---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don’t dwell upon contrasts. Differences…"
description: "\"“Don’t dwell upon contrasts. Differences do exist between people, but dwelling upon them is a dangerous process.”\" — Henepola Gunaratana"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/henepola-gunaratana-10550_contrasts_don-t-dwell-upon-contrasts-differences-d_2719698.png"
---

#  Don’t dwell upon contrasts. Differences do exist between…

![“Don’t dwell upon contrasts. Differences do exist between people, but dwelling upon them is a dangerous process.” quote by Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/henepola-gunaratana-10550_contrasts_don-t-dwell-upon-contrasts-differences-d_2719698.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/henepola-gunaratana-10550_contrasts_don-t-dwell-upon-contrasts-differences-d_2719698.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/henepola-gunaratana-10550_contrasts_don-t-dwell-upon-contrasts-differences-d_2719698.png)

> ““Don’t dwell upon contrasts. Differences do exist between people, but dwelling upon them is a dangerous process.””

[Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Focusing on differences fuels division; recognizing them without obsession promotes harmony.

**In simple terms:** Notice differences but don't obsess.

Key Takeaway

Observe without judgment.

Themes

tolerance mindfulness relationships

Mood

reflective calm

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- teamwork
- conflict resolution
- personal growth
- community building

Key Concepts

Buddhist philosophy psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you appreciate diversity without creating separation?
- What habits help you stay present when noticing differences?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on differences can ignore common humanity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Contrasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrasts/)

## Related quotes

> [Everyone wants to be happy; happiness is a right. And while on a secondary level differences exist of nationality, faith, family background, social status…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/everyone-wants-to-be-happy-happiness-is-a-right-and-while-on-a/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [Differences will always exist, but division doesn't always have to result.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/differences-will-always-exist-but-division-doesn-t-always-have-to/)

[Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/)

> [Differences exist in practice and organization between the Lord's Church and man-made institutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/differences-exist-in-practice-and-organization-between-the-lord-s/)

[Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/)

> [Without community, there is no liberation...but community must not mean a shedding of our differences, nor the pathetic pretense that these differences do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/without-community-there-is-no-liberation-but-community-must-not-mean/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [“We must stand together, realizing the complexity of our histories, both personal and social, choosing when we can tolerate each other’s company and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-nestle/we-must-stand-together-realizing-the-complexity-of-our-histories-both/)

[Joan Nestle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-nestle/)

> [Me and my boyfriend have so many differences, I exist. he doesn't](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-and-my-boyfriend-have-so-many-differences-i-exist-he-doesn-t/)

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

> [Except for their genitals, I don't know what immutable differences exist between men and women. Perhaps there are some other unchangeable differences; probably there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-weisstein/except-for-their-genitals-i-don-t-know-what-immutable-differences/)

[Naomi Weisstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-weisstein/)

> [Now each one of us, black or white, is a symbol. The war is out in the open and the skin color is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-macdonald/now-each-one-of-us-black-or-white-is-a-symbol-the-war-is-out-in-the/)

[John D. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-macdonald/)

> [Contradictions of perspective. Contrasts of light. Contrasts of form. Points of view impossible to achieve in drawing and painting. Foreshortenings with a strong distortion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-rodchenko/contradictions-of-perspective-contrasts-of-light-contrasts-of-form/)

[Alexander Rodchenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-rodchenko/)

> [Life really is a series of contrasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/life-really-is-a-series-of-contrasts/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [Painting stems from a sense of organisation, the sensed positions of contrasts. Not that it is about this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-lichtenstein/painting-stems-from-a-sense-of-organisation-the-sensed-positions-of/)

[Roy Lichtenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-lichtenstein/)

> [“Sacrifice” and “self” both begin with the same letter, but the spelling is way different after that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/sacrifice-and-self-both-begin-with-the-same-letter-but-the-spelling/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [I really gravitate to the comedy of tonal contrasts. I hope that doesn't sound insufferably pretentious. What I mean is people having reactions to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nix/i-really-gravitate-to-the-comedy-of-tonal-contrasts-i-hope-that-doesn/)

