Taking Charge of Your Own Life — The Dhammapada

The Arrow and the Fish

If a man hold himself dear, let him watch himself carefully. During one at least of the three watches a wise man should be watchful. The evil done by oneself, self-begotten, self-bred, crushes the foolish as a diamond breaks a precious stone. Self is hard to subdue. That is why the watch is assigned a shift, not a wish.

“If a man hold himself dear, let him watch himself carefully; during one at least out of the three watches a wise man should be watchful.”

Counting Someone Else

If a man make himself as he teaches others to be, then, being himself well subdued, he may subdue others. One's own self is indeed difficult to subdue. Let no one forget his own duty for the sake of another's, however great. After he has discerned his own duty, let him be always attentive to it. Instruction without self-subduing is a lecture from an ungoverned city.

“If a man make himself as he teaches others to be, then, being himself well subdued, he may subdue (others); one's own self is indeed difficult to subdue.”