Saul Leiter Quotes

I used to desire many, many things, but now I have just one desire, and that's to get rid of all my other desires.

Freedom is not having everything we crave, it's being able to go without the things we crave and being OK with it.

Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires.

One thing I like about Zen. It doesn't believe in achievement.

The more you learn to live without, the more you'll have to live with.

Only those who want nothing are masters of Nature.

It is the privilege of the gods to want nothing, and of godlike men to want little.

I am totally unattached to material items.

Man falls from the pursuit of the ideal of plan living and high thinking the moment he wants to multiply his daily wants. Man's happiness really lies in contentment.

The hardest thing is to take less when you can get more.

The Dalai Lama was once asked for his favorite chant, and he said it was better not to have a favorite anything, which I think is a great thought.

If you want to be happy, live discreetly. Does that make sense in English?

First and foremost, the monk should own nothing in this world, but he should have as his possessions solitude of the body, modesty of bearing, a modulated tone of voice, and a well-ordered manner of speech. He should be without anxiety as to his food and drink, and should eat in silence.

Man must do his part and detach himself from created things.

Be satisfied with needs instead of wants.

I've always had these morals I've sort of put on myself: that excess is bad. I used to be into Buddhism and stuff. I was vegetarian. I was all about shutting things out.

We shall have to practise to lead our life on the basis of our needs, not under the influence of our greed.

Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench. Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner. Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity.

My greatest skill has been to want but little.

I will not look at another's bowl intent on finding fault: a training to be observed.

When we recognize that nothing has to go right for us to be happy, that people do not have to behave for us to love them, our walk home can be surprisingly simple. We have enormous power not to manipulate the world, but to be happy and to know peace.

Do not be eager for things above.

The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.

Enjoy everything. Need nothing.

A true Zen saying: "Nothing is what I want.