--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we can manage to refrain from harming…" description: "\"If we can manage to refrain from harming others in our everyday actions and words, we can start to give more serious attention to actively doing good, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df2/dalai-lama-89_action_if-we-can-manage-to-refrain-from-harming_218642.jpg" --- # If we can manage to refrain from harming others in our… ![“If we can manage to refrain from harming others in our everyday actions and words, we can start to give more serious attention to actively doing good, and this can be a source of great joy and inner confidence. We can benefit others through our actions by being warm and generous toward them, by…” quote by Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df2/dalai-lama-89_action_if-we-can-manage-to-refrain-from-harming_218642.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df2/dalai-lama-89_action_if-we-can-manage-to-refrain-from-harming_218642.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df2/dalai-lama-89_action_if-we-can-manage-to-refrain-from-harming_218642.jpg) > “If we can manage to refrain from harming others in our everyday actions and words, we can start to give more serious attention to actively doing good, and this can be a source of great joy and inner confidence. We can benefit others through our actions by being warm and generous toward them, by being charitable, and by helping those in need.” [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. Avoiding harm to others opens space for active goodness, which brings joy and confidence, and benefits society through generosity and charity. **In simple terms:** Not harming others lets you focus on doing good, bringing joy. Key Takeaway Practice kindness and generosity daily. Themes compassion ethical behavior personal growth Mood calm encouraging Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - workplace - family - volunteering - community service Key Concepts Buddhist ethics psychology of well‑being Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn everyday actions into opportunities for generosity? - What small act of kindness could you do today? A Different Perspective Maintaining consistent kindness can be challenging amid personal stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Actions and words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actions-and-words/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Caring for others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caring-for-others/) [Charitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charitable/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Do unto others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/do-unto-others/) [Doing good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-good/) [Everyday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyday/) [Generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generous/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Great joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-joy/) [Harming others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harming-others/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [If we can refrain from harming others in our actions & words, we can start to give serious attention to actively doing good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/if-we-can-refrain-from-harming-others-in-our-actions-words-we-can/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [One is not a great one because one defeats or harms other living beings. One is so called because one refrains from defeating or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-is-not-a-great-one-because-one-defeats-or-harms-other-living/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [There are two aspects of everything, one youdo somethiing cause you dont know youllbe in loss second-you know youll be in loss and still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/there-are-two-aspects-of-everything-one-youdo-somethiing-cause-you/) Senoraroy > [After all, harming others means you first harm yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/after-all-harming-others-means-you-first-harm-yourself/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [“The easiest way to harm someone is to either overestimate or underestimate his abilities!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-easiest-way-to-harm-someone-is-to-either-overestimate-or/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Self harming everyday trying to get in my vein The world is bring me down I am a nobody I might as well not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/self-harming-everyday-trying-to-get-in-my-vein-the-world-is-bring-me/) Im Nothing > [“We should aim to make ours a world where people feel free to do things they enjoy, even if others are mildly inconvenienced, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-harford/we-should-aim-to-make-ours-a-world-where-people-feel-free-to-do/) [Tim Harford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-harford/) > [I feel like if I live the Christian life, then the people should be able to see it in my everyday actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quinton-aaron/i-feel-like-if-i-live-the-christian-life-then-the-people-should-be/) [Quinton Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quinton-aaron/) > [“The everyday actions of average citizens have a greater impact on society than any politician. Unfortunately politicians exert a disproportionate amount of influence on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-golway/the-everyday-actions-of-average-citizens-have-a-greater-impact-on/) [Tom Golway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-golway/) > [The purpose of our life needs to be positive. We weren't born with the purpose of causing trouble, harming others. For our life to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-purpose-of-our-life-needs-to-be-positive-we-weren-t-born-with-the/) [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/) > [On love, not harming others, and respecting all beings. Even animals have these elements in their behavioral patterns. We should start by observing how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/on-love-not-harming-others-and-respecting-all-beings-even-animals/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [By being inattentive to the needs of others, inevitably we end up harming them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/by-being-inattentive-to-the-needs-of-others-inevitably-we-end-up/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Love is the only feeling you can carve with actions and words to your own perfection. As it is the biggest gift you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfredo-c/love-is-the-only-feeling-you-can-carve-with-actions-and-words-to-your/) [Alfredo C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfredo-c/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) ## 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 Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we can manage to refrain from harming others in our everyday actions and words, we can start to give more serious attention to actively doing good, and this can be a source of great joy and inner confidence. We can benefit others through our actions by being warm and generous toward them, by being charitable, and by helping those in need.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dalai Lama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/if-we-can-manage-to-refrain-from-harming-others-in-our-everyday/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/if-we-can-manage-to-refrain-from-harming-others-in-our-everyday/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df2/dalai-lama-89_action_if-we-can-manage-to-refrain-from-harming_218642.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df2/dalai-lama-89_action_if-we-can-manage-to-refrain-from-harming_218642.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df2/dalai-lama-89_action_if-we-can-manage-to-refrain-from-harming_218642.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we can manage to refrain from harming others in our everyday actions and words, we can start to give more…” — Dalai Lama", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dalai Lama", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If we can manage to refrain...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/if-we-can-manage-to-refrain-from-harming-others-in-our-everyday/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/if-we-can-manage-to-refrain-from-harming-others-in-our-everyday/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```