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

> [I'm interested in creating a space through color contrasts, rather than by simple shadows of light and dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-macke/i-m-interested-in-creating-a-space-through-color-contrasts-rather/)

August Macke

> [“…For love it is never the same. What goes on inside is never the same just like this music which changes every instant. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/for-love-it-is-never-the-same-what-goes-on-inside-is-never-the-same/)

[Anaïs Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

## More by Henepola Gunaratana

> [You can only have bliss if you don't chase it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/you-can-only-have-bliss-if-you-don-t-chase-it/)

[Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/)

> [“we try mentally to grab onto it or push it away. That sets the worry response in motion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/we-try-mentally-to-grab-onto-it-or-push-it-away-that-sets-the-worry/)

[Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/)

> [You can learn not to want what you want, to recognize desires but not be controlled by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/you-can-learn-not-to-want-what-you-want-to-recognize-desires-but-not/)

[Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/)

> [The Buddha's message was simple but profound. Neither a life of self-indulgence nor one of self-mortification can bring happiness. Only a middle path, avoiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/the-buddha-s-message-was-simple-but-profound-neither-a-life-of-self/)

[Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/)

> [Mindfulness helps us freeze the frame so that we can become aware of our sensations and experiences as they are, without the distorting coloration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/mindfulness-helps-us-freeze-the-frame-so-that-we-can-become-aware-of/)

[Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/)

> [But look within and watch the stuff coming up-restlessness, anxiety, impatience, pain-just watch it come up and don't get involved. Much to your surprise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/but-look-within-and-watch-the-stuff-coming-up-restlessness-anxiety/)

[Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/)

> [“You can learn to perceive your life as an ever-flowing movement. You can learn to see the continuous flow of all conditioned”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/you-can-learn-to-perceive-your-life-as-an-ever-flowing-movement-you/)

[Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/)

> [No problem. You are not crazier than you were yesterday. It has always been this way, and you just never noticed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/no-problem-you-are-not-crazier-than-you-were-yesterday-it-has-always/)

[Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/)

> [“We spend all of our energies trying to make ourselves feel better, trying to bury our fears, endlessly seeking security.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/we-spend-all-of-our-energies-trying-to-make-ourselves-feel-better/)

[Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/)

> [Peace is not a thought, not a concept; it is a nonverbal experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/peace-is-not-a-thought-not-a-concept-it-is-a-nonverbal-experience/)

[Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/)

> [You can't ever get everything you want. It is impossible. Luckily, there is another option: You can learn to control your mind, to step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/you-can-t-ever-get-everything-you-want-it-is-impossible-luckily-there/)

[Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/)

> [Whatever attitudes we habitually use toward ourselves, we will use on others, and whatever attitudes we habitually use toward others, we will use on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/whatever-attitudes-we-habitually-use-toward-ourselves-we-will-use-on/)

[Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/)

> [When you have learned compassion for yourself, compassion for others is automatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/when-you-have-learned-compassion-for-yourself-compassion-for-others/)

[Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/)

> [“There is no clinging to the pleasant, no fleeing from the unpleasant. Mindfulness treats all experiences equally, all thoughts equally, all feelings equally. Nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/there-is-no-clinging-to-the-pleasant-no-fleeing-from-the-unpleasant/)

[Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/)

> [“Place no head above your own.” By this he meant, don’t just accept somebody else’s word. See for yourself. We want you to apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/place-no-head-above-your-own-by-this-he-meant-don-t-just-accept/)

[Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/)

[Explore all 65 Henepola Gunaratana quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/)

## More Contrasts quotes

> [“…For love it is never the same. What goes on inside is never the same just like this music which changes every instant. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/for-love-it-is-never-the-same-what-goes-on-inside-is-never-the-same/)

