--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yet [Dalai Lama] has said very strongly…" description: "\"Yet [Dalai Lama] has said very strongly that basic freedoms of thought and speech have to be respected in Tibet and they're not at the moment. Toleranc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/pico-iyer-1252_accepting_yet-dalai-lama-has-said-very-strongly-th_397923.png" --- # Yet \[Dalai Lama\] has said very strongly that basic… ![“Yet [Dalai Lama] has said very strongly that basic freedoms of thought and speech have to be respected in Tibet and they're not at the moment. Tolerance doesn't mean accepting what's unfair.” quote by Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/pico-iyer-1252_accepting_yet-dalai-lama-has-said-very-strongly-th_397923.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/pico-iyer-1252_accepting_yet-dalai-lama-has-said-very-strongly-th_397923.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/pico-iyer-1252_accepting_yet-dalai-lama-has-said-very-strongly-th_397923.png) > “Yet \[Dalai Lama\] has said very strongly that basic freedoms of thought and speech have to be respected in Tibet and they're not at the moment. Tolerance doesn't mean accepting what's unfair.” [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote emphasizes that respecting basic freedoms is essential, and tolerance should not equate to accepting injustice. **In simple terms:** Freedom must be protected; tolerance isn’t acceptance of unfairness. Key Takeaway Defend rights, not just tolerate. Themes human rights tolerance justice Mood concerned determined Type political ethical When to use this quote - political activism - journalism - education - advocacy - policy making Key Concepts freedom of speech ethical responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance tolerance with confronting injustice? - What steps can individuals take to protect freedoms? A Different Perspective Tolerance alone cannot fix systemic oppression; action is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom of thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-thought/) [Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lama/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Tibet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tibet/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance/) ## Related quotes > [It turned out this man worked for the Dalai Lama. And she said gently-that they believe when a lot of things start going wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/it-turned-out-this-man-worked-for-the-dalai-lama-and-she-said-gently/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [ When I was two years old, I heard about his \[Dalai Lama\] flight from Tibet. Being very little, I said, "Oh, good Tibetans, bad… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/when-i-was-two-years-old-i-heard-about-his-dalai-lama-flight-from/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [Dalai Lama has made new opportunities for women that they never had in Tibet, introduced science into the monks' curriculum and had Tibetan students…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/dalai-lama-has-made-new-opportunities-for-women-that-they-never-had/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [ It's impressive that a man \[Dalai Lama\], on the day after his Nobel Prize was announced, in October, 1989, said to me, "I really… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/it-s-impressive-that-a-man-dalai-lama-on-the-day-after-his-nobel/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [ When I am there \[Tibet\], I am very happy. The Tibetans radiate. They literally send out light. His holiness \[the Dalai Lama\] generates love… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/when-i-am-there-tibet-i-am-very-happy-the-tibetans-radiate-they/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [When I am in Tibet, I am very happy. The Tibetans radiate. They literally send out light. The Dalai Lama's holiness generates love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/when-i-am-in-tibet-i-am-very-happy-the-tibetans-radiate-they/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I meditate, and when I do, Prince Harry appears in my subconscious and meditates with me. It's a little strange but I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/i-meditate-and-when-i-do-prince-harry-appears-in-my-subconscious-and/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [The whole Hollywood conception of Tibet as this peace-loving country denies the complex humanity of the Tibetan people. Their ideas exist in a high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-mishra/the-whole-hollywood-conception-of-tibet-as-this-peace-loving-country/) [Pankaj Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-mishra/) > [The Dalai Lama is just a temporal leader of Tibet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-dalai-lama-is-just-a-temporal-leader-of-tibet/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I would hesitate to give advice to the Dalai Lama and his people because they are suffering. The Dalai Lama suffered from exile and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-would-hesitate-to-give-advice-to-the-dalai-lama-and-his-people/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [A good model of how to 'work with the enemy' internally is presented by the Dalai Lama, in his endless caretaking of his soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/a-good-model-of-how-to-work-with-the-enemy-internally-is-presented-by/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [What the Dalai Lama had to resolve was whether to stay in Tibet or leave. He wanted to stay, but staying would have meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/what-the-dalai-lama-had-to-resolve-was-whether-to-stay-in-tibet-or/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [Often