--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One is not a great one because one…" description: "\"One is not a great one because one defeats or harms other living beings. One is so called because one refrains from defeating or harming other living b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_one-is-not-a-great-one-because-one-defea_3058713.jpg" --- # One is not a great one because one defeats or harms other… ![“One is not a great one because one defeats or harms other living beings. One is so called because one refrains from defeating or harming other living beings.” quote by Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_one-is-not-a-great-one-because-one-defea_3058713.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_one-is-not-a-great-one-because-one-defea_3058713.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_one-is-not-a-great-one-because-one-defea_3058713.jpg) > “One is not a great one because one defeats or harms other living beings. One is so called because one refrains from defeating or harming other living beings.” [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. True greatness lies in refraining from harming any living being. **In simple terms:** Being great means not harming others. Key Takeaway Practice non‑violence. Themes ethics compassion non‑violence Mood thoughtful ethical Type spiritual moral When to use this quote - conflict resolution - animal welfare - personal conduct Key Concepts ahimsa moral integrity Questions to Reflect On - How can you embody non‑violence daily? - When is it justified to protect yourself? A Different Perspective May conflict with self‑defense needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Harming others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harming-others/) ## Related quotes > [Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/until-we-stop-harming-all-other-living-beings-we-are-still-savages/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [If we can manage to refrain from harming others in our everyday actions and words, we can start to give more serious attention to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/if-we-can-manage-to-refrain-from-harming-others-in-our-everyday/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [If we can refrain from harming others in our actions & words, we can start to give serious attention to actively doing good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/if-we-can-refrain-from-harming-others-in-our-actions-words-we-can/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [After all, harming others means you first harm yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/after-all-harming-others-means-you-first-harm-yourself/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [There are two aspects of everything, one youdo somethiing cause you dont know youllbe in loss second-you know youll be in loss and still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/there-are-two-aspects-of-everything-one-youdo-somethiing-cause-you/) Senoraroy > [“The easiest way to harm someone is to either overestimate or underestimate his abilities!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-easiest-way-to-harm-someone-is-to-either-overestimate-or/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The dolphins are half man and half fish; they even have sexual intercourse with human beings; therefore they are called also "sons of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ginzberg/the-dolphins-are-half-man-and-half-fish-they-even-have-sexual/) [Louis Ginzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ginzberg/) > [One is not called noble who harms living beings. By not harming living beings one is called noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-is-not-called-noble-who-harms-living-beings-by-not-harming-living/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [We living beings, right down to crickets, ants, mosquitoes , and flies, all possess life that is without beginning or end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/we-living-beings-right-down-to-crickets-ants-mosquitoes-and-flies-all/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [And so, with a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/and-so-with-a-boundless-heart-should-one-cherish-all-living-beings/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [The purpose of our life needs to be positive. We weren't born with the purpose of causing trouble, harming others. For our life to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-purpose-of-our-life-needs-to-be-positive-we-weren-t-born-with-the/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I'm so lucky to have been raised the way I have, because my parents believed that everyone had the right to their own feelings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/i-m-so-lucky-to-have-been-raised-the-way-i-have-because-my-parents/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [As a psychopathic creature, the corporation can neither recognize nor act upon moral reasons to refrain from harming others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/as-a-psychopathic-creature-the-corporation-can-neither-recognize-nor/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [I believe that in this new world that we live in, we often have a responsibility, you know, to actually go beyond the thou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/i-believe-that-in-this-new-world-that-we-live-in-we-often-have-a/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“So let us reflect on what is truly of value in life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set our priorities on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/so-let-us-reflect-on-what-is-truly-of-value-in-life-what-gives/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## 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": "One is not a great one because one defeats or harms other living beings. One is so called because one refrains from defeating or harming other living beings.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gautama Buddha" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-is-not-a-great-one-because-one-defeats-or-harms-other-living/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Buddhist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-is-not-a-great-one-because-one-defeats-or-harms-other-living/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_one-is-not-a-great-one-because-one-defea_3058713.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_one-is-not-a-great-one-because-one-defea_3058713.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_one-is-not-a-great-one-because-one-defea_3058713.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One is not a great one because one defeats or harms other living beings. One is so called because one…” — 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": "One is not a great one...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-is-not-a-great-one-because-one-defeats-or-harms-other-living/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-is-not-a-great-one-because-one-defeats-or-harms-other-living/#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 } } ] } ```