--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be lamps unto yourselves; be your own…" description: "\"Be lamps unto yourselves; be your own confidence. Hold truth within yourselves.\" — Gautama Buddha" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/gautama-buddha-163_confidence_be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-your-own-con_136984.jpg" --- # Be lamps unto yourselves; be your own confidence. Hold… ![“Be lamps unto yourselves; be your own confidence. Hold truth within yourselves.” quote by Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/gautama-buddha-163_confidence_be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-your-own-con_136984.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/gautama-buddha-163_confidence_be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-your-own-con_136984.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/gautama-buddha-163_confidence_be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-your-own-con_136984.jpg) > “Be lamps unto yourselves; be your own confidence. Hold truth within yourselves.” [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. Inner confidence and truth are sources of personal guidance and stability. **In simple terms:** Be your own source of confidence and truth. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner confidence and integrity. Themes self-reliance confidence truth spirituality Mood calm centered Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - meditation - leadership - decision making - ethical living Key Concepts inner guidance personal empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can you strengthen inner confidence? - What truth guides your actions? A Different Perspective External validation may still be sought. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Be a lamp to yourself. Be your own confidence. Hold on to the truth within yourself as to the only truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-a-lamp-to-yourself-be-your-own-confidence-hold-on-to-the-truth/) [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/) > [Therefore, be ye lamps unto yourselves, be ye a refuge to yourselves. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp; hold fast as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/therefore-be-ye-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-ye-a-refuge-to-yourselves/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Do not accept what you hear by report, do not accept tradition, do not accept a statement because it is found in our books,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/do-not-accept-what-you-hear-by-report-do-not-accept-tradition-do-not/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“Therefore, be ye lamps unto yourselves, be a refuge to yourselves. Hold fast to Truth as a lamp; hold fast to the truth as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakyamuni/therefore-be-ye-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-a-refuge-to-yourselves-hold/) Shakyamuni > [You are as the yellow leaf. The messengers of death are at hand. You are to travel far away. What will you take with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/you-are-as-the-yellow-leaf-the-messengers-of-death-are-at-hand-you/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Look not for refuge to anyone beside yourself. Heed fast to the truth as a lamp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/look-not-for-refuge-to-anyone-beside-yourself-heed-fast-to-the-truth/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Thus shall ye think of all this fleeting world: As star at dawn, a bubble in a stream A flash of lightning in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/thus-shall-ye-think-of-all-this-fleeting-world-as-star-at-dawn-a/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Be your own lamps. Be your own shelters. Hang on to the truth as a lamp. Hang on to the truth as a refuge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-your-own-lamps-be-your-own-shelters-hang-on-to-the-truth-as-a-lamp/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Be a lamp unto yourselves! Work out your liberation with diligence! Fill your mind with compassion!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-a-lamp-unto-yourselves-work-out-your-liberation-with-diligence/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-you-light-a-lamp-for-somebody-it-will-also-brighten-your-path/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [A person writing at night may put out the lamp, but the words he has written will remain. It is the same with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/a-person-writing-at-night-may-put-out-the-lamp-but-the-words-he-has/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Go forth in every direction- for the happiness, the harmony, the welfare of the many. Offer your heart, the seeds of understanding, like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/go-forth-in-every-direction-for-the-happiness-the-harmony-the-welfare/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“Some people hold back the truth because they think this is one way to show love. Others tell the truth but have no love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/some-people-hold-back-the-truth-because-they-think-this-is-one-way-to/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [Question with boldness, hold to the truth, and speak without fear,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/question-with-boldness-hold-to-the-truth-and-speak-without-fear/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) ## 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 Confidence quotes > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/) [Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/i-would-rather-regret-the-things-that-i-have-done-than-the-things/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Get to know yourself well enough to not only expect, but also control, your response to the unexpected challenges in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/get-to-know-yourself-well-enough-to-not-only-expect-but-also-control/) Senoraroy > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I look for someone who has confidence. Also someone whose energetic, cause I'm NOT that energetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-look-for-someone-who-has-confidence-also-someone-whose-energetic/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) [Browse all 11,290 Confidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Be lamps unto yourselves; be your own confidence. Hold truth within yourselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gautama Buddha" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-your-own-confidence-hold-truth-within/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Confidence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-your-own-confidence-hold-truth-within/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/gautama-buddha-163_confidence_be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-your-own-con_136984.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/gautama-buddha-163_confidence_be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-your-own-con_136984.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/gautama-buddha-163_confidence_be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-your-own-con_136984.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Be lamps unto yourselves; be your own confidence. Hold truth within yourselves.” — 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": "Be lamps unto yourselves; be your...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-your-own-confidence-hold-truth-within/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-your-own-confidence-hold-truth-within/#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 } } ] } ```