---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If by leaving a small pleasure one sees a…"
description: "\"If by leaving a small pleasure one sees a great pleasure, let a wise man leave the small pleasure, and look to the great.\" — Gautama Buddha"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e84/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_if-by-leaving-a-small-pleasure-one-sees_2422856.jpg"
---

#  If by leaving a small pleasure one sees a great pleasure…

![“If by leaving a small pleasure one sees a great pleasure, let a wise man leave the small pleasure, and look to the great.” quote by Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e84/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_if-by-leaving-a-small-pleasure-one-sees_2422856.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e84/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_if-by-leaving-a-small-pleasure-one-sees_2422856.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e84/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_if-by-leaving-a-small-pleasure-one-sees_2422856.jpg)

> “If by leaving a small pleasure one sees a great pleasure, let a wise man leave the small pleasure, and look to the great.”

[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.

A wise person seeks deeper, lasting fulfillment rather than fleeting, minor joys.

**In simple terms:** Seek lasting joy over short pleasure.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize long‑term happiness.

Themes

wisdom contentment spirituality

Mood

reflective calm

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- relationships
- career
- personal growth
- health habits

Key Concepts

Buddhism impermanence desire

Questions to Reflect On

- What deeper fulfillment are you overlooking?
- How can you integrate both small and great joys?

A Different Perspective

Short pleasures can still be meaningful; balance is needed.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Small pleasures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-pleasures/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man/)

## Related quotes

> [There is no small pleasure in pure water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/there-is-no-small-pleasure-in-pure-water/)

[Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/)

> [I'd rather let you go than letting you suffering negativity, But it's my pleasure to let you happy instead of let you sad .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-rather-let-you-go-than-letting-you-suffering-negativity-but-it-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Thou mak'st me merry: I am full of pleasure; let us be jocund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-mak-st-me-merry-i-am-full-of-pleasure-let-us-be-jocund/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Think big thoughts,Relish Small pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/think-big-thoughts-relish-small-pleasure/)

[Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/)

> [Whenever I have endured or accomplished some difficult task -- such as watching television, going out socially or sleeping -- I always look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/whenever-i-have-endured-or-accomplished-some-difficult-task-such-as/)

[Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/)

> [An item must have a soul, it must function properly, be nice to hold and a pleasure to look at](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-bojesen/an-item-must-have-a-soul-it-must-function-properly-be-nice-to-hold/)

Kay Bojesen

> [The most beautiful gift of nature is that it gives one pleasure to look around and try to comprehend what we see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-beautiful-gift-of-nature-is-that-it-gives-one-pleasure-to/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [ “\[Fear\] can be a pleasure to look at, and I understand how some other humans love to experience his essence. We can sense beauty,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-sutton/fear-can-be-a-pleasure-to-look-at-and-i-understand-how-some-other/)

[Kelsey Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-sutton/)

> [May you look back on the past with as much pleasure as you look forward to the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dickson/may-you-look-back-on-the-past-with-as-much-pleasure-as-you-look/)

[Paul Dickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dickson/)

> [“Even when you wanted a guy to leave you alone, in some small place inside, you kind of wanted him to keep trying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-rose-ivy/even-when-you-wanted-a-guy-to-leave-you-alone-in-some-small-place/)

[Alyssa Rose Ivy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-rose-ivy/)

> [I want to leave something behind when I go; some small legacy of truth, some word that will shine in a dark place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-l-mcclung/i-want-to-leave-something-behind-when-i-go-some-small-legacy-of-truth/)

[Nellie L. McClung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-l-mcclung/)

> [“It’s true that if friends can never count on you being there the next time they need you, the place they leave for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-florand/it-s-true-that-if-friends-can-never-count-on-you-being-there-the-next/)

[Laura Florand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-florand/)

> [Do no evilness because it is a small one; do not leave a small deed undone because it is just a petty one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-bei/do-no-evilness-because-it-is-a-small-one-do-not-leave-a-small-deed/)

[Liu Bei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-bei/)

> [My son ask for thyself another Kingdom, for that which I leave is too small for thee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-ii-of-macedon/my-son-ask-for-thyself-another-kingdom-for-that-which-i-leave-is-too/)

Philip II of Macedon

> [We can't leave small business owners to fend for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-harrison/we-can-t-leave-small-business-owners-to-fend-for-themselves/)

[Jaime Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-harrison/)

## 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 Buddhist quotes

> [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/)

[Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [Humility simply means that you do a great job at everything and it isn't really a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/humility-simply-means-that-you-do-a-great-job-at-everything-and-it/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [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/)

> [I don't look at anything. Every person whether he is Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist, he is my brother, my sister. I think we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-don-t-look-at-anything-every-person-whether-he-is-hindu-muslim-or/)

[Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/)

> [My family is Jewish, Buddhist, Baptist and Catholic. I don't believe in man-made religions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/my-family-is-jewish-buddhist-baptist-and-catholic-i-don-t-believe-in/)

[Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/)

> [I'm working at trying to be a Christian, and that's serious business. It's like trying to be a good Jew, a good Muslim, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-m-working-at-trying-to-be-a-christian-and-that-s-serious-business/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [Buddhist words such as compassion and emptiness don't mean much until we start cultivating our innate ability simply to be there with pain with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/buddhist-words-such-as-compassion-and-emptiness-don-t-mean-much-until/)

[Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

> [“Even my Buddhist friends have been feeling despair and when they go bad, you know the end is nigh.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/even-my-buddhist-friends-have-been-feeling-despair-and-when-they-go/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [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/)

> [“When I think about what it would take to achieve freedom from all psychological stuff, the response that comes is this: life is about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-m-ingram/when-i-think-about-what-it-would-take-to-achieve-freedom-from-all/)

[Daniel M. Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-m-ingram/)

> [If my happiness at this moment consists largely in reviewing happy memories and expectations, I am but dimly aware of this present. I shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/if-my-happiness-at-this-moment-consists-largely-in-reviewing-happy/)

[Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/)

> [The Buddha gave his first talks, and three or four ascetics became his first disciples. They recognized his enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-buddha-gave-his-first-talks-and-three-or-four-ascetics-became-his/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

[Browse all 1,479 Buddhist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If by leaving a small pleasure one sees a great pleasure, let a wise man leave the small pleasure, and look to the great.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gautama Buddha"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-by-leaving-a-small-pleasure-one-sees-a-great-pleasure-let-a-wise/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Buddhist"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-by-leaving-a-small-pleasure-one-sees-a-great-pleasure-let-a-wise/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e84/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_if-by-leaving-a-small-pleasure-one-sees_2422856.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e84/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_if-by-leaving-a-small-pleasure-one-sees_2422856.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e84/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_if-by-leaving-a-small-pleasure-one-sees_2422856.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If by leaving a small pleasure one sees a great pleasure, let a wise man leave the small pleasure, and look…” — 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": "If by leaving a small pleasure...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-by-leaving-a-small-pleasure-one-sees-a-great-pleasure-let-a-wise/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-by-leaving-a-small-pleasure-one-sees-a-great-pleasure-let-a-wise/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```