--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you establish serenity and happiness…" description: "\"If you establish serenity and happiness inside yourself, you provide the world with a solid base of peace. If you do not give yourself peace, how can y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c57/nhat-hanh-515_giving_if-you-establish-serenity-and-happiness_2967774.jpg" --- # If you establish serenity and happiness inside yourself… ![“If you establish serenity and happiness inside yourself, you provide the world with a solid base of peace. If you do not give yourself peace, how can you share it with others? If you do not begin your peace work with yourself, where will you go to begin it?” quote by Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c57/nhat-hanh-515_giving_if-you-establish-serenity-and-happiness_2967774.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c57/nhat-hanh-515_giving_if-you-establish-serenity-and-happiness_2967774.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c57/nhat-hanh-515_giving_if-you-establish-serenity-and-happiness_2967774.jpg) > “If you establish serenity and happiness inside yourself, you provide the world with a solid base of peace. If you do not give yourself peace, how can you share it with others? If you do not begin your peace work with yourself, where will you go to begin it?” [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Inner serenity is the foundation for sharing peace with others; personal peace precedes outward harmony. **In simple terms:** Peace inside first, then share. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner peace to help others. Themes mindfulness peace self‑care Mood calm centered Type spiritual practical When to use this quote - personal retreats - community service - stress management Key Concepts meditation compassion conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - What practices sustain your inner calm? - How does personal peace influence your relationships? A Different Perspective Self‑peace can be elusive in crisis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Inner happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-happiness/) [Inner peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-peace/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace and happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-and-happiness/) [Serenity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serenity/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [What is most important is to find peace and to share it with others. To have peace, you can begin by walking peacefully. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/what-is-most-important-is-to-find-peace-and-to-share-it-with-others/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“And in the darkness I smile at life, as if I were the possessor of charm which would enable me to transform all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/and-in-the-darkness-i-smile-at-life-as-if-i-were-the-possessor-of/) [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) > [If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous; Be happy anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramandeep-singh/if-you-find-serenity-and-happiness-some-may-be-jealous-be-happy-anyway/) [Ramandeep Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramandeep-singh/) > [Something wonderful begins to happen with the simple realization that life, like an automobile, is driven from the inside out, not the other way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/something-wonderful-begins-to-happen-with-the-simple-realization-that/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [“Our starting point is always wrong. Instead of beginning with ourselves,we always want to change others first and ourselves last. If everyone would begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elder-thaddeus-of-vitovnica/our-starting-point-is-always-wrong-instead-of-beginning-with/) [Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elder-thaddeus-of-vitovnica/) > [“Our starting point is always wrong. Instead of beginning with ourselves, we always want to change others first and ourselves last. If everyone were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-smiljanic/our-starting-point-is-always-wrong-instead-of-beginning-with-2/) Ana Smiljanic > [We need to take action to develop compassion, to create inner peace within ourselves and to share that inner peace with our family and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-need-to-take-action-to-develop-compassion-to-create-inner-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Peace beings with me. The more peaceful I am inside, the more peace I have to share with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/peace-beings-with-me-the-more-peaceful-i-am-inside-the-more-peace-i/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [“Give hope. Impart peace. Share joy. Spread love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/give-hope-impart-peace-share-joy-spread-love/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. When our community is in a state of peace, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/when-we-have-inner-peace-we-can-be-at-peace-with-those-around-us-when/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“The little I have, I share with you; the little you have, you also share with me. Together we all have a full share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-little-i-have-i-share-with-you-the-little-you-have-you-also-share/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [The cause of Peace has had my share of efforts, taking the ultra non-resistance ground - that a Christian cannot consistently uphold, and actively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/the-cause-of-peace-has-had-my-share-of-efforts-taking-the-ultra-non/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [To invite others to live with us is a sign that we aren't afraid, that we have a treasure of truth and of peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/to-invite-others-to-live-with-us-is-a-sign-that-we-aren-t-afraid-that/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [How do you want to create peace, if there is no peace inside yourselves?