--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a bee without harming the flower, its…" description: "\"As a bee without harming the flower, its colour or scent, flies away, collecting only the honey, even so should the sage wander in the village.\" — Gaut..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/gautama-buddha-163_bees_as-a-bee-without-harming-the-flower-its_2015146.jpg" --- # As a bee without harming the flower, its colour or scent… ![“As a bee without harming the flower, its colour or scent, flies away, collecting only the honey, even so should the sage wander in the village.” quote by Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/gautama-buddha-163_bees_as-a-bee-without-harming-the-flower-its_2015146.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/gautama-buddha-163_bees_as-a-bee-without-harming-the-flower-its_2015146.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/gautama-buddha-163_bees_as-a-bee-without-harming-the-flower-its_2015146.jpg) > “As a bee without harming the flower, its colour or scent, flies away, collecting only the honey, even so should the sage wander in the village.” [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The sim compares a sage’s gentle, unobtrusive presence to a bee that takes only honey without harming the flower, urging humility and non‑exploitation. **In simple terms:** Live lightly, take only what you need. Key Takeaway Practice humility and mindful contribution. Themes humility mindfulness non‑exploitation balance nature Mood peaceful inspirational Type spiritual ethical When to use this quote - community service - environmental stewardship - personal growth - teaching Key Concepts Buddhism ethical conduct interdependence Questions to Reflect On - How can you contribute without taking? - What does “taking only honey” mean to you? A Different Perspective Ignoring subtle impacts can cause harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bee Harming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bee-harming-3619635/) [Bees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bees/) [Collecting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collecting/) [Collecting Honey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collecting-honey-3074442/) [Colour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colour/) [Flies Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flies-away-265540/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Fly away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fly-away/) [Honey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honey/) [Honey Sage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honey-sage-3619634/) [Sage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sage/) [Scent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scent/) [Scent Flies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scent-flies-3619636/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Village](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/village/) [Wander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wander/) ## Related quotes > [While still in the cage of your being behold the spirit bird before it flies away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/while-still-in-the-cage-of-your-being-behold-the-spirit-bird-before/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [My life flies away like a dream: Why should I stay behind?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-golding/my-life-flies-away-like-a-dream-why-should-i-stay-behind/) [Julia Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-golding/) > [When I was young I used to smother myself with olive oil mixed with a dash of vinegar to keep the flies away and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-beacham/when-i-was-young-i-used-to-smother-myself-with-olive-oil-mixed-with-a/) [Stephanie Beacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-beacham/) > [To do something that will just fly away is kind of special. Every time somebody tell you they love you, that "I love you"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-buckley/to-do-something-that-will-just-fly-away-is-kind-of-special-every-time/) [Jeff Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-buckley/) > [Make the most of time, it flies away so fast; yet method will teach you to win time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/make-the-most-of-time-it-flies-away-so-fast-yet-method-will-teach-you/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [A man of supreme folly: his life flies away while he is merely hoping to enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/a-man-of-supreme-folly-his-life-flies-away-while-he-is-merely-hoping/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [“In the village, a sage should go about Like a bee, which, not harming Flower, colour or scent, Flies off with the nectar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-village-a-sage-should-go-about-like-a-bee-which-not-harming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let us not go hurrying about and collecting honey, bee-like buzzing here and there for a knowledge of what is not to be arrived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/let-us-not-go-hurrying-about-and-collecting-honey-bee-like-buzzing/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Like the bees which keep collecting honey, you take a piece of me everyday. I am so enchanted by your sweet smile and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-milch/like-the-bees-which-keep-collecting-honey-you-take-a-piece-of-me-2/) [Ella Milch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-milch/) > [“Thus, when you cry out, 'Greedy! Greedy!' to the bird that flies away with the big crust, you know now that you ought not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-barrie/thus-when-you-cry-out-greedy-greedy-to-the-bird-that-flies-away-with/) [J.M. Barrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-barrie/) > [It flutters through the air, getting the odor of rotting flesh. It's wings drip with dark as night blood. It lands on the head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naquitta-faith/it-flutters-through-the-air-getting-the-odor-of-rotting-flesh-it-s/) [Naquitta Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naquitta-faith/) > [Sometimes happiness is like a bird. The sweeter it sings, the faster it flies away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ngetich/sometimes-happiness-is-like-a-bird-the-sweeter-it-sings-the-faster-it/) [Patrick Ngetich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ngetich/) > [“The bird of youth flies away and doesn't come back. Fly, boy, fly!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-granado/the-bird-of-youth-flies-away-and-doesn-t-come-back-fly-boy-fly/) [Alberto Granado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-granado/) > [You just go a little crazy, you know. Sometimes. And why? Well only because your soul is just too big for you, it flies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/you-just-go-a-little-crazy-you-know-sometimes-and-why-well-only/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [“Why is it that when Robert Redford-cum-Denys Finch Hatton flies away in the golden glow out of Africa, he is pursuing his destiny? And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-morris/why-is-it-that-when-robert-redford-cum-denys-finch-hatton-flies-away/) [Holly Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-morris/) ## More by Gautama Buddha > [Before you've seen it, and when you first see it, it is the greatest thing; afterwards, it is ordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/before-you-ve-seen-it-and-when-you-first-see-it-it-is-the-greatest/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-of-his-students-asked-buddha-are-you-the-messiah-no-answered/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Give thanks for what had been given to you, However little. Be pure, never falter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/give-thanks-for-what-had-been-given-to-you-however-little-be-pure/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [For fear of causing terror to living beings, Mahamati, let the Bodhisattva who is disciplining himself to attain compassion, refrain from eating flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/for-fear-of-causing-terror-to-living-beings-mahamati-let-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Be