--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know what the Buddhists say? Don't…" description: "\"“You know what the Buddhists say? Don't cling to things, because everything is impermanent.”\" — Mitch Albom" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/mitch-albom-187_buddhism_you-know-what-the-buddhists-say-don-t-cl_575446.png" --- # You know what the Buddhists say? Don't cling to things… ![“You know what the Buddhists say? Don't cling to things, because everything is impermanent.” quote by Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/mitch-albom-187_buddhism_you-know-what-the-buddhists-say-don-t-cl_575446.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/mitch-albom-187_buddhism_you-know-what-the-buddhists-say-don-t-cl_575446.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f43/mitch-albom-187_buddhism_you-know-what-the-buddhists-say-don-t-cl_575446.png) > ““You know what the Buddhists say? Don't cling to things, because everything is impermanent.”” [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Buddhism teaches that attachment causes suffering because all things change. **In simple terms:** Cling leads to pain. Key Takeaway Practice non-attachment. Themes impermanence attachment uffering Mood reflective calm Type spiritual practical When to use this quote - grief - relationship loss - material possessions - career change Key Concepts Buddhist teachings mindfulness spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What are you most attached to? - How can you accept change? A Different Perspective Letting go can be emotionally challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) ## Related quotes > [Don't cling to things because everything is impermanent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/don-t-cling-to-things-because-everything-is-impermanent/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [All created things are impermanent. Strive diligently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/all-created-things-are-impermanent-strive-diligently/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [You do not suffer because things are impermanent. You suffer because things are impermanent and you think they are permanent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/you-do-not-suffer-because-things-are-impermanent-you-suffer-because/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“Once we recognize that all things are impermanent, we have no problem enjoying them. In fact, real peace and joy are only possible when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/once-we-recognize-that-all-things-are-impermanent-we-have-no-problem/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > ["All conditioned things are impermanent" - when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-conditioned-things-are-impermanent-when-one-sees-this-with-wisdom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If things were not impermanent, life would not be possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-things-were-not-impermanent-life-would-not-be-possible/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“I like the relaxed way in which the Japanese approach religion. I think of myself as basically a moral person, but I'm definitely not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/i-like-the-relaxed-way-in-which-the-japanese-approach-religion-i/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [I do know that some Buddhists are able to attain peace of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/i-do-know-that-some-buddhists-are-able-to-attain-peace-of-mind/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [Whole idea is really intriguing to me. If you took snapshots of ourselves throughout the day, the way that our mind is twisting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/whole-idea-is-really-intriguing-to-me-if-you-took-snapshots-of/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [The Buddhists say there are 121 states of consciousness. Of these, only three involve misery or suffering. Most of us spend our time moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-offill/the-buddhists-say-there-are-121-states-of-consciousness-of-these-only/) [Jenny Offill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-offill/) > [I do not hope for what I cannot have! I do not cling to things I cannot keep!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-do-not-hope-for-what-i-cannot-have-i-do-not-cling-to-things-i/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“Things, relationship, and ideas are so transparently impermanent, we are ever made unhappy by them...Things are impermanent, they wear out and are lost; relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-krishnamurti-3/things-relationship-and-ideas-are-so-transparently-impermanent-we-are/) J Krishnamurti > [“In conclusion: Don’t cling to things. Consider your property something that the “universe” (whatever you believe this to be) has bestowed to you temporarily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-dobelli/in-conclusion-don-t-cling-to-things-consider-your-property-something/) [Rolf Dobelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-dobelli/) > [I always cling to things that remind me of being a kid again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/i-always-cling-to-things-that-remind-me-of-being-a-kid-again/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) > [Human beings affix themselves to things that are of little or no importance. They affix themselves to the transitory, to things that are impermanent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/human-beings-affix-themselves-to-things-that-are-of-little-or-no/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Mitch Albom > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [the words people do not speak are louder than the ones they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/the-words-people-do-not-speak-are-louder-than-the-ones-they-do/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“Once, lovers on faraway shores sat by candlelight and dipped ink to parchment, writing words that could not be erased. They took an evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/once-lovers-on-faraway-shores-sat-by-candlelight-and-dipped-ink-to/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [Giving to other people makes me feel alive. Not my car or my house. Not what I look like in the mirror. 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It’s not something to regret. It’s something to aspire to.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/you-didn-t-get-it-sacrifice-is-a-part-of-life-it-s-supposed-to-be-it/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [I give myself a good cry if I need it. But then I concentrate on the good things still in my life. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/i-give-myself-a-good-cry-if-i-need-it-but-then-i-concentrate-on-the/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [It was sad, the imbalance of it all. Why do kids assume so much from one parent and hold the other to a lower,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/it-was-sad-the-imbalance-of-it-all-why-do-kids-assume-so-much-from/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) [Explore all 962 Mitch Albom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) ## More Buddhism quotes > [There are places that are very draining. There are places where there is another dimensional crossover but to a dimension that is not powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-places-that-are-very-draining-there-are-places-where-there/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Enlightenment is lightening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/enlightenment-is-lightening-up/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [The very best players, when they are practicing, put everything they've got into it. But then they leave it for a while. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-very-best-players-when-they-are-practicing-put-everything-they-ve/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [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/) > [My mom and my aunties are really devout Christians. My mom married a Muslim when I was 12, so I got teachings from both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/my-mom-and-my-aunties-are-really-devout-christians-my-mom-married-a/) [Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“The extraction of discrete parts of Chöd teachings from their broader philosophical contexts is symptomatic of how Chöd has been incorporated into and transmitted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sorensen/the-extraction-of-discrete-parts-of-ch-d-teachings-from-their-broader/) [Michelle Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sorensen/) > [Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. If you are miserable you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/buddhism-advises-you-not-to-implant-feelings-that-you-don-t-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That's all there is, enlightenment on the end of a cock. It doesn't get any more Zen than that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden-wilkes/that-s-all-there-is-enlightenment-on-the-end-of-a-cock-it-doesn-t-get/) [Jaden Wilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden-wilkes/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) [Browse all 6,100 Buddhism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You know what the Buddhists say? 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