The phrases using “few” and “many” are found in many contexts in the suttas, such as:
Then the Buddha, picking up a little bit of dirt under his fingernail, addressed the mendicants: “What do you think, mendicants? Which is more: the little bit of dirt under my fingernail, or this great earth?”
“Sir, the great earth is certainly more. The little bit of dirt under your fingernail is tiny. Compared to the great earth, it doesn’t count, there’s no comparison, it’s not worth a fraction.”
In the same way, the sentient beings reborn as humans are few, while those not reborn as humans are many. Why is that? It’s because they haven’t seen the four noble truths. What four? The noble truths of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.
In the same way, the sentient beings reborn in central countries are few, while those reborn in the borderlands, among strange barbarian tribes, are many. …
… the sentient beings who have the noble eye of wisdom are few, while those who are ignorant and confused are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from alcoholic drinks that cause negligence, are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings born on land are few, while those born in water are many. …
… the sentient beings who respect their mothers are few, while those who don’t are many.
… the sentient beings who respect their fathers are few, while those who don’t are many.
… the sentient beings who respect ascetics are few, while those who don’t are many. …
… the sentient beings who respect brahmins are few, while those who don’t are many. …
… the sentient beings who honor the elders in the family are few, while those who don’t are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from killing living creatures are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from stealing are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from sexual misconduct are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from lying are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from divisive speech are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from harsh speech are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from talking nonsense are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from injuring plants and seeds are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from food at the wrong time are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from beautifying and adorning themselves with garlands, perfumes, and makeup are few, while those who don’t refrain are many …
… the sentient beings who refrain from dancing, singing, music, and seeing shows are few, while those who don’t refrain are many …
… the sentient beings who refrain from high and luxurious beds are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from receiving gold and money are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from receiving raw grain are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from receiving raw meat are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from receiving women and girls are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from receiving male and female bondservants are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from receiving goats and sheep are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from receiving chickens and pigs are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from receiving elephants, cows, horses, and mares are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from receiving fields and land are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from buying and selling are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from running errands and messages are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from falsifying weights, metals, or measures are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from bribery, fraud, cheating, and duplicity are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …
… the sentient beings who refrain from mutilation, murder, abduction, banditry, plunder, and violence are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. Why is that? It’s because they haven’t seen the four noble truths. What four? The noble truths of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.
That’s why you should practice meditation …