--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For the devil may tempt the good, but he…" description: "\"For the devil may tempt the good, but he cannot find rest in them; for he is shaken violently, and upset, and driven out, now by their prayers, now by ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/bruno-of-cologne-60363_alms_for-the-devil-may-tempt-the-good-but-he_1783437.jpg" --- # For the devil may tempt the good, but he cannot find rest… ![“For the devil may tempt the good, but he cannot find rest in them; for he is shaken violently, and upset, and driven out, now by their prayers, now by their tears of repentance, and now by their almsgiving and similar good works.” quote by Bruno of Cologne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/bruno-of-cologne-60363_alms_for-the-devil-may-tempt-the-good-but-he_1783437.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/bruno-of-cologne-60363_alms_for-the-devil-may-tempt-the-good-but-he_1783437.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/bruno-of-cologne-60363_alms_for-the-devil-may-tempt-the-good-but-he_1783437.jpg) > “For the devil may tempt the good, but he cannot find rest in them; for he is shaken violently, and upset, and driven out, now by their prayers, now by their tears of repentance, and now by their almsgiving and similar good works.” [Bruno of Cologne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-of-cologne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even the devil cannot find peace in the good; their prayers, tears, and charity disturb and drive him away. **In simple terms:** Good deeds repel evil. Key Takeaway Practice compassion and generosity. Themes faith morality spiritual warfare Mood hopeful determined Type spiritual ethical When to use this quote - personal prayer - community service - conflict resolution - ethical decision making Key Concepts redemption charity devil metaphor Questions to Reflect On - Can kindness alone overcome all evil? - How do prayers and deeds together strengthen resolve? A Different Perspective Relying solely on good works may ignore deeper spiritual growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alms/) [Almsgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/almsgiving/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) ## Related quotes > [Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears, our faith triumphant o’er our fears, are all with thee – are all with thee!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/our-hearts-our-hopes-our-prayers-our-tears-our-faith-triumphant-o-er/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [God will never plant the seed of his life upon the soil of a hard, unbroken spirit. He will only plant that seed where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-redpath/god-will-never-plant-the-seed-of-his-life-upon-the-soil-of-a-hard/) [Alan Redpath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-redpath/) > [“Work in me more profound and abiding repentance; Give me the fullness of godly grief, that trembles and fears, yet ever trust and loves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-bennett/work-in-me-more-profound-and-abiding-repentance-give-me-the-fullness/) [Arthur Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-bennett/) > [Nor tears of repentance is \| to think of it, one's heart before hefires \|](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/nor-tears-of-repentance-is-to-think-of-it-one-s-heart-before-hefires/) Mak\_786 > [Even our tears of repentance need to be washed in the blood of the Lamb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/even-our-tears-of-repentance-need-to-be-washed-in-the-blood-of-the/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [Those are not the tears of repentance!... Self-loathing is not sorrow. Yet it is good, for it marks a step in the way home,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/those-are-not-the-tears-of-repentance-self-loathing-is-not-sorrow-yet/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [As we have a high old time this Christmas may we who know Christ hear the cry of the damned as they hurtle headlong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-saint/as-we-have-a-high-old-time-this-christmas-may-we-who-know-christ-hear/) [Nate Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-saint/) > [“Repentance, as a natural feeling, is a common duty deserving no great praise: indeed, it is so generally mingled with a selfish fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/repentance-as-a-natural-feeling-is-a-common-duty-deserving-no-great/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [On the other hand, Allah directs man to the spiritual purity through the act of giving that is represented by charity that the pious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammad-hussein-fadlallah/on-the-other-hand-allah-directs-man-to-the-spiritual-purity-through/) [Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammad-hussein-fadlallah/) > [The true aim of our Christian life consists in the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seraphim-of-sarov/the-true-aim-of-our-christian-life-consists-in-the-acquisition-of-the/) [Seraphim of Sarov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seraphim-of-sarov/) > [The rich man who gives to the poor does not bestow alms but pays a debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose/the-rich-man-who-gives-to-the-poor-does-not-bestow-alms-but-pays-a/) [Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose/) > [Almsgiving above all else requires money, but even this shines with a brighter luster when the alms are given from our poverty. The widow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/almsgiving-above-all-else-requires-money-but-even-this-shines-with-a/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Almsgiving tends to perpetuate poverty; aid does away with it once and for all. Almsgiving leaves a man just where he was before. Aid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evita-peron/almsgiving-tends-to-perpetuate-poverty-aid-does-away-with-it-once-and/) [Evita Peron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evita-peron/) > [All almsgiving inevitably tends to pauperize the recipient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/all-almsgiving-inevitably-tends-to-pauperize-the-recipient/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Yet, when we must put aside our wrath, quench our envy, soften our anger, offer our prayers, and show a disposition which is reasonable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/yet-when-we-must-put-aside-our-wrath-quench-our-envy-soften-our-anger/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) ## More by Bruno of Cologne > [By your work you show what you love and what you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-of-cologne/by-your-work-you-show-what-you-love-and-what-you-know/) [Bruno of Cologne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-of-cologne/) > [For when the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through places without water, seeking rest; and not finding. . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-of-cologne/for-when-the-unclean-spirit-is-gone-out-of-a-man-he-walketh-through/) [Bruno of Cologne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-of-cologne/) > [The cross is steady while the world is turning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-of-cologne/the-cross-is-steady-while-the-world-is-turning/) [Bruno of Cologne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-of-cologne/) > [For the unclean spirit enters easily into a man, and easily goes out from him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-of-cologne/for-the-unclean-spirit-enters-easily-into-a-man-and-easily-goes-out/) [Bruno of Cologne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-of-cologne/) [Explore all 5 Bruno of Cologne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-of-cologne/) ## More Alms quotes > [If you are to go to Christ, do not put on your good doings and feelings, or you will get nothing. Go in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-you-are-to-go-to-christ-do-not-put-on-your-good-doings-and/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [In giving alms, let us rather look at the needs of the poor than his claim to your charity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-antoine-petit-senn/in-giving-alms-let-us-rather-look-at-the-needs-of-the-poor-than-his/) [Jean Antoine Petit-Senn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-antoine-petit-senn/) > [Those good men who take such pleasure in relieving the miserable for Christ's sake, would not have been less forward to minister onto Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-atterbury/those-good-men-who-take-such-pleasure-in-relieving-the-miserable-for/) [Francis Atterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-atterbury/) > [Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/work-is-love-made-visible-and-if-you-cannot-work-with-love-but-only/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Alms (is) for the purity of your soul, and flourishment and expansion of your sustenence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatima-bint-muhammad/alms-is-for-the-purity-of-your-soul-and-flourishment-and-expansion-of/) [Fatima bint Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fatima-bint-muhammad/) > [All religions have honored the beggar. For he proves that in a matter at the same time as prosaic and holy, banal and regenerative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/all-religions-have-honored-the-beggar-for-he-proves-that-in-a-matter/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the rich man's abode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-setting-sun-is-reflected-from-the-windows-of-the-alms-house-as/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I know that a man who shows me his wealth is like the beggar who shows me his poverty; they are both looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/i-know-that-a-man-who-shows-me-his-wealth-is-like-the-beggar-who/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [“Pesa itolewe kwa masharti au bila masharti chukua, kwani huyo aliyeitoa si yake. Benki, kwa mfano, ikitaka kukupa mkopo itakuwa na masharti yake; chukua,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/pesa-itolewe-kwa-masharti-au-bila-masharti-chukua-kwani-huyo/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [The best remedy for dryness of spirit, is to picture ourselves as beggars in the presence of God and the Saints, and like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-neri/the-best-remedy-for-dryness-of-spirit-is-to-picture-ourselves-as/) [Philip Neri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-neri/) > [Walking does good to the fat and giving alms does good to the sinners; these both make one feel lighter!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/walking-does-good-to-the-fat-and-giving-alms-does-good-to-the-sinners/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Give a drink of water as alms to the birds which go forth at morning, and deem that they have a better right than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ma-arri/give-a-drink-of-water-as-alms-to-the-birds-which-go-forth-at-morning/) [Al-Maʿarri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ma-arri/) > [Where there is plenty, charity is a duty, not a courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/where-there-is-plenty-charity-is-a-duty-not-a-courtesy/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [Are we not to pity and supply the poor, though they have no relation to us? No relation? That cannot be. The Gospel styles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/are-we-not-to-pity-and-supply-the-poor-though-they-have-no-relation/) [Thomas Sprat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sprat/) > [But what if I should discover that the least amongst them all, the poorest of all beggars, the most impudent of all offenders, yea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/but-what-if-i-should-discover-that-the-least-amongst-them-all-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 124 Alms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For the devil may tempt the good, but he cannot find rest in them; for he is shaken violently, and upset, and driven out, now by their prayers, now by their tears of repentance, and now by their almsgiving and similar good works.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bruno of Cologne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-of-cologne/for-the-devil-may-tempt-the-good-but-he-cannot-find-rest-in-them-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-of-cologne/for-the-devil-may-tempt-the-good-but-he-cannot-find-rest-in-them-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/bruno-of-cologne-60363_alms_for-the-devil-may-tempt-the-good-but-he_1783437.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/bruno-of-cologne-60363_alms_for-the-devil-may-tempt-the-good-but-he_1783437.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/bruno-of-cologne-60363_alms_for-the-devil-may-tempt-the-good-but-he_1783437.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For the devil may tempt the good, but he cannot find rest in them; for he is shaken violently, and upset…” — Bruno of Cologne", "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": "Bruno of Cologne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-of-cologne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For the devil may tempt the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-of-cologne/for-the-devil-may-tempt-the-good-but-he-cannot-find-rest-in-them-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-of-cologne/for-the-devil-may-tempt-the-good-but-he-cannot-find-rest-in-them-for/#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 } } ] } ```