lamps unto yourselves. Be refuges unto yourselves. Take yourself no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-refuges-unto-yourselves-take-yourself-no/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Speak only the speech that neither torments self nor does harm to others. That speech is truly well spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/speak-only-the-speech-that-neither-torments-self-nor-does-harm-to/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Pain is the outcome of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/pain-is-the-outcome-of-sin/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [It is because I perceive the danger in the practice of mystic wonders, that I loath, abhor, and am ashamed thereof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/it-is-because-i-perceive-the-danger-in-the-practice-of-mystic-wonders/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If one is the master of oneself, one is the resort one can depend on; therefore, one should control oneself of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-one-is-the-master-of-oneself-one-is-the-resort-one-can-depend-on/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Watch the thought and its ways with care, and let it spring from love born out of concern for all beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/watch-the-thought-and-its-ways-with-care-and-let-it-spring-from-love/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [One is not low because of birth nor does birth make one holy. Deeds alone make one low, deeds alone make one holy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-is-not-low-because-of-birth-nor-does-birth-make-one-holy-deeds/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [He who causes suffering shall suffer. There is no escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/he-who-causes-suffering-shall-suffer-there-is-no-escape/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If a person does not harm any living being...and does not kill or cause others to kill - that person is a true spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-a-person-does-not-harm-any-living-being-and-does-not-kill-or-cause/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [The fool says, "These are my sons, this is my land, this is my money." In reality, the fool does not own himself, much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-fool-says-these-are-my-sons-this-is-my-land-this-is-my-money-in/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) [Explore all 1,043 Gautama Buddha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## More Bees quotes > [Those who have not been stung will hardly fear a bee the same as those who have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/those-who-have-not-been-stung-will-hardly-fear-a-bee-the-same-as/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Arouse a bee and it will come at you with the force of a dragon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeda-shingen/arouse-a-bee-and-it-will-come-at-you-with-the-force-of-a-dragon/) [Takeda Shingen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeda-shingen/) > [Pray look upon the plants and birds, the ants, spiders, and bees, and you will see them all exerting their nature, and busy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/pray-look-upon-the-plants-and-birds-the-ants-spiders-and-bees-and-you/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [You see, years ago I was just an ordinary bee minding my own business, smelling flowers all day, and occasionally picking up part-time work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/you-see-years-ago-i-was-just-an-ordinary-bee-minding-my-own-business/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [As the bee collecteth honey with great zest, so the fool collecteth wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/as-the-bee-collecteth-honey-with-great-zest-so-the-fool-collecteth/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [It is hard to imagine a world without bees. It would be even harder to live in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-gardiner/it-is-hard-to-imagine-a-world-without-bees-it-would-be-even-harder-to/) [Barry Gardiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-gardiner/) > [When I heard that the bees were in trouble, the fact that they're disappearing and not coming back to the hive, which is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-schwartzberg/when-i-heard-that-the-bees-were-in-trouble-the-fact-that-they-re/) [Louie Schwartzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-schwartzberg/) > [Precise, graceful, and generous, the poems in SuperLoop, seem to be born out of a deep, careful attention and a profound compassion. Sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-limon/precise-graceful-and-generous-the-poems-in-superloop-seem-to-be-born/) [Ada Limon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-limon/) > [The little bee returns with evening's gloom, To join her comrades in the braided hive, Where, housed beside their might honey-comb, They dream their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tennyson-turner/the-little-bee-returns-with-evening-s-gloom-to-join-her-comrades-in/) [Charles Tennyson Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tennyson-turner/) > [“This time of year, the purple blooms were busy with life- not just the bees, but butterflies and ladybugs, skippers and emerald-toned beetles, flitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wiggs/this-time-of-year-the-purple-blooms-were-busy-with-life-not-just-the/) [Susan Wiggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wiggs/) > [“Bees chase flowers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-l-shreve/bees-chase-flowers/) [Tracy L. Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-l-shreve/) > [My banks they are furnish'd with bees, Whose murmur invites one to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/my-banks-they-are-furnish-d-with-bees-whose-murmur-invites-one-to/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/there-are-certain-pursuits-which-if-not-wholly-poetic-and-true-do-at/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Bee Gees are a fly-by-night sort of group.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-gibb/the-bee-gees-are-a-fly-by-night-sort-of-group/) [Barry Gibb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-gibb/) > [“I don't like to hear cut and dried sermons. No—when I hear a man preach, I like to see him act as if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-to-hear-cut-and-dried-sermons-no-when-i-hear-a-man/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Browse all 770 Bees quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bees/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a bee without harming the flower, its colour or scent, flies away, collecting only the honey, even so should the sage wander in the village.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gautama Buddha" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/as-a-bee-without-harming-the-flower-its-colour-or-scent-flies-away/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bees" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/as-a-bee-without-harming-the-flower-its-colour-or-scent-flies-away/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/gautama-buddha-163_bees_as-a-bee-without-harming-the-flower-its_2015146.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/gautama-buddha-163_bees_as-a-bee-without-harming-the-flower-its_2015146.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/gautama-buddha-163_bees_as-a-bee-without-harming-the-flower-its_2015146.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As a bee without harming the flower, its colour or scent, flies away, collecting only the honey, even so…” — Gautama Buddha", "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": "Gautama Buddha", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As a bee without harming the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/as-a-bee-without-harming-the-flower-its-colour-or-scent-flies-away/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/as-a-bee-without-harming-the-flower-its-colour-or-scent-flies-away/#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 } } ] } ```