Just as a beautiful flower, full of color but lacking fragrance; So too, well-spoken words, bear no fruit for one who does not act.

– DhammaPada Verse 51

Just as a beautiful flower, full of color and fragrance; So too, well-spoken words, bear fruit for one who acts.

– DhammaPada Verse 52

Picture Credit: Narcissus and Rock stone, Thomas H.C. Tan, 2020

Related Teachings:

The Spiritual Life (AN 4.25) - This spiritual life is not led to deceive people, not for gaining their applause, not for acquiring gains and honors, nor for winning an argument.

Way of Practice for cultivating Right Action (From MN 61) - The Buddha teaches Rāhula on how one cultivates the wisdom of non-harm by reflecting on one’s bodily, verbal and mental actions prior to the action, while doing the action and after having done the action.

Cultivating faith to awaken to the truth (SN 55.55) ↗️ - The Buddha shares stream entry as a simile to awakening to the truth of his teachings. He highlights the factors that leads one to awaken to the truth of enlightenment when followed.