--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you had the ability to make things…" description: "\"“If you had the ability to make things right, you would have kept them from going wrong in the first place. That's the problem. You don't have the abil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/813/carey-green-225772_ability_if-you-had-the-ability-to-make-things-ri_2266967.jpg" --- # If you had the ability to make things right, you would… ![“If you had the ability to make things right, you would have kept them from going wrong in the first place. That's the problem. You don't have the ability, as we all are. It is only the grace of God that can make amends for your mistakes.” quote by Carey Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/813/carey-green-225772_ability_if-you-had-the-ability-to-make-things-ri_2266967.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/813/carey-green-225772_ability_if-you-had-the-ability-to-make-things-ri_2266967.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/813/carey-green-225772_ability_if-you-had-the-ability-to-make-things-ri_2266967.jpg) > ““If you had the ability to make things right, you would have kept them from going wrong in the first place. That's the problem. You don't have the ability, as we all are. It is only the grace of God that can make amends for your mistakes.”” [Carey Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-green/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that only divine grace can repair mistakes because human ability is limited. **In simple terms:** God’s grace can fix errors; humans lack that power. Key Takeaway Seek divine grace for forgiveness. Themes theology humility mistakes grace Mood reflective humble Type spiritual advice When to use this quote - spiritual counseling - personal repentance - ethical discussions Key Concepts redemption human limitation Questions to Reflect On - What role does personal responsibility play? - How can grace and effort work together? A Different Perspective May overlook human agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-grace-673047/) [Amends Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amends-mistakes-5238853/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Grace God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace-god/) [Grace of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace-of-god/) [Make Amends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-amends/) [Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes/) ## Related quotes > [“Jesus does not demand of us higher standards, he offers us himself. Jesus does not require of us super-human ability or commitments. He gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-mcbrayer/jesus-does-not-demand-of-us-higher-standards-he-offers-us-himself/) [Ronnie McBrayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-mcbrayer/) > [I'm sick and tired of (only) reading about church history; let's make (some) by the grace of God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/i-m-sick-and-tired-of-only-reading-about-church-history-let-s-make/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [“The gospel is the grace of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-gospel-is-the-grace-of-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Life is filled with the extremes of joy and sorrow ,victory and defeat.But we have been given the previlege of entering into those moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-filled-with-the-extremes-of-joy-and-sorrow-victory-and-defeat/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The will of God will never take you, where the grace of God cannot keep you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-will-of-god-will-never-take-you-where-the-grace-of-god-cannot/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The gift of God is grace. The grace of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-gift-of-god-is-grace-the-grace-of-god-is-eternal-life-in-christ/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [When problems are big and you are not in the positon to copeup anymore , you do not need to give up rather let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/when-problems-are-big-and-you-are-not-in-the-positon-to-copeup/) [Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/) > [“As we draw on the grace of God He increases voluntary poverty all along the line. Always give the best you have got every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/as-we-draw-on-the-grace-of-god-he-increases-voluntary-poverty-all/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“By the grace of god I feel you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truth-devour/by-the-grace-of-god-i-feel-you/) [Truth Devour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truth-devour/) > [The grace of God is the thing that is needful. One should pray for the grace of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarada-devi/the-grace-of-god-is-the-thing-that-is-needful-one-should-pray-for-the/) [Sarada Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarada-devi/) > [I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-everett-hale/i-am-only-one-but-i-am-one-i-can-t-do-everything-but-i-can-do/) [Edward Everett Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-everett-hale/) > [“Do not take the grace of God for granted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/do-not-take-the-grace-of-god-for-granted/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [With God, I can do all things! But with God and you, and the people who you can interest, by the grace of God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-semple-mcpherson/with-god-i-can-do-all-things-but-with-god-and-you-and-the-people-who/) [Aimee Semple McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-semple-mcpherson/) > [“THE GRACE OF GOD.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-grace-of-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/let-circumstances-take-you-where-they-will-but-keep-drawing-on-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If you had the ability to make things right, you would have kept them from going wrong in the first place. 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