Monks, just as the river Ganges flows, slopes and inclines towards the ocean, so too a monk who develops and cultivates the Noble Eightfold Path aspires, slopes and inclines towards Nibbāna.

Seyyathāpi bhikkhave gaṅgā nadī
Samuddaninnā samuddapoṇā samuddapabbhārā
Evameva kho bhikkhave bhikkhu ariyaṃ aṭṭhaṅgikaṃ maggaṃ bhāvento
Ariyaṃ aṭṭhaṅgikaṃ maggaṃ bahulīkaronto
Nibbānaninno hoti nibbānapoṇo nibbānapabbhāro.

S. V. 39