Q0371
“You yourselves must strive; the Buddhas only point the way.” — Dhammapada (Dhammapada 276)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Dhammapada 276. Theme: self.
English
You yourselves must strive; the Buddhas only point the way.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Dhammapada 276 and files it under Early Buddhism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Dhammapada
Dhammapada appears in this archive through verified English quotations associated with the Early Buddhism tradition. Biographical certainty varies by figure and text; where the “author” is a scripture or school anthology, read the name as a traditional attribution rather than a modern individual biography.
How to read this passage
To ask about the self is to ask what persists through experience, what can be known from the first-person point of view, and how character is formed. Some traditions treat the self as a substantial soul; others as a stream of experience, a social role, or a practical center of agency. This passage enters that discussion through self, practice.
Concepts in this quote
- Self
- Philosophy quotes about self explore identity, responsibility, and the examined life—from Socrates’ unexamined life to modern phenomenology and existential authenticity.
- Practice
- Practice is where thought becomes habit: philosophy as a way of living, training, and repeated action.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Dhammapada. (n.d.). You yourselves must strive; the Buddhas only point the way. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0371
MLA: Dhammapada. “You yourselves must strive; the Buddhas only point….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0371.
Chicago: Dhammapada. “You yourselves must strive; the Buddhas only point….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0371.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “You yourselves must strive; the Buddhas only point…”?
The passage is attributed to Dhammapada, Dhammapada 276. The archive attributes this English wording to Dhammapada 276 and files it under Early Buddhism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Dhammapada mean by self?
To ask about the self is to ask what persists through experience, what can be known from the first-person point of view, and how character is formed. Some traditions treat the self as a substantial soul; others as a stream of experience, a social role, or a practical center of agency. This passage enters that discussion through self, practice.