Buddhaghoṣa

Shine as they may, there are no kings
Adorned with jewelry and pearls
That shine as does a man restrained
Adorned with virtue's ornament.

Buddhaghoṣa was a 5th-century Indian Theravada Buddhist commentator and scholar.

Quotes

The Path of Purification

Visuddhimagga, as translated by Ñāṇamoli Bhikkhu

Complete on-line text here

• Only virtue's water can
  wash out the stain in living things.
  • 1.24, p. 13

• Shine as they may, there are no kings
  Adorned with jewelry and pearls
  That shine as does a man restrained
  Adorned with virtue's ornament.
  • 1.24, pp. 13-14

• He whose mind is satisfied
  with virtue that has been achieved,
  Who never thinks to stir himself
  And take a meditation subject up,
  Contented with mere virtuousness,
  Nor striving for a higher state—
  His virtue bears the appellation
  Of that partaking of stagnation.
  • 1:39, p. 18

• Hate seeks out only unreal faults, while understanding seeks out only real faults.
  • 3:76, p. 97