when we think of exile we think of destruction or loss. But the Dalai Lama always says exile is reality, it's something we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/often-when-we-think-of-exile-we-think-of-destruction-or-loss-but-the/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [The Dalai Lama says Tibet and the modern world can engage in a conversation; perhaps Tibet has something to share with the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-says-tibet-and-the-modern-world-can-engage-in-a/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) ## More by Pico Iyer > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [For citizens who think themselves puppets in the hands of their rulers, nothing is more satisfying than having rulers as puppets in their hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/for-citizens-who-think-themselves-puppets-in-the-hands-of-their/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [The Dalai Lama would say that meditation is something that can help everyone. But he's aware that it can be misused or things can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-would-say-that-meditation-is-something-that-can-help/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [Like any traveler, I'm always looking for those experiences that are almost unique to any place, and watching films around Alaska of the skies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/like-any-traveler-i-m-always-looking-for-those-experiences-that-are/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [“When you're hurrying around too quickly," he had said, "there's a part of the world you can't see. If, for example, you're taking a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/when-you-re-hurrying-around-too-quickly-he-had-said-there-s-a-part-of/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/we-travel-to-open-our-hearts-and-eyes-and-learn-more-about-the-world/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [The Dalai Lama, these days, encourages Westerners not to take up Buddhism, partly because he feels that our roots are deep in other traditions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-these-days-encourages-westerners-not-to-take-up/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [And if travel is like love, it is, in the end, mostly because it's a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/and-if-travel-is-like-love-it-is-in-the-end-mostly-because-it-s-a/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [As soon as I began to talk to Dalai Lama, I realized that Chinese and Tibetans from his point of view are mostly the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/as-soon-as-i-began-to-talk-to-dalai-lama-i-realized-that-chinese-and/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [When we are kids, we imagine that to define ourselves or to find ourselves means charting your own individuality, making your own destiny, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/when-we-are-kids-we-imagine-that-to-define-ourselves-or-to-find/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [A writer is a palmist, reading the lines of the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/a-writer-is-a-palmist-reading-the-lines-of-the-planet/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [In barely one generation, we've moved from exulting in the time-saving devices that have so expanded our lives to trying to get away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/in-barely-one-generation-we-ve-moved-from-exulting-in-the-time-saving/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [For centuries, Cubas greatest resource has been its people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/for-centuries-cubas-greatest-resource-has-been-its-people/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [Writing is, in the end, that oddest of anomalies: an intimate letter to a stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/writing-is-in-the-end-that-oddest-of-anomalies-an-intimate-letter-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [“Was it only through another that I could begin to get at myself?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/was-it-only-through-another-that-i-could-begin-to-get-at-myself/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) [Explore all 266 Pico Iyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Yet [Dalai Lama] has said very strongly that basic freedoms of thought and speech have to be respected in Tibet and they're not at the moment. Tolerance doesn't mean accepting what's unfair.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pico Iyer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/yet-dalai-lama-has-said-very-strongly-that-basic-freedoms-of-thought/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/yet-dalai-lama-has-said-very-strongly-that-basic-freedoms-of-thought/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/pico-iyer-1252_accepting_yet-dalai-lama-has-said-very-strongly-th_397923.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/pico-iyer-1252_accepting_yet-dalai-lama-has-said-very-strongly-th_397923.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/pico-iyer-1252_accepting_yet-dalai-lama-has-said-very-strongly-th_397923.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Yet [Dalai Lama] has said very strongly that basic freedoms of thought and speech have to be respected in…” — Pico Iyer", "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": "Pico Iyer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Yet [Dalai Lama] has said very...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/yet-dalai-lama-has-said-very-strongly-that-basic-freedoms-of-thought/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/yet-dalai-lama-has-said-very-strongly-that-basic-freedoms-of-thought/#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 } } ] } ```