山さん中ちゅうの賊ぞくを破やぶるは易やすく心しん中ちゅうの賊ぞくを破やぶるは難かたし

expression

it's hard to discipline one's mind

Proverb contrasting external enemies with internal ones; the real challenge is mastering one's own desires and weaknesses.

• 「山さん中ちゅうの賊ぞくを破やぶるは易やすく心しん中ちゅうの賊ぞくを破やぶるは難かたし」という言こと葉ばがある。

  There is a saying: 'Defeating the bandits in the mountains is easy; defeating the bandit in one's heart is hard.'