Thich Nhat Hanh Quotes

I have had to experience so much stupidity, so many vices, so much error, so much nausea, disillusionment and sorrow, just in order to become a child again and begin anew. I had to experience despair, I had to sink to the greatest mental depths, to thoughts of suicide, in order to experience grace.

When you have peace in yourself and accept, then you are calm enough to do something, but if you are carried by despair, there is no hope.

Despair is good. Despair can be the nadir of one life and the starting point of an ascent into another, better one.

There's hope at the bottom of the biggest waterfall." ~pg 426

When we have done our best, we should wait the result in peace.

However confused the scene of our life appears, however torn we may be who now do face that scene, it can be faced, and we can go on to be whole.

Don't despair too much if you see beautiful things destroyed, if you see them perish. Because the best things are always growing in secret.

Despair has its own calms.

Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and repeat to yourself, the most comforting words of all; this, too, shall pass.

Hope and fear cannot alter the season.

There is a grace of life which is still yours, my dear Europe.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

I felt the Lord telling me just to be patient all year. Whether it happened this year, next, or never, everything was going to be okay.

We've persevered because of a belief we share with the Iraqi people - a belief that out of the ashes of war, a new beginning could be born in this cradle of civilization. Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we have met our responsibility. Now, it's time to turn the page.

Everything bad happens to set up something good. I've always found that to be true. I think if most folks look back on the history of their lives, they'll see that.

I simply can't build my hopes on a foundation of confusion, misery and death... I think... peace and tranquillity will return again.

The secret of success is to be in harmony with existence, to be always calm to let each wave of life wash us a little farther up the shore.

Life begins on the other side of despair.

You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.

My dear, with your love I can calmly face my impending trial, having no regrets about the choices I've made and optimistically awaiting tomorrow.

'Acceptance' is a tricky word. Acceptance about what life is bringing us in a spiritual sense is one thing; but acceptance when there's injustice in the world is completely another.

The moment of surrender is not when life is over. It's when it begins

I think that one morning, the Papess woke in her tower, and her blankets were so warm, and the sun was so golden, she could not bear it. I think she woke, and dressed, and washed her face in cold water, and rubbed her shaven head. I think she walked among her sisters, and for the first time saw that they were so beautiful, and she loved them. I think she woke up one morning of all her mornings, and found that her heart was as white as a silkworm, and the sun was clear as glass on her brow, and she believed then that she could live, and hold peace in her hand like a pearl.

To be born again is to let the past go, and look without condemnation upon the present.