[Anaïs Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [I'm interested in creating a space through color contrasts, rather than by simple shadows of light and dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-macke/i-m-interested-in-creating-a-space-through-color-contrasts-rather/)

August Macke

> [I really gravitate to the comedy of tonal contrasts. I hope that doesn't sound insufferably pretentious. What I mean is people having reactions to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nix/i-really-gravitate-to-the-comedy-of-tonal-contrasts-i-hope-that-doesn/)

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

> [“Sacrifice” and “self” both begin with the same letter, but the spelling is way different after that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/sacrifice-and-self-both-begin-with-the-same-letter-but-the-spelling/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [Painting stems from a sense of organisation, the sensed positions of contrasts. Not that it is about this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-lichtenstein/painting-stems-from-a-sense-of-organisation-the-sensed-positions-of/)

[Roy Lichtenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-lichtenstein/)

> [Life really is a series of contrasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/life-really-is-a-series-of-contrasts/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [Contradictions of perspective. Contrasts of light. Contrasts of form. Points of view impossible to achieve in drawing and painting. Foreshortenings with a strong distortion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-rodchenko/contradictions-of-perspective-contrasts-of-light-contrasts-of-form/)

[Alexander Rodchenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-rodchenko/)

> [“Other people's houses always intrigued her by the contrast they offered to Greystones; she would see suddenly -- with detached interest and quite without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/other-people-s-houses-always-intrigued-her-by-the-contrast-they/)

[Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/)

> [Often, contrasts bring art to life: the bright speck of paint on a dark canvas; the tightrope walk between humor and tragedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/often-contrasts-bring-art-to-life-the-bright-speck-of-paint-on-a-dark/)

[Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/)

> [You have to be aware of all the latent possibilities that give a work its special character - its atmosphere, its moods, its contrasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-brendel/you-have-to-be-aware-of-all-the-latent-possibilities-that-give-a-work/)

[Alfred Brendel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-brendel/)

> [Old age is not one of the beauties of creation, but it is one of its harmonies. The law of contrasts is one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/old-age-is-not-one-of-the-beauties-of-creation-but-it-is-one-of-its/)

[Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/)

> [Life is full of contrasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-walger/life-is-full-of-contrasts/)

[Sonya Walger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-walger/)

> [“It was a cruel city, but it was a lovely one; a savage city, yet it had such tenderness; a bitter, harsh, and violent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wolfe/it-was-a-cruel-city-but-it-was-a-lovely-one-a-savage-city-yet-it-had/)

[Thomas Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wolfe/)

> [“Contrasts The windows of my poetry are wide open on the boulevards and in the shop windows Shine The precious stones of light Listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-cendrars/contrasts-the-windows-of-my-poetry-are-wide-open-on-the-boulevards/)

[Blaise Cendrars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-cendrars/)

> [“Flowers bloom in secret. Animals build in silence. Humans crave attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/flowers-bloom-in-secret-animals-build-in-silence-humans-crave/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

[Browse all 17 Contrasts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrasts/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Don’t dwell upon contrasts. Differences do exist between people, but dwelling upon them is a dangerous process.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Henepola Gunaratana"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/don-t-dwell-upon-contrasts-differences-do-exist-between-people-but/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Contrasts"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/don-t-dwell-upon-contrasts-differences-do-exist-between-people-but/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/henepola-gunaratana-10550_contrasts_don-t-dwell-upon-contrasts-differences-d_2719698.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/henepola-gunaratana-10550_contrasts_don-t-dwell-upon-contrasts-differences-d_2719698.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/henepola-gunaratana-10550_contrasts_don-t-dwell-upon-contrasts-differences-d_2719698.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Don’t dwell upon contrasts. Differences do exist between people, but dwelling upon them is a dangerous…” — Henepola Gunaratana",
                "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": "Henepola Gunaratana",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Don’t dwell upon contrasts. Differences do...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/don-t-dwell-upon-contrasts-differences-do-exist-between-people-but/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/don-t-dwell-upon-contrasts-differences-do-exist-between-people-but/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```