can give to my life.

If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another. If you wish to know that you are safe, cause another to know that they are safe. If you wish to better understand seemingly incomprehensible things, help another to better understand. If you wish to heal your own sadness or anger, seek to heal the sadness or anger of another.

If you utilize obstacles properly, then they strengthen your courage, and they also give you more intelligence, more wisdom.

After I handed over all my authority, I feel now our struggle [for Tibet ] become much, much safer. And me personally, the day I officially handed over, that night, very unusual sound. I am quite free now.