--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: (Because) the notion of absolute truth is…" description: "\"(Because) the notion of absolute truth is difficult to sustain outside the context of religion, ethical conduct is not something we engage in because i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/dalai-lama-89_absolute-truth_because-the-notion-of-absolute-truth-is_1138661.jpg" --- # (Because) the notion of absolute truth is difficult to… ![“(Because) the notion of absolute truth is difficult to sustain outside the context of religion, ethical conduct is not something we engage in because it is somehow right in itself but because, like ourselves, all others desire to be happy and to avoid suffering. Given that this is a natural…” quote by Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/dalai-lama-89_absolute-truth_because-the-notion-of-absolute-truth-is_1138661.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/dalai-lama-89_absolute-truth_because-the-notion-of-absolute-truth-is_1138661.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/dalai-lama-89_absolute-truth_because-the-notion-of-absolute-truth-is_1138661.jpg) > “(Because) the notion of absolute truth is difficult to sustain outside the context of religion, ethical conduct is not something we engage in because it is somehow right in itself but because, like ourselves, all others desire to be happy and to avoid suffering. Given that this is a natural disposition, shared by all, it follows that each individual has a right to pursue this goal. Accordingly, I suggest that one of the things which determines whether an act is ethical or not is its effect on others' experience or expectation of happiness.” [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ethical actions are guided by the desire to promote happiness and reduce suffering for others, not by abstract moral absolutes. **In simple terms:** We act ethically to help others be happy and avoid pain. Key Takeaway Consider others' happiness when deciding actions. Themes ethics humanity happiness suffering Mood reflective compassionate Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - policy making - personal relationships - community service - conflict resolution Key Concepts Utilitarianism moral philosophy empathy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal desires with others' well‑being? - When might personal happiness conflict with societal expectations? A Different Perspective May overlook individual rights when focusing solely on collective happiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolute truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-truth/) [Absolutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [An act has no ethical quality whatever unless it be chosen out of several all equally possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/an-act-has-no-ethical-quality-whatever-unless-it-be-chosen-out-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [You can't deny that religion has done some good. It organizes lots of anti-poverty programs and soup kitchens and missionary work. But I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/you-can-t-deny-that-religion-has-done-some-good-it-organizes-lots-of/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [while religion is ethical, it by no means follows that ethics is religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-harkness/while-religion-is-ethical-it-by-no-means-follows-that-ethics-is/) [Georgia Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-harkness/) > [I regard monotheism as the greatest disaster ever to befall the human race. I see no good in Judaism, Christianity, or Islam - good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/i-regard-monotheism-as-the-greatest-disaster-ever-to-befall-the-human-2/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [By ethical conduct toward all creatures, we enter into a spiritual relationship with the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/by-ethical-conduct-toward-all-creatures-we-enter-into-a-spiritual/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I am committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct for government officials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-committed-to-the-highest-standards-of-ethical-conduct-for/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [“A good basic guideline for our speech (in relation to Ethical Conduct) is to reflect whether what we are saying is both true and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/a-good-basic-guideline-for-our-speech-in-relation-to-ethical-conduct/) [Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) > [The time has come to formulate guidelines for the ethical conduct of scientist, perhaps in the form of a voluntary Hippocratic Oath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-rotblat/the-time-has-come-to-formulate-guidelines-for-the-ethical-conduct-of/) [Joseph Rotblat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-rotblat/) > [I think our people in Britain have a normative expectation of ethical conduct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/i-think-our-people-in-britain-have-a-normative-expectation-of-ethical/) [Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/) > [I believe that the horrifying deterioration in the ethical conduct of people today stems from the mechanization and dehumanization of our lives. A disastrous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-believe-that-the-horrifying-deterioration-in-the-ethical-conduct-of/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Ethical conduct is something that becomes inherent in an organization over a long period of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-r-raymond/ethical-conduct-is-something-that-becomes-inherent-in-an-organization/) [Lee R. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-r-raymond/) > [Try to remain truthful. The power of truth never declines. Force and violence may be effective in the short term, but in the long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/try-to-remain-truthful-the-power-of-truth-never-declines-force-and/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Of course, there are different truths on different levels. Things are true relative to other things; "long" and "short" relate to each other, "high"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/of-course-there-are-different-truths-on-different-levels-things-are/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [From the viewpoint of absolute truth, what we feel and experience in our ordinary daily life is all delusion. Of all the various delusions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/from-the-viewpoint-of-absolute-truth-what-we-feel-and-experience-in/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [In Buddhism we have relative truth and absolute truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/in-buddhism-we-have-relative-truth-and-absolute-truth/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## More by Dalai Lama > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [In the interests of everyone the artist had a responsibility to use his medium well. In the Tibetan culture, most of the paintings are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/in-the-interests-of-everyone-the-artist-had-a-responsibility-to-use/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [If the mind is dominated by hatred, the best part of the brain, which is used to judge right and wrong, does not function…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/if-the-mind-is-dominated-by-hatred-the-best-part-of-the-brain-which/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other's well-being, is source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/more-compassionate-mind-more-sense-of-concern-for-other-s-well-being/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Everybody