In short: the Buddha traced sorrow and fear to holding on. "Sorrow springs from attachment, fear springs from attachment; one free from attachment has no sorrow, let alone fear" (Dhammapada 213).
1. Dhammapada 213
"Sorrow springs from attachment, fear springs from attachment; one free from attachment has no sorrow, let alone fear."
Dhammapada 213 · More
2. Dhammapada 212
"Sorrow springs from what we hold dear, fear springs from what we hold dear; one free from holding anything dear has no sorrow, let alone fear."
Dhammapada 212
3. Dhammapada 211
"Therefore don't hold anything dear, for it's bad to lose those you love. No ties are found in they who hold nothing loved or loathed."
Dhammapada 211
Read the full guide
4. Dhammapada 62
"‘Sons are mine, wealth is mine’— thus the fool frets. For even your self is not your own, let alone your sons or wealth."
Dhammapada 62
5. Dhammapada 348
"Let go of the past, let go of the future, let go of the present, having gone beyond rebirth. With your heart freed in every respect, you'll not come again to rebirth and old age."
Dhammapada 348
6. Dhammapada 354
"The gift of the teaching surmounts all other gifts; the taste of the teaching surmounts all other tastes; the joy of the teaching surmounts all other joys; the ending of craving surmounts all suffering."
Dhammapada 354
All quotes are from the early Buddhist texts in Bhikkhu Sujato's translation on SuttaCentral, copied exactly. Last checked: 18 October 2026.
Try it
Get a verse chosen for how you feel today: make your teaching card. Seen a quote you're not sure about? Check it in Did the Buddha really say that? More themes: real Buddha quotes.
Questions people ask
What did the Buddha say about attachment?
'Sorrow springs from attachment, fear springs from attachment; one free from attachment has no sorrow, let alone fear' (Dhammapada 213).