It is important that we develop the habit of distinguishing between wants and needs, because much more than just our own personal well-being is at stake. We only have to look at the rapid degradation of our natural environment in order to see the destructive effects of our consumerism.

17th Karmapa
from the book The Heart Is Noble: Changing the World from the Inside Out
translated by Ngodup Tsering Burkhar & Damchö Diana Finnegan
Read a random quote or see all quotes by the 17th Karmapa.
Further quotes from the book The Heart Is Noble:
- Difference without Division
- Healthy relationships
- Breaking barriers
- Take joy in your sincere intentions
- Just not been introduced before
- Finding our nobility of heart
- Authentic love toward others
- Expanding our sense of ourselves
- There are no fixed starting points
- Our life is vast
- Open-minded
- Balanced Life
- Greed is a recipe for dissatisfaction
- Disconnected from our own noble heart
- A noble vision
- My trust is a gift
- Boxed limitless potential
- Look what he did
- The intention to work for others