In short: the Buddha often taught with nature: a bee that takes nectar without harming the flower (Dhammapada 49), a mind "like a deep lake, clear and unclouded" (Dhammapada 82). Here are six genuine quotes, each with its source.
1. Dhammapada 49
"A bee takes the nectar and moves on, doing no damage to the flower's beauty and fragrance; and that's how a sage should walk in the village."
Dhammapada 49
2. Dhammapada 173
"Someone whose bad deed is supplanted by the good, shines upon this world, like the moon freed from clouds."
Dhammapada 173
3. Dhammapada 82
"Like a deep lake, clear and unclouded, so clear are the astute when they hear the teachings."
Dhammapada 82
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4. Dhammapada 95
"Undisturbed like the earth, true to their vows, steady as Indra's pillar, like a lake clear of mud; such a one does not transmigrate."
Dhammapada 95
5. Dhammapada 91
"The mindful apply themselves; they delight in no abode. Like a swan gone from the marsh, they leave home after home behind."
Dhammapada 91
6. AN 4.36
"Suppose there was a blue water lily, or a pink or white lotus. Though it sprouted and grew in the water, it would rise up above the water and stand with no water clinging to it."
AN 4.36 · More
All quotes are from the early Buddhist texts in Bhikkhu Sujato's translation on SuttaCentral, copied exactly. Last checked: 18 October 2026.
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Questions people ask
What did the Buddha say about nature?
He used nature as a teacher: 'A bee takes the nectar and moves on, doing no damage to the flower's beauty and fragrance' (Dhammapada 49).