--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I teach one thing and one only: that is…" description: "\"I teach one thing and one only: that is, suffering and the end of suffering.\" — Gautama Buddha" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/gautama-buddha-163_apology_i-teach-one-thing-and-one-only-that-is-s_2755173.jpg" --- # I teach one thing and one only: that is, suffering and the… ![“I teach one thing and one only: that is, suffering and the end of suffering.” quote by Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/gautama-buddha-163_apology_i-teach-one-thing-and-one-only-that-is-s_2755173.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/gautama-buddha-163_apology_i-teach-one-thing-and-one-only-that-is-s_2755173.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/gautama-buddha-163_apology_i-teach-one-thing-and-one-only-that-is-s_2755173.jpg) > “I teach one thing and one only: that is, suffering and the end of suffering.” [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. Teaching focuses on recognizing suffering and its cessation as the path to liberation **In simple terms:** Suffering ends when we understand and release it Key Takeaway Practice mindfulness to end suffering Themes suffering enlightenment mindfulness Mood serene determined Type spiritual instructional When to use this quote - meditation retreats - counseling - stress reduction Key Concepts Four Noble Truths impermanence Questions to Reflect On - What does “end of suffering” mean to you? - How can you sustain mindfulness daily? A Different Perspective Suffering may reappear without continual practice ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) [Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Farms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farms/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [“I thought about life, about my life, the embarrassments, the little coincidences, the shadows of alarm clocks on bedside tables. I thought about my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/i-thought-about-life-about-my-life-the-embarrassments-the-little/) [jonathan safran foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [“I'd experienced joy, but not nearly enough, could there be enough? The end of suffering does not justify the suffering, and so there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/i-d-experienced-joy-but-not-nearly-enough-could-there-be-enough-the/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [The end of suffering does not justify the suffering, and so there is no end to suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/the-end-of-suffering-does-not-justify-the-suffering-and-so-there-is/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [To love to teach is one thing, to love those you teach is another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/to-love-to-teach-is-one-thing-to-love-those-you-teach-is-another/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [The true purpose of education is to teach you to do the thing that needs to be done,when it needs to be done, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/the-true-purpose-of-education-is-to-teach-you-to-do-the-thing-that/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [“People forget your goodness; teach thing something so they can always remember.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/people-forget-your-goodness-teach-thing-something-so-they-can-always/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Perhaps the worst thing about suffering is that it finally hardens the hearts of those around it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/perhaps-the-worst-thing-about-suffering-is-that-it-finally-hardens/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [The most conspicuous thing about suffering is, as W.H. Auden once observed, its banality. The day is green, the sun is shinging, someone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/the-most-conspicuous-thing-about-suffering-is-as-w-h-auden-once/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [Nature ever upbuilds one thing from other, suffering naught To come to birth but through some other's death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/nature-ever-upbuilds-one-thing-from-other-suffering-naught-to-come-to/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [“The only thing suffering teaches us is that we are capable of suffering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-jules-bukiet/the-only-thing-suffering-teaches-us-is-that-we-are-capable-of/) Melvin Jules Bukiet > [The most remarkable thing about suffering is that God can use it for our good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/the-most-remarkable-thing-about-suffering-is-that-god-can-use-it-for/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [For the life of the believer, one thing is beautifully and abundantly true: God's chief concern in your suffering is to be with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/for-the-life-of-the-believer-one-thing-is-beautifully-and-abundantly-2/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [“We are created precisely for this type of suffering. In the end, it is all we are, these limpid tide pools of self-consciousness between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/we-are-created-precisely-for-this-type-of-suffering-in-the-end-it-is/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [War: first, one hopes to win; then one expects the enemy to lose; then, one is satisfied that he too is suffering; in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/war-first-one-hopes-to-win-then-one-expects-the-enemy-to-lose-then/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Apology quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) Elizabeth Tambascio > [It's hard to say sorry when It's really your fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakii-retondo/it-s-hard-to-say-sorry-when-it-s-really-your-fault/) [Rakii Retondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakii-retondo/) > [“A lady need never apologize. ~ Joseph de Bonaparte (Brother of Napoleon)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pataki/a-lady-need-never-apologize-joseph-de-bonaparte-brother-of-napoleon/) Allison Pataki > [And apologies, once postponed, become harder and harder to make, and finally impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/and-apologies-once-postponed-become-harder-and-harder-to-make-and/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Apologizing does not always mean you are wrong, it just means that value your relationships more than your ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinier-bennett/apologizing-does-not-always-mean-you-are-wrong-it-just-means-that/) [Chinier Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinier-bennett/) > [If I can get enough signatures, to present an apology to slavery, I will present it to the President. The House of Representatives has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/if-i-can-get-enough-signatures-to-present-an-apology-to-slavery-i/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [“I don’t care if you’ve changed. I don’t care who you are now. I don’t need or want your explanations because what you did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/i-don-t-care-if-you-ve-changed-i-don-t-care-who-you-are-now-i-don-t/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [I never said Kristen ruined my wedding. At the time, when a million other things had fallen apart that day, I felt like she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scheana-shay/i-never-said-kristen-ruined-my-wedding-at-the-time-when-a-million/) [Scheana Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scheana-shay/) > [The greatest form of maturity is at harvest time. This is when we must learn how to reap without complaint if the amounts are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-greatest-form-of-maturity-is-at-harvest-time-this-is-when-we-must/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [“It's clear he still feels something, but what? Is the whole reason he made such a big deal about wanting to talk to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-heywood/it-s-clear-he-still-feels-something-but-what-is-the-whole-reason-he/) [Carey Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-heywood/) > [I wasn't saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-wasn-t-saying-whatever-they-re-saying-i-was-saying-i-m-sorry-i-said/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [For every person who atones, a hundred others find regret sufficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/for-every-person-who-atones-a-hundred-others-find-regret-sufficient/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) [Browse all 1,300 Apology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I teach one thing and one only: that is, suffering and the end of suffering.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gautama Buddha" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/i-teach-one-thing-and-one-only-that-is-suffering-and-the-end-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apology" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/i-teach-one-thing-and-one-only-that-is-suffering-and-the-end-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/gautama-buddha-163_apology_i-teach-one-thing-and-one-only-that-is-s_2755173.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/gautama-buddha-163_apology_i-teach-one-thing-and-one-only-that-is-s_2755173.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/gautama-buddha-163_apology_i-teach-one-thing-and-one-only-that-is-s_2755173.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I teach one thing and one only: that is, suffering and the end of suffering.” — 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": "I teach one thing and one...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/i-teach-one-thing-and-one-only-that-is-suffering-and-the-end-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/i-teach-one-thing-and-one-only-that-is-suffering-and-the-end-of/#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 } } ] } ```