[1757] Then the Blessed One, having taken up a little dust on the tip of his fingernail, addressed the bhikkhus: "What do you think, bhikkhus — which is more: this little dust that I have taken up on the tip of my fingernail, or this great earth?"
"Venerable sir, the great earth alone is more. The little dust that the Blessed One has taken up on the tip of his fingernail is trifling. Compared with the great earth, the little dust that the Blessed One has taken up on the tip of his fingernail does not amount to counting, does not amount to comparison, does not amount even to a fraction."
"Even so, bhikkhus, few are those beings who are reborn among human beings; rather, more numerous are those beings who are reborn elsewhere than among human beings. For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, of not having seen the four noble truths (ariyasacca). Which four? The noble truth of suffering (dukkha) … the noble truth of the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering. Therefore, bhikkhus, effort should be made [to understand]: 'This is suffering' … effort should be made [to understand]: 'This is the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.