Source identified
Read & copy the quotation
“Let each man direct himself first to what is proper, then let him teach others; thus a wise man will not suffer.”
- Source
- The Dhammapada
- Date
- ancient
- English wording
- F. Max Müller — Translator · from Pali
Meaning of “Let each man direct himself first to what…”
Advice to others gains credibility when personal conduct comes first; the verse makes self-direction a prerequisite for instruction rather than an excuse to control other people.
Where does it come from?
Dhammapada 158, Chapter XII “Self,” Max Müller translation; the sequence emphasizes governing one’s own conduct before attempting to guide others.
