The Lotus Lane

👥

Daisaku Ikeda on Friendship

Guidance on building deep, lasting friendships — the kind that sustain us through hardship and multiply our joy in good times.

15 quotes

“A true friend is someone who speaks honestly with you, challenges you to grow, and stands by you in your darkest hour.”

— Daisaku Ikeda, Discussions on Youth

“Friendship is the most beautiful treasure in life. Cherish your friends. Nurture your friendships. They are the foundation of a happy life.”

— Daisaku Ikeda, For Today and Tomorrow

“The bonds of friendship that we forge in our youth can last a lifetime. They are stronger than any material wealth.”

— Daisaku Ikeda, Youth and the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

“Be a friend who encourages. The world is full of people who criticize — be the one who lifts others up.”

— Daisaku Ikeda, For Today and Tomorrow

“A friend in need is a friend indeed. It is easy to be friends when everything is going well. The test of true friendship is adversity.”

— Daisaku Ikeda, The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace

“Do not be afraid to be vulnerable with your friends. True friendship requires openness, honesty, and the courage to show your true self.”

— Daisaku Ikeda, Discussions on Youth

“The person who has even one true friend is not alone. One genuine friend is worth more than a thousand acquaintances.”

— Daisaku Ikeda, For Today and Tomorrow

“Good friends influence you to be a better person. Bad friends pull you down. Choose your friends wisely.”

— Daisaku Ikeda, Youth and the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

“To have good friends, you must first be a good friend. It begins with you.”

— Daisaku Ikeda, The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace

“Friendship across borders and cultures is the foundation of world peace. When you make a friend from another country, you make the world a safer place.”

— Daisaku Ikeda, For Today and Tomorrow

“Never betray a friend's trust. Trust is the oxygen of friendship. Without it, the relationship cannot breathe.”

— Daisaku Ikeda, Discussions on Youth

“The deepest friendships are forged through shared struggles. When you fight alongside someone, you create bonds that can never be broken.”

— Daisaku Ikeda, The New Human Revolution, Vol. 5

“Be the kind of person who reaches out first. Many people are lonely because they are waiting for others to approach them.”

— Daisaku Ikeda, For Today and Tomorrow

“Friendship is not about what you can get from others. It is about what you can give. True friends give without expecting anything in return.”

— Daisaku Ikeda, The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace

“The most precious gift you can give a friend is your time and your undivided attention. In our busy world, this is the rarest and most valuable treasure.”

— Daisaku Ikeda, Discussions on Youth

Want daily Buddhist wisdom in your inbox?

Subscribe to Daimoku Daily →