This is a pretty famous mussar/hashkafa saying. From one of the gedoilei oilam (r’ chain volozhin? R’ yisroel salanter?)
” I used to think I can change the world which will better my country, which will better my state which will better my city, which will better my neighborhood, which will better my family, which will better myself. NOW I realize that I first have to change myself, which will better my family, which will better my neighborhood, which will better my city, which will better my state, which will better my country, which will better the world.”