--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Buddha’s criteria for Wise Speech…" description: "\"“The Buddha’s criteria for Wise Speech include—in addition to the obvious expectation that speech be truthful— that it be timely, gentle, motivated by ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/sylvia-boorstein-7241_buddha_the-buddha-s-criteria-for-wise-speech-in_2027139.png" --- # The Buddha’s criteria for Wise Speech include—in addition… ![“The Buddha’s criteria for Wise Speech include—in addition to the obvious expectation that speech be truthful— that it be timely, gentle, motivated by kindness, and helpful.” quote by Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/sylvia-boorstein-7241_buddha_the-buddha-s-criteria-for-wise-speech-in_2027139.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/sylvia-boorstein-7241_buddha_the-buddha-s-criteria-for-wise-speech-in_2027139.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/sylvia-boorstein-7241_buddha_the-buddha-s-criteria-for-wise-speech-in_2027139.png) > ““The Buddha’s criteria for Wise Speech include—in addition to the obvious expectation that speech be truthful— that it be timely, gentle, motivated by kindness, and helpful.”” [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wise speech must be truthful, timely, gentle, kind, and helpful, emphasizing ethical communication. **In simple terms:** Speak truthfully, kindly, and helpfully. Key Takeaway Practice mindful, compassionate communication. Themes ethics communication mindfulness kindness Mood thoughtful calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - conflict resolution - teaching - daily conversations Key Concepts Buddhist ethics non‑violent communication intentionality Questions to Reflect On - When have you spoken truthfully but at the wrong time? - How can you ensure kindness without being patronizing? A Different Perspective Timing can be hard to judge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddha/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [A man who is wise in speech but not in deeds is not wise for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/a-man-who-is-wise-in-speech-but-not-in-deeds-is-not-wise-for-me/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Democracy relies on free speech. Yes, say anything you want, but it relies even more on the speech being truthful. It is the truth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/democracy-relies-on-free-speech-yes-say-anything-you-want-but-it/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [“In thoughts, be wise. In speech, be cautious. In sentiment, be positive. In actions, be prudent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/in-thoughts-be-wise-in-speech-be-cautious-in-sentiment-be-positive-in/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“The Buddha said that there are three times that a person should consider the consequences of any action: before, during, and after. “One should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/the-buddha-said-that-there-are-three-times-that-a-person-should/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“Mindfulness, the aware, balanced acceptance of present experience, is at the heart of what the Buddha taught.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/mindfulness-the-aware-balanced-acceptance-of-present-experience-is-at-2/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“The next-to-last sentence that the Buddha is reported to have spoken as he was dying, before his final sentence of encouragement to his community,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/the-next-to-last-sentence-that-the-buddha-is-reported-to-have-spoken/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“Then Maitreya Bodhisattva thought: “Now the World-Honored One has displayed a marvelous sign. 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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/) > [The birds fly in the sky but they don't leave any footmarks. That's what Buddha says, that the man who is awakened lives in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-birds-fly-in-the-sky-but-they-don-t-leave-any-footmarks-that-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## More by Sylvia Boorstein > [“... every single act we do has the potential of causing pain, and every single thing we do has consequences that echo way beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/every-single-act-we-do-has-the-potential-of-causing-pain-and-every/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“... although I knew what issues had been most difficult for me in my life, I may not have known the depth of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/although-i-knew-what-issues-had-been-most-difficult-for-me-in-my-life/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“I would not ask you to do this practice, to undertake this path of liberation from the habits of suffering mind, unless it were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/i-would-not-ask-you-to-do-this-practice-to-undertake-this-path-of/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“Mindfulness meditation doesn't change life. Life remains as fragile and unpredictable as ever. Meditation changes the heart's capacity to accept life as it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/mindfulness-meditation-doesn-t-change-life-life-remains-as-fragile/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [If you take a deep breath and look around, 'Look what's happening to me!' can become 'Look what's happening!' And what's happening? The incredible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/if-you-take-a-deep-breath-and-look-around-look-what-s-happening-to-me/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“... freedom of choice is possible. Life is going to unfold however it does: pleasant or unpleasant, disappointing or thrilling, expected or unexpected, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/freedom-of-choice-is-possible-life-is-going-to-unfold-however-it-does/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [The mind is like tofu. It tastes like whatever you marinate it in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/the-mind-is-like-tofu-it-tastes-like-whatever-you-marinate-it-in/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [The Buddha taught that suffering is the extra pain in the mind that happens when we feel an anguished imperative to have things be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/the-buddha-taught-that-suffering-is-the-extra-pain-in-the-mind-that/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“I love the phrase 'I am not afraid!' Maybe it's the best phrase we can say, other than 'I have everything I need.' Maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/i-love-the-phrase-i-am-not-afraid-maybe-it-s-the-best-phrase-we-can/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [My father . . . used to say, 'I need my anger. It obliges me to take action.' I think my father was partly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/my-father-used-to-say-i-need-my-anger-it-obliges-me-to-take-action-i/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [ “... life is difficult and painful, just by its very nature, not because we're doing it wrong \[pp. 17-18\].” