more on this theme | more from this thinker | more from this text
Full Idea
The falling of drops of water will in time fill a water-jar. Even so the wise man becomes full of good, although he gather it little by little.
Gist of Idea
The wise gradually fill with good, like a slowly-filled water-jar
Source
Anon (Dham) (The DhammaPada [c.250 BCE], §9.122)
Book Ref
'The DhammaPada', ed/tr. Mascaro,Juan [Penguin 1973], p.52
A Reaction
Again, this is like Aristotle's proposal of how to educate people in virtue. In my experience, there is no guarantee that small acts of politeness and charity will eventually guarantee goodness of character. Thought is also needed.