Do not get easily satisfied with your efforts

"‘‘द्विन्‍नाहं , भिक्खवे, धम्मानं उपञ्‍ञासिं – या च असन्तुट्ठिता कुसलेसु धम्मेसु, या च अप्पटिवानिता पधानस्मिं। अप्पटिवानी सुदाहं, भिक्खवे, पदहामि – ‘कामं तचो च न्हारु [नहारु (सी॰ स्या॰ कं॰ पी॰)] च अट्ठि च अवसिस्सतु, सरीरे उपसुस्सतु मंसलोहितं, यं तं पुरिसथामेन पुरिसवीरियेन पुरिसपरक्‍कमेन पत्तब्बं न तं अपापुणित्वा वीरियस्स सण्ठानं भविस्सती’ति। तस्स मय्हं, भिक्खवे, अप्पमादाधिगता सम्बोधि, अप्पमादाधिगतो अनुत्तरो योगक्खेमो।

Monks, I have known two qualities through experience: discontent with regard to skillful qualities and unrelenting exertion. Relentlessly I exerted myself, [thinking,] 'Gladly would I let the flesh & blood in my body dry up, leaving just the skin, tendons, & bones, but if I have not attained what can be reached through human firmness, human persistence, human striving, there will be no relaxing my persistence.' From this heedfulness of mine was attained Awakening. From this heedfulness of mine was attained the unexcelled freedom from bondage.

Appativana Sutta: Relentlessly" (AN 2.5), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight, 3 July 2010, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an02/an02.005.than.html. 


Buddha