The Buddha declared.....
• The greatest virtue is that gained in the cultivation of universal love;
• The supreme happiness is the happiness derived from mental tranquility;
• The absolute truth is the truth acquired through the understanding of the causes of human suffering;
• The highest religion is the religion that teaches intellectual development morality and mental purification;
• The greatest philosophy is the philosophy that introduces a practical way of life that can be followed without depending on theories and mere beliefs.
.." Just as a mountain, all of solid rock,
Stands in a forest, in a mighty grove,
And neath its shelter grow the forest-lords:
So in this world, dependent on their head,
A virtuous believer, wife and children,
Kinsmen and friends and relatives, who live
Supported by that clan-head, grow apace.
When they behold that good man’s charity,
His virtue and the righteous life he leads,
If they have wits, they follows his example:
So in this life treading with righteousness
The path that leads unto the Happy Lot,
In the Heaven World they win the bliss they seek. "
"...The friend who’s ever seeking what to take,
The friend whose words are other than his deeds,
The friend who flatters, pleasing you withal.
The boon companion down the errant ways:
These four are foes. Thus having recognised,
Let the wise man avoid them from afar
As they were path of peril and of dread...."
".. The friend who is a helpmate, and the friend
Of bright days and of dark, and he who shows
What it is you need, and he who throbs for you
With sympathy: - these four the wise should know
As friends, and should devote himself to them
As mother to her own, her bosom’s child.
To him amassing wealth, like roving bee
Its honey gathering [and hurting naught].
Riches mount up as ant-heap growing high.
When the good layman wealth has so amassed
Able is he to benefit his clan.
In portion four let him divide that wealth.
So binds he to himself life’s friendly things.
One portion let him spend and taste the fruit.
His business to conduct let him take two.
And portion four let him reserve and hoard;
So there’ll be wherewithal in times of need...."
--(Dialogues of the Buddha III.)
Many of the quotes given here http://www.killermovies.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=398655 would fit well in this thread.
Also many of the scriptural passages from this thread would work well in the favorite scripture thread. It needs more extra-biblical passages.