All love may begin by being passionate, especially for younger people. But in the process of living together, they have to learn and practice love, so that selfishness--the tendency to possess--will diminish, and the elements of understanding and gratitude will settle in, little by little, until their love becomes nourishing, protecting, and reassuring," (41).

— Thich Nhat Hanh

[A]ll the methods in the search for truth should be looked on as means rather than as ends in themselves or as absolute truth.

— 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

Anywhere we go, we will have our self with us; we cannot escape ourselves.

— Thich Nhat Hanh

A person who looks at the table and can see the universe is a person who can see the way.

— Thich Nhat Hanh

A real love letter is made of insight, understanding, and compassion. Otherwise, it's not a love letter. A true love letter can produce a transformation in the other person, and therefore in the world. But before it produces a transformation in the other person, it has to produce a transformation within us. Some letters may take the whole of our lifetime to write.

— Thich Nhat Hanh

Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and failure to listen, I am committed to cultivating loving speech and compassionate listening to relieve suffering and promote reconciliation and peace in myself and among other people, ethnic and religious groups, and nations. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I am committed to speaking truthfully using words that inspire confidence, joy, and hope. I am determined not to speak when anger manifests in me. I will practice mindful breathing and walking to recognize and look deeply into my anger. Furthermore, I know that the roots of anger can be found in my wrong perceptions and lack of understanding of the suffering in myself and the other person. Furthermore, I will speak and listen in such a way as to help myself and the other person to transform suffering and see the way out of difficult situations. Furthermore, I am determined not to spread news that I do not know to be certain and not to utter words that can cause division or discord. Furthermore, I will practice diligently with joy and skillfulness to nourish my capacity for understanding, love, and inclusiveness, gradually transforming the anger, violence, and fear that lie deep in my consciousness.

— Thich Nhat Hanh

A wave has a right to live her life as a wave, but she must also learn to live her life as water because she is not only a wave. She is also water. And water lives without the fear carried by the wave.

— Thich Nhat Hanh

Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.

— Thich Nhat Hanh

Being vegetarian here also means that we do not consume dairy and egg products, because they are products of the meat industry. If we stop consuming, they will stop producing. Only collective awakening can create enough determination for action.

— Thich Nhat Hanh