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/life-is-difficult-and-painful-just-by-its-very-nature-not-because-we/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“Some of my most precious moments of insight have been those in which I have seen clearly that gratitude is the only possible response."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/some-of-my-most-precious-moments-of-insight-have-been-those-in-which/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [The Buddha taught complete honesty, with the extra instruction that everything a person says should be truthful and helpful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/the-buddha-taught-complete-honesty-with-the-extra-instruction-that/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [Dedication to goodness-dedication in response to an inner moral mandate rather than external restraint-was both the antidote to the pain and the source of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/dedication-to-goodness-dedication-in-response-to-an-inner-moral/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“Anger is often a big problem for people who grew up in families where the overt expression of anger was an everyday occurrence. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/anger-is-often-a-big-problem-for-people-who-grew-up-in-families-where/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) [Explore all 93 Sylvia Boorstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) ## More Buddha quotes > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [The birds fly in the sky but they don't leave any footmarks. That's what Buddha says, that the man who is awakened lives in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-birds-fly-in-the-sky-but-they-don-t-leave-any-footmarks-that-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [I went on a Buddha jag. I read 'Confession of a Buddhist Atheist' by Stephen Batchelor and Karen Armstrong's biography of Buddha, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-o-hare/i-went-on-a-buddha-jag-i-read-confession-of-a-buddhist-atheist-by/) [Denis O'Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-o-hare/) > [The Buddha, the Godhead, resides quite as comfortably in the circuits of a digital computer or the gears of a cycle transmission as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-buddha-the-godhead-resides-quite-as-comfortably-in-the-circuits/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Why don't the names of Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius offend people? The reason is that these others didn't claim to be God, but Jesus did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/why-don-t-the-names-of-buddha-mohammed-confucius-offend-people-the/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [When people suffer, their relationships usually suffer as well. Period. And we all suffer because, as the Buddha says, that's the nature of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-karr/when-people-suffer-their-relationships-usually-suffer-as-well-period/) [Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-karr/) > [The real power of the Buddha was that he had so much love. He saw people trapped in their notions of small separate self,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/the-real-power-of-the-buddha-was-that-he-had-so-much-love-he-saw/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“Then Maitreya Bodhisattva thought: “Now the World-Honored One has displayed a marvelous sign. But what is the cause or reason for this auspicious sign?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-reeves/then-maitreya-bodhisattva-thought-now-the-world-honored-one-has/) Gene Reeves > [It is possible that the next Buddha will not take the form of an individual. The next Buddha may take the form of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/it-is-possible-that-the-next-buddha-will-not-take-the-form-of-an/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“The foundational Vajrakilaya is the sun shining in the sky behind the clouds. The path Vajrakilaya is the removal of the clouds from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyatrul-rinpoche/the-foundational-vajrakilaya-is-the-sun-shining-in-the-sky-behind-the/) Gyatrul Rinpoche > [Inside we are all Golden Buddha's, but we grew to believe we were made of clay. Our ego's false perceptions led us to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/inside-we-are-all-golden-buddha-s-but-we-grew-to-believe-we-were-made/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [The mind is the Buddha, and the Buddha is the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/the-mind-is-the-buddha-and-the-buddha-is-the-mind/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [“In the eyes of Buddha, there are no evil people, only people who don't yet have light in their hearts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lijia-zhang/in-the-eyes-of-buddha-there-are-no-evil-people-only-people-who-don-t/) Lijia Zhang > [I hold that all the Teachers of the world have attained that Life which is the fulfilment of life. Hence, whenever anyone enters that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/i-hold-that-all-the-teachers-of-the-world-have-attained-that-life/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) [Browse all 411 Buddha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddha/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The Buddha’s criteria for Wise Speech include—in addition to the obvious expectation that speech be truthful— that it be timely, gentle, motivated by kindness, and helpful.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sylvia Boorstein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/the-buddha-s-criteria-for-wise-speech-include-in-addition-to-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Buddha" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/the-buddha-s-criteria-for-wise-speech-include-in-addition-to-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/sylvia-boorstein-7241_buddha_the-buddha-s-criteria-for-wise-speech-in_2027139.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/sylvia-boorstein-7241_buddha_the-buddha-s-criteria-for-wise-speech-in_2027139.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/122/sylvia-boorstein-7241_buddha_the-buddha-s-criteria-for-wise-speech-in_2027139.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Buddha’s criteria for Wise Speech include—in addition to the obvious expectation that speech be…” — Sylvia Boorstein", "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": "Sylvia Boorstein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The Buddha’s criteria for Wise Speech...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/the-buddha-s-criteria-for-wise-speech-include-in-addition-to-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/the-buddha-s-criteria-for-wise-speech-include-in-addition-to-the/#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 } } ] } ```