“Ultimately, all human activities have as their goal the realization of happiness. Why, then, have we ended up producing the opposite result? Could the underlying cause be our failure to correctly understand the true nature of happiness?”
Failure
“I firmly believe that the mission of religion in the 21st century must be to contribute concretely to the peaceful coexistence of humankind.”
ReligionAll Quotes by Daisaku Ikeda
“The wisdom and experience of older people is a resource of inestimable worth. Recognizing and treasuring the contributions of older people is essential to the long-term flourishing of any society.”
Experience“The effects of human rights education can be dramatic in awakening people to the value and power of their own lives, as shown in the following stories.”
Education“To communicate the truths of history is an act of hope for the future.”
Future“There are no greater treasures than the highest human qualities such as compassion, courage and hope. Not even tragic accident or disaster can destroy such treasures of the heart.”
Courage“When human beings live together, conflict is inevitable. War is not.”
War“When one takes action for others, one's own suffering is transformed into the energy that can keep one moving forward a light of hope illuminating a new tomorrow for oneself and others is kindled.”
Hope“I firmly believe that the mission of religion in the 21st century must be to contribute concretely to the peaceful coexistence of humankind.”
Religion“A person, who no matter how desperate the situation, gives others hope, is a true leader.”
Hope“I have for some time urged that a nuclear abolition summit to mark the effective end of the nuclear era be convened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on the 70th anniversary of the bombings of those cities, with the participation of national leaders and representatives of global civil society.”
Anniversary“Likewise, education can direct people toward good or evil ends. When education is based on a fundamentally distorted worldview, the results are horrific.”
Education“We are not merely passive pawns of historical forces nor are we victims of the past. We can shape and direct history.”
History“Divorced from the cosmos, from nature, from society and from each other, we have become fractured and fragmented.”
Society“Where there is an absence of international political leadership, civil society should step in to fill the gap, providing the energy and vision needed to move the world in a new and better direction.”
Leadership“It is only through such real-life daily struggles and challenges that a genuine sensitivity to human rights can be inculcated. This is a truth that is not limited to school education: it applies to all of us.”
Education“A commitment to human rights cannot be fostered simply through the transmission of knowledge. Action and experience play a crucial role in the learning process.”
Experience“Women are, in my view, natural peacemakers. As givers and nurturers of life, through their focus on human relationships and their engagement with the demanding work of raising children and protecting family life, they develop a deep sense of empathy that cuts through to underlying human realities.”
Family“No one should be left to suffer alone.”
Alone“A healthy vision of the future is not possible without an accurate knowledge of the past.”
Future“I believe that we must maintain pride in the knowledge that the actions we take, based on our own decisions and choices as individuals, link directly to the magnificent challenge of transforming human history.”
History