मनुस्मृति - आचारः

एवमाचारतो दृष्ट्वा धर्मस्य मुनयो गतिम् ।
सर्वस्य तपसो मूलं आचारं जगृहुः परम् ॥

- मनुस्मृति

Righteous living is the basis of dharma - the moral code of life. The sages have known this for ever. So they say that every penance has its root in righteous living.

- Manu Smriti