The thought manifests as the word;

The word manifests as the deed;

The deed develops into habit;

And habit hardens into character;

So watch the thought and its ways with care,

And let it spring from love

Born out of concern for all beings...

As the shadow follows the body, as we think, so we become.

— The Dhammapada

(Sayings of the Buddha)

“Taking the first footstep with a good thought, the second with a good word, and third with a good deed I entered Paradise.”  (Zoroaster)