--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I have one wish which is greater than…" description: "\"If I have one wish which is greater than another, it is, if I had the power, to make men do right; to make them stop their swearing, their lying, their..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/brigham-young-1075_being-honest_if-i-have-one-wish-which-is-greater-than_649205.jpg" --- # If I have one wish which is greater than another, it is… ![“If I have one wish which is greater than another, it is, if I had the power, to make men do right; to make them stop their swearing, their lying, their deceiving, to stop trying to injure the innocent, and begin to be honest and upright in all their dealings with one another and honor the name of…” quote by Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/brigham-young-1075_being-honest_if-i-have-one-wish-which-is-greater-than_649205.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/brigham-young-1075_being-honest_if-i-have-one-wish-which-is-greater-than_649205.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/brigham-young-1075_being-honest_if-i-have-one-wish-which-is-greater-than_649205.jpg) > “If I have one wish which is greater than another, it is, if I had the power, to make men do right; to make them stop their swearing, their lying, their deceiving, to stop trying to injure the innocent, and begin to be honest and upright in all their dealings with one another and honor the name of the Deity.” [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A desire for power to enforce morality, demanding honesty and protection of the innocent. **In simple terms:** Wanting power to force people to be honest and protect the innocent. Key Takeaway Seek influence through persuasion, not coercion. Themes morality justice leadership Mood reflective serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - political activism - community leadership - legal reform - faith teaching Key Concepts ethics authority social order Questions to Reflect On - How can we encourage honesty without imposing force? - What role does personal conscience play in moral behavior? A Different Perspective Power alone cannot guarantee genuine virtue; coercion may breed resentment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/) [Deities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deities/) [Greater power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-power/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Swearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swearing/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [“Oh, my girls, however long you may live, I never can wish you a greater happiness than this!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/oh-my-girls-however-long-you-may-live-i-never-can-wish-you-a-greater/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“namaste - it means, roughly translated, "I honor the Deity within you." that is precisely what we do when we open our hearts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-h-pearce/namaste-it-means-roughly-translated-i-honor-the-deity-within-you-that/) [virginia h. pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-h-pearce/) > [The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-malthus/the-power-of-population-is-indefinitely-greater-than-the-power-in-the/) [Thomas Malthus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-malthus/) > [The more we learn to link the use of breath, mind, and voice, the greater our own power in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-andrews/the-more-we-learn-to-link-the-use-of-breath-mind-and-voice-the/) [Ted Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-andrews/) > [The greater the power, the greater the responsibility in its exercise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kapil-sibal/the-greater-the-power-the-greater-the-responsibility-in-its-exercise/) [Kapil Sibal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kapil-sibal/) > [Dean: If there is a greater power, why is it he can't get you a new sweater? Jamie: Because, he's too busy looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/dean-if-there-is-a-greater-power-why-is-it-he-can-t-get-you-a-new/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“When you conquer fear, you unleash a greater power from within you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-labossiere/when-you-conquer-fear-you-unleash-a-greater-power-from-within-you/) [Stephan Labossiere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-labossiere/) > [There is no greater power on this earth than story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/there-is-no-greater-power-on-this-earth-than-story/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [The momentum of freedom in our world is unmistakable - and it is not carried forward by our power alone. We can trust in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-momentum-of-freedom-in-our-world-is-unmistakable-and-it-is-not/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“Television has greater power over the lives of most Americans than any educational system, government, or church.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-hughes/television-has-greater-power-over-the-lives-of-most-americans-than/) Kent Hughes > [The greater the power that deigns to serve you, the more honor it demands of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-greater-the-power-that-deigns-to-serve-you-the-more-honor-it/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“I can give her no greater power than she has already, said the woman; don't you see how strong that is? How men and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-christian-andersen/i-can-give-her-no-greater-power-than-she-has-already-said-the-woman/) [Hans Christian Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-christian-andersen/) > [There is no greater power than the power of love, which arises from Presence. It overcomes all resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-jacobson/there-is-no-greater-power-than-the-power-of-love-which-arises-from/) [Leonard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-jacobson/) > [There's no greater power than the power of good-bye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/there-s-no-greater-power-than-the-power-of-good-bye/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [“to whom will the technology give greater power and freedom? And whose power and freedom will be reduced by it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/to-whom-will-the-technology-give-greater-power-and-freedom-and-whose/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) ## More by Brigham Young > [The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Others attain unto a glory and may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/the-only-men-who-become-gods-even-the-sons-of-god-are-those-who-enter/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [It is for us to do those things which the Lord requires at our hands, and leave the result with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/it-is-for-us-to-do-those-things-which-the-lord-requires-at-our-hands/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [After men have got their exaltations and their crowns--have become Gods, even the sons of God--are made Kings of kings and Lords of lords,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/after-men-have-got-their-exaltations-and-their-crowns-have-become/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [“If you are ever called upon to chasten a person, never chasten beyond the balm you have within you to bind up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/if-you-are-ever-called-upon-to-chasten-a-person-never-chasten-beyond/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [We went west willingly--because we had to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/we-went-west-willingly-because-we-had-to/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [It is bad enough to see young fools, but worse to see old fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/it-is-bad-enough-to-see-young-fools-but-worse-to-see-old-fools/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [I expect, if I am faithful with yourselves, that I shall see the time with yourselves that we shall know how to prepare to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/i-expect-if-i-am-faithful-with-yourselves-that-i-shall-see-the-time/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [“Parties