[1753] "Bhikkhus, suppose a man were to draw out two or three drops of water from the great ocean. What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: the two or three drops of water that have been drawn out, or the water in the great ocean?"
"Venerable sir, the water in the great ocean is more. The two or three drops of water that have been drawn out are trifling; compared with the water in the great ocean, the two or three drops of water that have been drawn out do not come up to counting, do not come up to comparison, do not come up to even a fraction."
"Even so, bhikkhus, for the noble disciple … (the same repetition [peyyāla] as before) … exertion should be made."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.