As a disease, if initially neglected, becomes acute and impossible to cure, or as the senses, if not controlled at first, are impossible to control later, an enemy, if neglected in the beginning, later becomes insurmountable.
Srimad Bhagavata Purana
श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम्
मूल श्लोकः
यथाऽऽमयोऽङ्गे समुपेक्षितो नृभि- र्नशक्यते रूढपदश्चिकित्सितुम् । यथेन्द्रियग्राम उपेक्षितस्तथा रिपुर्महान् बद्धबलो न चाल्यते
yathā''mayo'ṅge samupekṣito nṛbhi- rnaśakyate rūḍhapadaścikitsitum | yathendriyagrāma upekṣitastathā ripurmahān baddhabalo na cālyate
SB 10.4.38