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/how-do-you-want-to-create-peace-if-there-is-no-peace-inside-yourselves/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Seek peace. When you have peace within, real peace with others will be possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/seek-peace-when-you-have-peace-within-real-peace-with-others-will-be/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) ## More by Nhat Hanh > [Happiness is the cessation of suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/happiness-is-the-cessation-of-suffering/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [We need enlightenment, not just individually but collectively, to save the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-need-enlightenment-not-just-individually-but-collectively-to-save/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If you really know how to live, what better way to start the day than with a smile?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-really-know-how-to-live-what-better-way-to-start-the-day-than/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Contemplating the bowl, it is possible to see the interdependent elements which give rise to the bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/contemplating-the-bowl-it-is-possible-to-see-the-interdependent/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Our joy, peace and happiness depend very much on our practice of recognizing and transforming habit energies. There are positive habit energies that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/our-joy-peace-and-happiness-depend-very-much-on-our-practice-of/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [I vow to live fully in each moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/i-vow-to-live-fully-in-each-moment/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Silence is something that comes from your heart, not from outside. Silence doesn't mean not talking and not doing things; it means that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/silence-is-something-that-comes-from-your-heart-not-from-outside/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Freedom is the real foundation of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/freedom-is-the-real-foundation-of-happiness/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Wisdom is a living stream, not an icon to be preserved in a museum. Only when a practitioner finds the spring of wisdom in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/wisdom-is-a-living-stream-not-an-icon-to-be-preserved-in-a-museum/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [We may think of peace as the absence of war, that if the great powers would reduce their weapons arsenals, we could have peace.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-may-think-of-peace-as-the-absence-of-war-that-if-the-great-powers/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If you are capable of brushing your teeth in mindfulness, then you will be able to enjoy the time when you take a shower,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-are-capable-of-brushing-your-teeth-in-mindfulness-then-you/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If I am incapable of washing dishes joyfully, if I want to finish them quickly so I can go and have dessert, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-i-am-incapable-of-washing-dishes-joyfully-if-i-want-to-finish-them/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [When we have anger in us, we suffer. When we have discrimination in us, we suffer. When we have the complex of superiority, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/when-we-have-anger-in-us-we-suffer-when-we-have-discrimination-in-us/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand-new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/every-morning-when-we-wake-up-we-have-twenty-four-brand-new-hours-to/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [It is best if we do not listen to or look at the person whom we consider to be the cause of our anger.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/it-is-best-if-we-do-not-listen-to-or-look-at-the-person-whom-we/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) [Explore all 507 Nhat Hanh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) ## More Giving quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I don't think my relationship with the idea of womanhood is that attached to giving birth... like, I'm fully aware that I'll never give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-don-t-think-my-relationship-with-the-idea-of-womanhood-is-that/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) [Browse all 39,303 Giving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you establish serenity and happiness inside yourself, you provide the world with a solid base of peace. If you do not give yourself peace, how can you share it with others? If you do not begin your peace work with yourself, where will you go to begin it?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nhat Hanh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-establish-serenity-and-happiness-inside-yourself-you-provide/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Giving" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-establish-serenity-and-happiness-inside-yourself-you-provide/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c57/nhat-hanh-515_giving_if-you-establish-serenity-and-happiness_2967774.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c57/nhat-hanh-515_giving_if-you-establish-serenity-and-happiness_2967774.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c57/nhat-hanh-515_giving_if-you-establish-serenity-and-happiness_2967774.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you establish serenity and happiness inside yourself, you provide the world with a solid base of peace…” — Nhat Hanh", "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": "Nhat Hanh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you establish serenity and happiness...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-establish-serenity-and-happiness-inside-yourself-you-provide/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-establish-serenity-and-happiness-inside-yourself-you-provide/#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 } } ] } ```