"The beloved of the gods, king Piyadasi, speaks thus: Father and mother should be respected, and so should elders, kindness to living beings should be made strong, and the truth should be spoken."

"It is not possible to achieve great progress by violence. Indeed, it is by kindness and gentleness that progress is achieved."

"This is good - but this I consider of very little consequence: the fact that the people practice Dhamma."

"The beloved of the gods, king Piyadasi, speaks thus: It is more than two and a half years since I became a lay disciple, but I did not make much progress."

"I have had this Dhamma edict written so that my sons and grandsons and great-grandsons may follow it and live according to it. And this is for the welfare and happiness of all people."