ETHICS · DHAMMAPADA 252
Goodness Drop by Drop
The fault of others is easily perceived, but that of oneself is difficult to perceive; a man winnows his neighbour's faults like chaff, but his own fault he hides, as a cheat hides the bad die from the gambler.
Dhammapada 252 · Chapter 18, Impurity · trans. F. Max Müller · Read the full text at Project Gutenberg
Reflection
The verse begins, “The fault of others is easily perceived, but that of oneself is difficult to perceive.” In its chapter, this image points toward cleaning up conduct and intention. The emphasis is agency without isolation: begin with the part of the situation your own conduct can actually change. Because this is a historic English translation, test the teaching in experience rather than treating its wording as a demand for belief.
Practice prompt
Repair one small harm rather than explaining it away.