“No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true.”
Nathaniel Hawthorne · The Scarlet Letter, 1850
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Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.
About this quote
Meaning
This teaching draws a sharp contrast between quantity and quality in speech. A thousand words spoken without genuine purpose or sincerity accomplish nothing, while a single word offered at the right moment, in the right spirit, can dissolve conflict and restore calm. The point is not literally about counting words, but about the intention and awareness behind what we say.
Context
The Dhammapada is one of the most widely read texts in the Buddhist tradition, a collection of verses attributed to the Buddha that covers ethics, the nature of the mind, and the path toward liberation. This particular verse sits within a broader teaching about the futility of hollow action, whether in speech, ritual, or practice. The Dhammapada has been translated into dozens of languages and remains a central reference point for both scholarly study and everyday spiritual life across many Buddhist communities worldwide.
About the author
Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, meaning "the awakened one," was a spiritual teacher from ancient South Asia whose insights became the foundation of Buddhism. He is traditionally said to have lived and taught over several decades, gathering a community of monks, nuns, and laypeople around a path centered on mindfulness, ethical conduct, and the understanding of suffering. His teachings were passed down orally for generations before being compiled into texts. Today he is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of human thought.
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