--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is nothing so disobedient as an…" description: "\"There is nothing so disobedient as an undisciplined mind, and there is nothing so obedient as a disciplined mind.\" — Gautama Buddha" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_there-is-nothing-so-disobedient-as-an-un_1280488.jpg" --- # There is nothing so disobedient as an undisciplined mind… ![“There is nothing so disobedient as an undisciplined mind, and there is nothing so obedient as a disciplined mind.” quote by Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_there-is-nothing-so-disobedient-as-an-un_1280488.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_there-is-nothing-so-disobedient-as-an-un_1280488.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_there-is-nothing-so-disobedient-as-an-un_1280488.jpg) > “There is nothing so disobedient as an undisciplined mind, and there is nothing so obedient as a disciplined 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. A disciplined mind follows orders, while an undisciplined mind rebels against all. **In simple terms:** Discipline brings obedience. Key Takeaway Cultivate mental discipline. Themes self‑control mindfulness obedience Mood calm focused Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - studying - meditation - goal setting - stress management Key Concepts mental discipline self‑regulation Questions to Reflect On - What practices help you train your mind? - How can discipline coexist with flexibility? A Different Perspective Discipline may suppress creativity if rigid. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Undisciplined mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undisciplined-mind/) ## Related quotes > [It is felt that a disciplined mind leads to happiness and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering, and in fact it is said that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/it-is-felt-that-a-disciplined-mind-leads-to-happiness-and-an/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-disciplined-mind-leads-to-happiness-and-an-undisciplined-mind-leads/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Whether our action is wholesome or unwholesome depends on whether that action or deed arises from a disciplined or undisciplined state of mind. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/whether-our-action-is-wholesome-or-unwholesome-depends-on-whether/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [The heart is not the source of negative feelings. It is the undisciplined mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-randymar/the-heart-is-not-the-source-of-negative-feelings-it-is-the/) [Joel Randymar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-randymar/) > [“The undisciplined mind confuses misfortune with mistakes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-caney/the-undisciplined-mind-confuses-misfortune-with-mistakes/) Mark Caney > [More than those who hate you, more than all your enemies, an undisciplined mind does greater harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/more-than-those-who-hate-you-more-than-all-your-enemies-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Perpetual emotion is the past time of the undisciplined mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ervin-seale/perpetual-emotion-is-the-past-time-of-the-undisciplined-mind/) [Ervin Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ervin-seale/) > [To say that I have an undisciplined mind would not be incorrect overall, but it's a little off the mark because I have great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/to-say-that-i-have-an-undisciplined-mind-would-not-be-incorrect/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [I look at people's lives and you see what's not working in their lives and it usually comes from an undisciplined mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/i-look-at-people-s-lives-and-you-see-what-s-not-working-in-their/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [The only competition you will have is the competition between your disciplined and undisciplined mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-competition-you-will-have-is-the-competition-between-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“An undisciplined mind is a wasted one, which will be reflected in the life of the one who possesses such a mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/an-undisciplined-mind-is-a-wasted-one-which-will-be-reflected-in-the/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [A disciplined mind brings happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/a-disciplined-mind-brings-happiness/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [I am burdened with what the Buddhists call the monkey mind. The thoughts that swing from limb to limb, stopping only to scratch themselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-am-burdened-with-what-the-buddhists-call-the-monkey-mind-the/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [To discipline your body, you need a disciplined mind!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/to-discipline-your-body-you-need-a-disciplined-mind/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [There is no allurement or enticement, actual or imaginary, which a well-disciplined mind may not surmount. The wish to resist more than half accomplishes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-dacre/there-is-no-allurement-or-enticement-actual-or-imaginary-which-a-well/) Charlotte Dacre ## 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": "There is nothing so disobedient as an undisciplined mind, and there is nothing so obedient as a disciplined mind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gautama Buddha" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/there-is-nothing-so-disobedient-as-an-undisciplined-mind-and-there-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Buddhist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/there-is-nothing-so-disobedient-as-an-undisciplined-mind-and-there-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_there-is-nothing-so-disobedient-as-an-un_1280488.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_there-is-nothing-so-disobedient-as-an-un_1280488.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d6/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_there-is-nothing-so-disobedient-as-an-un_1280488.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is nothing so disobedient as an undisciplined mind, and there is nothing so obedient as a disciplined…” — 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": "There is nothing so disobedient as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/there-is-nothing-so-disobedient-as-an-undisciplined-mind-and-there-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/there-is-nothing-so-disobedient-as-an-undisciplined-mind-and-there-is/#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 } } ] } ```