in our Government have no better idea than to think the Republic stands all the firmer upon opposition; but I say that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/parties-in-our-government-have-no-better-idea-than-to-think-the/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [If I had a choice of educating my daughters or my sons because of opportunity constraints, I would choose to educate my daughters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/if-i-had-a-choice-of-educating-my-daughters-or-my-sons-because-of/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [We should never permit ourselves to do anything that we are not willing to see our children do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/we-should-never-permit-ourselves-to-do-anything-that-we-are-not/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [I feel like shouting, hallelujah, all the time, when I think that I ever I knew Joseph Smith, the Prophet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/i-feel-like-shouting-hallelujah-all-the-time-when-i-think-that-i-ever/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [Our faith is concentrated in the Son of God, and through him in the Father; and the Holy Ghost is their minister to bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/our-faith-is-concentrated-in-the-son-of-god-and-through-him-in-the/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [ How shall we know that we obey \[God\]? There is but one method by which we can know it, and that is by the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/how-shall-we-know-that-we-obey-god-there-is-but-one-method-by-which/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [Infringe upon the rights of no one. Borrow no tool but what you will return according to promise. Take no wood, nor anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/infringe-upon-the-rights-of-no-one-borrow-no-tool-but-what-you-will/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [All I have to do is keep my spirit, feelings and conscience like a sheet of blank paper, and let the Spirit and power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/all-i-have-to-do-is-keep-my-spirit-feelings-and-conscience-like-a/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) [Explore all 297 Brigham Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) ## More Being honest quotes > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [I have often spoken of integrity as the most important of these values, realizing that integrity – and personal integrity, at that – is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verghese-kurien/i-have-often-spoken-of-integrity-as-the-most-important-of-these/) [Verghese Kurien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verghese-kurien/) > [I had never done anything with blue screen before, or prosthetics, or anything like that. Lord of the Rings was like stepping into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-had-never-done-anything-with-blue-screen-before-or-prosthetics-or/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Let's be honest, if the Democrats didn't support ignoring our nation's immigration laws, there is no way they could win the presidency or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/let-s-be-honest-if-the-democrats-didn-t-support-ignoring-our-nation-s/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [I think what saved me is me being honest. I think I somewhow had the courage to do something and say something that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-think-what-saved-me-is-me-being-honest-i-think-i-somewhow-had-the/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [An actor has to evaluate his own abilities and be honest with himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/an-actor-has-to-evaluate-his-own-abilities-and-be-honest-with-himself/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [The cultural integration of psychedelics won't happen overnight, and the question of young people is perhaps the most difficult involved. The first step is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-doblin/the-cultural-integration-of-psychedelics-won-t-happen-overnight-and/) [Rick Doblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-doblin/) > [I'm a person of change and I must be honest to my artistry and my creativity. That's part of the word 'jazz'... it's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-ferguson/i-m-a-person-of-change-and-i-must-be-honest-to-my-artistry-and-my/) Maynard Ferguson > [I'm going to be honest, I would love for Flava Flav to be president. It would bring a lot of excitement to the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-khaled/i-m-going-to-be-honest-i-would-love-for-flava-flav-to-be-president-it/) [DJ Khaled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-khaled/) > [The buildings that were in question, they said in the same report, which was - actually, it wasn't even a bad story, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-buildings-that-were-in-question-they-said-in-the-same-report/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I guess it has to be healthy, you have to be honest with yourself and I think that's when ego is okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-amoruso/i-guess-it-has-to-be-healthy-you-have-to-be-honest-with-yourself-and/) [Sophia Amoruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-amoruso/) > [ The opening for solid waste is very small \[in the space ship\]. It's not toilet-bowl size. And aim is critical. To be honest with… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mullane/the-opening-for-solid-waste-is-very-small-in-the-space-ship-it-s-not/) [Mike Mullane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mullane/) > [We had 90 percent rates, but nobody paid them. And so you had all these exemptions, exclusions, shelters, all this kind of stuff. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-had-90-percent-rates-but-nobody-paid-them-and-so-you-had-all-these/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [I think, as a filmmaker, it's important to be honest with yourself at all times in terms of what's working and what's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-wingard/i-think-as-a-filmmaker-it-s-important-to-be-honest-with-yourself-at/) [Adam Wingard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-wingard/) > [We live in a world in which the only utopian visions arrive in commercial breaks: magical visions of an impossibly hospitable world, peopled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/we-live-in-a-world-in-which-the-only-utopian-visions-arrive-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Browse all 1,333 Being honest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I have one wish which is greater than another, it is, if I had the power, to make men do right; to make them stop their swearing, their lying, their deceiving, to stop trying to injure the innocent, and begin to be honest and upright in all their dealings with one another and honor the name of the Deity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brigham Young" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/if-i-have-one-wish-which-is-greater-than-another-it-is-if-i-had-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being honest" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/if-i-have-one-wish-which-is-greater-than-another-it-is-if-i-had-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/brigham-young-1075_being-honest_if-i-have-one-wish-which-is-greater-than_649205.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/brigham-young-1075_being-honest_if-i-have-one-wish-which-is-greater-than_649205.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bd/brigham-young-1075_being-honest_if-i-have-one-wish-which-is-greater-than_649205.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I have one wish which is greater than another, it is, if I had the power, to make men do right; to make…” — Brigham Young", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Brigham Young", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I have one wish which...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/if-i-have-one-wish-which-is-greater-than-another-it-is-if-i-had-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/if-i-have-one-wish-which-is-greater-than-another-it-is-if-i-had-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```