Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings

Hear the voice of the Buddha, the Enlightened One, who spoke thus: “Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.” These words, uttered in the stillness of ancient India, pierce through the centuries with a truth unbroken: that speech without substance is but the rustling of leaves in the wind, while a single word of truth, compassion, or reconciliation can heal the wounds of a lifetime. For the tongue may produce endless sound, but only the word born of wisdom carries the power to calm storms within the heart.

Mark this well, O listener: the world is filled with hollow words—words of flattery that hide deceit, words of promises that never bear fruit, words of rage that scorch but do not illuminate. They are many, yet they are empty, and though they thunder loudly, they vanish like smoke in the air. But one word of peace—spoken with sincerity, with clarity, with love—outshines them all. It becomes a seed planted in the soul, growing into harmony, reconciliation, and rest. Thus the Buddha teaches us that the measure of speech lies not in quantity, but in its power to bring healing.

Consider the tale of Emperor Ashoka, who once waged bloody wars across India, leaving fields soaked in grief. His proclamations of conquest were loud, filled with the hollow glory of power. But after the slaughter of Kalinga, he was pierced by sorrow. He turned to the teachings of the Buddha, and from his lips came not boasts of war, but a single word: peace. With that word he transformed an empire. He ceased his conquests, spread compassion through his lands, and sent emissaries of nonviolence across the world. His thousand proclamations of might faded into dust, but his one word of peace endures in memory to this day.

Reflect also on the smallest of circles—the family. How often do quarrels rage on, fueled by countless accusations, explanations, justifications—all hollow words that deepen the divide! And yet, one humble word—“forgive,” or “sorry,” or “enough”—can bring silence to the storm and restore love to its throne. In this way, the teaching of the Buddha is not only for kings and rulers, but for every soul who wishes to heal the fractures of daily life.

But the Buddha’s teaching reaches even further: it is not only what we speak to others, but also what we speak within ourselves. Many fill their minds with hollow words of doubt, fear, and self-condemnation. These are empty, bringing no life. Yet one true word spoken inwardly—“peace,” “love,” “I am enough”—can silence the endless chatter and anchor the spirit. The battlefield of the mind, like the battlefield of the world, can be stilled by a single word of truth.

The lesson, then, is clear: do not measure your speech by length, but by its weight of truth. Restrain the impulse to flood the air with hollow sounds. Instead, let your words be chosen like jewels, few but radiant, each carrying the power to heal, to reconcile, to uplift. Before you speak, ask: “Will this bring peace, or will it bring harm?” And if it cannot bring peace, perhaps silence is wiser, for silence is never hollow when it is filled with presence.

Therefore, O seeker of wisdom, practice this in your life: in quarrels, seek the one word that heals. In councils, speak the one word that guides. In prayer, utter the one word that calms. And in your own heart, return again and again to the one word that anchors you in peace. In this way, your voice will not be an echo of emptiness, but a vessel of life. For truly, as the Buddha proclaimed, one word that brings peace is worth more than a thousand hollow words.