--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Greed is an imperfection that defiles the…" description: "\"Greed is an imperfection that defiles the mind; hate is an imperfection that defiles the mind; delusion is an imperfection that defiles the mind.\" — Ga..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/gautama-buddha-163_delusion_greed-is-an-imperfection-that-defiles-th_174211.jpg" --- # Greed is an imperfection that defiles the mind; hate is an… ![“Greed is an imperfection that defiles the mind; hate is an imperfection that defiles the mind; delusion is an imperfection that defiles the mind.” quote by Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/gautama-buddha-163_delusion_greed-is-an-imperfection-that-defiles-th_174211.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/gautama-buddha-163_delusion_greed-is-an-imperfection-that-defiles-th_174211.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/gautama-buddha-163_delusion_greed-is-an-imperfection-that-defiles-th_174211.jpg) > “Greed is an imperfection that defiles the mind; hate is an imperfection that defiles the mind; delusion is an imperfection that defiles the mind.” [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. Mental vices corrupt thought, leading to suffering and ignorance. **In simple terms:** Bad mental habits poison the mind. Key Takeaway Cultivate mindfulness and ethical conduct. Themes mindfulness ethics psychology imperfection spirituality Mood contemplative serene motivational Type philosophical inspirational educational When to use this quote - meditation - ethical decision-making - self‑analysis Key Concepts Buddhism philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What mental habits hinder your clarity? - How can compassion replace hatred? A Different Perspective Overcoming these vices requires sustained effort and insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusion/) [Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) [Greediness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greediness/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Imperfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperfection/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [Well, love is insanity. The ancient Greeks knew that. It is the taking over of a rational and lucid mind by delusion and self-destruction.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/well-love-is-insanity-the-ancient-greeks-knew-that-it-is-the-taking/) [Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/) > [“Beauty is the replication and duplication of mind’s delusion. It is not uniqueness or exceptionality; it is the mentality of belonging and fitting in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/beauty-is-the-replication-and-duplication-of-mind-s-delusion-it-is/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [To stop suffering, stop greediness. Greediness is a source of suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/to-stop-suffering-stop-greediness-greediness-is-a-source-of-suffering/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“If you are proven to be right a hundred times in a row, no amount of evidence will convince you that you are mistaken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/if-you-are-proven-to-be-right-a-hundred-times-in-a-row-no-amount-of/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“It is no so much that you use your mind wrongly - you usually don't use it at all. It uses you. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/it-is-no-so-much-that-you-use-your-mind-wrongly-you-usually-don-t-use/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [You believe that you are your mind. This is the delusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/you-believe-that-you-are-your-mind-this-is-the-delusion/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Insanity is the greatest gift of humanity, for insanity talks to the mind of the delusion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/insanity-is-the-greatest-gift-of-humanity-for-insanity-talks-to-the/) [Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/) > [The human mind is a delusion generator, not a window to trurh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/the-human-mind-is-a-delusion-generator-not-a-window-to-trurh/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Note: The mind is a superb interment if used rightly. Used wrongly, however, it becomes very destructive. To put it more accurately, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/note-the-mind-is-a-superb-interment-if-used-rightly-used-wrongly/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Happy indeed are the arahants! No craving can be found in them. Cut off is the conceit 'I am,' Burst asunder is delusion's net.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/happy-indeed-are-the-arahants-no-craving-can-be-found-in-them-cut-off/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [All the holy words you read and all the holy words you speak are as nothing if you do not act upon them. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/all-the-holy-words-you-read-and-all-the-holy-words-you-speak-are-as/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Through our senses the world appears. Through our reactions we create delusions.Without reactions the world becomes clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/through-our-senses-the-world-appears-through-our-reactions-we-create/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“Don't compare the size of your roof with the size of the sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-compare-the-size-of-your-roof-with-the-size-of-the-sky/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“...of all the nonsense that twists the world, the concept of 'altruism' is the worst. People do what they want to do, every time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/of-all-the-nonsense-that-twists-the-world-the-concept-of-altruism-is/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Don't envy what people have, emulate what they did to have it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-fargo/don-t-envy-what-people-have-emulate-what-they-did-to-have-it/) [Tim Fargo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-fargo/) ## 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." 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They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense-and-delusion-and-egomania/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [The Science Delusion is the belief that science already understands the nature of reality in principle leaving only the details to be filled in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-sheldrake/the-science-delusion-is-the-belief-that-science-already-understands/) [Rupert Sheldrake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-sheldrake/) > [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“we shouldn’t surrender our real world perception to a false reality too much or we may suffer the inevitable consequences of deluded thinking. Technology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-p-neary/we-shouldn-t-surrender-our-real-world-perception-to-a-false-reality/) M.P. Neary > [Atheism Explained is a gem. It is clear, informative, well-argued, provocative, often witty, and unfailingly interesting. David Ramsay Steele ranges over so many issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-shearmur/atheism-explained-is-a-gem-it-is-clear-informative-well-argued/) Jeremy Shearmur > [It is a great delusion to suppose that flesh-meat of any kind is essential to health. Considerably more than three parts of the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/it-is-a-great-delusion-to-suppose-that-flesh-meat-of-any-kind-is/) [Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/) > [The religions of mankind must be classed among the mass-delusions of this kind. 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