loves to talk about calmness and peace, whether in a family, national, or international context, but without inner peace how can we make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/everybody-loves-to-talk-about-calmness-and-peace-whether-in-a-family/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The only "definitive truth" for Buddhism is the absolute negation of any one truth as the Definitive Truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-only-definitive-truth-for-buddhism-is-the-absolute-negation-of/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [We can change society, change humanity by changing ourselves as individuals. By cultivating inner values, we can change our own lives and those of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-can-change-society-change-humanity-by-changing-ourselves-as/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I don't want to convert people to Buddhism — all major religions, when understood properly, have the same potential for good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-don-t-want-to-convert-people-to-buddhism-all-major-religions-when/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [There is no way to escape death, it is just like trying to escape by four great mountains touching sky. There is no escape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-is-no-way-to-escape-death-it-is-just-like-trying-to-escape-by/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [We live within the environment. So that directly relates with our survival, our life. So through that way, more concern of well being of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-live-within-the-environment-so-that-directly-relates-with-our/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [My belief is that the various religious traditions have great potential to increase compassion, the sense of caring for one another, and the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/my-belief-is-that-the-various-religious-traditions-have-great/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [When we think carefully, we see that the brief elation we experience when appeasing sensual impulses may not be very different from what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/when-we-think-carefully-we-see-that-the-brief-elation-we-experience/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“So let us reflect on what is truly of value in life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set our priorities on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/so-let-us-reflect-on-what-is-truly-of-value-in-life-what-gives/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I am the source of my own suffering, because of the habits of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-am-the-source-of-my-own-suffering-because-of-the-habits-of-my-mind/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) [Explore all 1,406 Dalai Lama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## More Absolute truth quotes > [“I know quite well why I became a historian… It was because dissension was frowned upon when I was a child: 'Don't argue, Claudia,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/i-know-quite-well-why-i-became-a-historian-it-was-because-dissension/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [“When you’ve tired of me,” she said softly, precisely, “Apollo will still be my brother. Will still be there for me.” “I’ll never tire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/when-you-ve-tired-of-me-she-said-softly-precisely-apollo-will-still/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the crowning proof of Christianity. If the resurrection did not take place, then Christianity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-m-morris/the-bodily-resurrection-of-jesus-christ-from-the-dead-is-the-crowning/) [Henry M. Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-m-morris/) > [“I think adults forget just how much faith teenagers can have in them, just how willing to believe that adults, by virtue of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/i-think-adults-forget-just-how-much-faith-teenagers-can-have-in-them/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [The Absolute Truth of Knowledge is precisely non-Knowledge. If this Mirror called Knowledge remains in the phase where nothing is reflected in it, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/the-absolute-truth-of-knowledge-is-precisely-non-knowledge-if-this/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [Let every one of us cultivate, in every word that issues from our mouth, absolute truth. I say cultivate, because to very few people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/let-every-one-of-us-cultivate-in-every-word-that-issues-from-our/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [Who can know what love means at the feet of the absolute truth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/who-can-know-what-love-means-at-the-feet-of-the-absolute-truth/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [When I say that a thing is true, I mean that I cannot help believing it... But...I do not venture to assume that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/when-i-say-that-a-thing-is-true-i-mean-that-i-cannot-help-believing/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [ATTRIBUTES OF GOD Because God is spirit...I will seek intimate fellowship with Him. Because God is all-powerful...He can help me with anything. Because God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-william-r-bright/attributes-of-god-because-god-is-spirit-i-will-seek-intimate/) Dr William R Bright > [“Somehow I feel that a person who thinks he has discovered the absolute truth will not be someone I know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-joseph/somehow-i-feel-that-a-person-who-thinks-he-has-discovered-the/) [Manu Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-joseph/) > [“Leave science out of it and live in accordance with a non-scientific absolute truth. This has been the strategy of liberal humanism, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/leave-science-out-of-it-and-live-in-accordance-with-a-non-scientific/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [If I'd written all the truth I knew for the past ten years, about 600 people - including me - would be rotting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-i-d-written-all-the-truth-i-knew-for-the-past-ten-years-about-600/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Only when we realize that there is no eternal, unchanging truth or absolute truth can we arouse in ourselves a sense of intellectual responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/only-when-we-realize-that-there-is-no-eternal-unchanging-truth-or/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [Nobody in this world possesses absolute truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/nobody-in-this-world-possesses-absolute-truth/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It isn’t the absolute truth about life and death, but the thing that helps us to live and confront the challenges of day-to-day life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-isn-t-the-absolute-truth-about-life-and-death-but-the-thing-that/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) [Browse all 317 Absolute truth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-truth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "(Because) the notion of absolute truth is difficult to sustain outside the context of religion, ethical conduct is not something we engage in because it is somehow right in itself but because, like ourselves, all others desire to be happy and to avoid suffering. 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