--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No one outside ourselves can rule us…" description: "\"No one outside ourselves can rule us inwardly. When we know this, we become free.\" — Gautama Buddha" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/gautama-buddha-163_freedom_no-one-outside-ourselves-can-rule-us-inw_1497719.jpg" --- # No one outside ourselves can rule us inwardly. When we… ![“No one outside ourselves can rule us inwardly. When we know this, we become free.” quote by Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/gautama-buddha-163_freedom_no-one-outside-ourselves-can-rule-us-inw_1497719.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/gautama-buddha-163_freedom_no-one-outside-ourselves-can-rule-us-inw_1497719.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/gautama-buddha-163_freedom_no-one-outside-ourselves-can-rule-us-inw_1497719.jpg) > “No one outside ourselves can rule us inwardly. When we know this, we become free.” [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. Self‑governance is the ultimate freedom; external control is illusory. **In simple terms:** Freedom comes from inner rule. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner discipline. Themes freedom self‑control inner peace Mood calm inspired Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - meditation - personal decision‑making - leadership training Key Concepts Buddhism mindfulness autonomy Questions to Reflect On - What inner rules guide you? - How does self‑rule affect your relationships? A Different Perspective Inner freedom can be challenged by external pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [I don't want to be treated outside the rule of law. And I don't want people from this part of the world, specifically North…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamedou-ould-slahi/i-don-t-want-to-be-treated-outside-the-rule-of-law-and-i-don-t-want/) [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) > [“People who hear the call to conscience follow what they know inwardly --- what they know in consciousness or at higher levels of awareness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-d-pearson/people-who-hear-the-call-to-conscience-follow-what-they-know-inwardly/) [Carlton D. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-d-pearson/) > [“Outward pressure is always an opportunity to be inwardly transformed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-bevere/outward-pressure-is-always-an-opportunity-to-be-inwardly-transformed/) [Lisa Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-bevere/) > [“You have built yourself inwardly to be the most admirable. Your evidence always comes to your world as a puzzle. You create your niche…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/you-have-built-yourself-inwardly-to-be-the-most-admirable-your/) Anyaele Sam Chiyson > [But inwardly we are as corrupt as the person who sits in an office and plans war-because, we want to be somebody in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/but-inwardly-we-are-as-corrupt-as-the-person-who-sits-in-an-office/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [God does not rule the world outwardly by gravitation and chemical affinity, but inwardly in the heart of man: as is your soul, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/egon-friedell/god-does-not-rule-the-world-outwardly-by-gravitation-and-chemical/) [Egon Friedell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/egon-friedell/) > [To live fully, outwardly and inwardly, not to ignore the external reality for the sake of the inner life, or the reverse, that's quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/to-live-fully-outwardly-and-inwardly-not-to-ignore-the-external/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [“I am always able to speak with him (Christ) inwardly. But I am nevertheless just a lowly little man who does not always reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-emeritus-benedict-xvi/i-am-always-able-to-speak-with-him-christ-inwardly-but-i-am/) Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI > [As for conforming outwardly, and living your own life inwardly, I do not think much of that. Let not your right hand know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-conforming-outwardly-and-living-your-own-life-inwardly-i-do/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Outward, thanks to the knowledge of physical laws, man could subdue (or subjugate...) nature, but inwardly, he remained a slave to it. For, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/outward-thanks-to-the-knowledge-of-physical-laws-man-could-subdue-or/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [Religion is inwardly focused and driven only to sustain itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kary-mullis/religion-is-inwardly-focused-and-driven-only-to-sustain-itself/) [Kary Mullis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kary-mullis/) > [Inwardly you are God, outwardly you are a person. Instead of thinking you are just a person, that appearance, you can awake to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-harding/inwardly-you-are-god-outwardly-you-are-a-person-instead-of-thinking/) [Douglas Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-harding/) > [Such as every man is inwardly so he judgeth outwardly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/such-as-every-man-is-inwardly-so-he-judgeth-outwardly/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Each of us needs periods in which our minds can focus inwardly. Solitude is an essential experience for the mind to organize its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/each-of-us-needs-periods-in-which-our-minds-can-focus-inwardly/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [“All believers must learn the habit of inwardly redirecting thoughts toward faith, hope and love, and away from the lies that create hopelessness, fear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-backlund/all-believers-must-learn-the-habit-of-inwardly-redirecting-thoughts/) Steve Backlund ## 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 Free quotes > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [If you love anything set it free unless it is a tiger..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshitij-roshan/if-you-love-anything-set-it-free-unless-it-is-a-tiger/) [Kshitij Roshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshitij-roshan/) > [I free slaves because I believe we are all created equal. I just can't think of anything that has a higher purpose than putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-williams/i-free-slaves-because-i-believe-we-are-all-created-equal-i-just-can-t/) [Virginia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-williams/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit coming to us free of charge to enable you to do with ease what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/grace-is-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-coming-to-us-free-of-charge-to/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“Why is it," she asked, snuggling closer, "that I so often imagine myself running away and running free?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/why-is-it-she-asked-snuggling-closer-that-i-so-often-imagine-myself/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [My work is a love for me; I'd do it for free, but don't tell my bosses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chick-hearn/my-work-is-a-love-for-me-i-d-do-it-for-free-but-don-t-tell-my-bosses/) [Chick Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chick-hearn/) > [We want to free our citizens from the burden of excessive paper documents in every office. We want paperless transactions. We will set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/we-want-to-free-our-citizens-from-the-burden-of-excessive-paper/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“She felt wild and unruly, determined and free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/she-felt-wild-and-unruly-determined-and-free/) [Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/) > [Love doesnt stake claims. It is free for the giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/love-doesnt-stake-claims-it-is-free-for-the-giving/) [Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/) > [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Music is how I get free. It's a way to shut the rest of the world down and create your own world within it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-of-gab/music-is-how-i-get-free-it-s-a-way-to-shut-the-rest-of-the-world-down/) Gift of Gab > [The dignity of man is in free choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-frisch/the-dignity-of-man-is-in-free-choice/) [Max Frisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-frisch/) Browse all 6,143 Free quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No one outside ourselves can rule us inwardly. When we know this, we become free.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gautama Buddha" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/no-one-outside-ourselves-can-rule-us-inwardly-when-we-know-this-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Free" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/no-one-outside-ourselves-can-rule-us-inwardly-when-we-know-this-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/gautama-buddha-163_freedom_no-one-outside-ourselves-can-rule-us-inw_1497719.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/gautama-buddha-163_freedom_no-one-outside-ourselves-can-rule-us-inw_1497719.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/gautama-buddha-163_freedom_no-one-outside-ourselves-can-rule-us-inw_1497719.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No one outside ourselves can rule us inwardly. When we know this, we become free.” — 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": "No one outside ourselves can rule...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/no-one-outside-ourselves-can-rule-us-inwardly-when-we-know-this-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/no-one-outside-ourselves-can-rule-us-inwardly-when-we-know-this-we/#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 } } ] } ```