---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What the law tried to do by a restraining…"
description: "\"What the law tried to do by a restraining power from without, the gospel does by an inspiring power from within.\" — Catherine Booth"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/catherine-booth-24751_christianity_what-the-law-tried-to-do-by-a-restrainin_1315793.jpg"
---

#  What the law tried to do by a restraining power from…

![“What the law tried to do by a restraining power from without, the gospel does by an inspiring power from within.” quote by Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/catherine-booth-24751_christianity_what-the-law-tried-to-do-by-a-restrainin_1315793.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/catherine-booth-24751_christianity_what-the-law-tried-to-do-by-a-restrainin_1315793.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/catherine-booth-24751_christianity_what-the-law-tried-to-do-by-a-restrainin_1315793.jpg)

> “What the law tried to do by a restraining power from without, the gospel does by an inspiring power from within.”

[Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

External restraint limits behavior, while inner inspiration empowers personal transformation.

**In simple terms:** External rules control actions; inner belief drives change.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate inner motivation over reliance on external control.

Themes

faith empowerment inner strength control motivation

Mood

hopeful determined inspirational

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal development
- community leadership
- conflict resolution
- self-discipline

Key Concepts

psychology spirituality ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- What internal sources inspire you?
- How can you balance external rules with inner conviction?

A Different Perspective

Inner motivation can be fragile without supportive environment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel/) [Gospel Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel-does-527346/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Inspiring Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring-power-4368253/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Power Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-gospel-551526/) [Restraining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restraining/) [Restraining Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restraining-power-4368254/)

## Related quotes

> [Diplomacy: the art of restraining power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/diplomacy-the-art-of-restraining-power/)

[Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/)

> [The Gospel does not abrogate God's law, but it makes men love it with all of their hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-gospel-does-not-abrogate-god-s-law-but-it-makes-men-love-it-with/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Notice that the Gospel does not say “former tax collectors” or “former prostitutes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-milavec/notice-that-the-gospel-does-not-say-former-tax-collectors-or-former/)

[Aaron Milavec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-milavec/)

> [“The Gospel does not call us to receive Christ as an addition to our life, but as our life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/the-gospel-does-not-call-us-to-receive-christ-as-an-addition-to-our/)

[Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/)

> [A gospel that does not confront sin is not the gospel of Jesus Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/a-gospel-that-does-not-confront-sin-is-not-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ/)

[John Macarthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/)

> [“The power of the gospel comes in two movements. It first says, “I am more sinful and flawed than I ever dared believe,” but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-power-of-the-gospel-comes-in-two-movements-it-first-says-i-am/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [Never lose heart in the power of the gospel. Do not believe that there exists any man, much less any race of men, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/never-lose-heart-in-the-power-of-the-gospel-do-not-believe-that-there/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [Communities need to hear the liberating power of the gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-bird/communities-need-to-hear-the-liberating-power-of-the-gospel/)

[Brad Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-bird/)

> [If the power of the Gospel is not felt throughout the length and breadth of the land, anarchy and misrule, degradation and misery, corruption…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/if-the-power-of-the-gospel-is-not-felt-throughout-the-length-and/)

[Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/)

> [ The power of the gospel lies\[...\] in the powerful announcement that God is God, that Jesus is Lord, that the powers of evil have… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/the-power-of-the-gospel-lies-in-the-powerful-announcement-that-god-is/)

[N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/)

> [“The gospel is preached in the ears of all men; it only comes with power to some. The power that is in the gospel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-gospel-is-preached-in-the-ears-of-all-men-it-only-comes-with/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [As a father of six kids and as a man who's been transformed by the power of the gospel, I would never just let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cameron/as-a-father-of-six-kids-and-as-a-man-who-s-been-transformed-by-the/)

[Kirk Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cameron/)

> [The spiritual power in the gospel is denied when we augment or adjusting gospel into no gospel at all. When we doubt the message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/the-spiritual-power-in-the-gospel-is-denied-when-we-augment-or/)

[Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/)

> [“Obama’s formative background is the left-wing fever swamp of Chicago “community organizing,” a gussied-up term for systematic rabble-rousing that has now become acceptable enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/obama-s-formative-background-is-the-left-wing-fever-swamp-of-chicago/)

[Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/)

> [Never lose heart in the power of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/never-lose-heart-in-the-power-of-the-gospel/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

## More by Catherine Booth

> [It is a great delusion to suppose that flesh-meat of any kind is essential to health. Considerably more than three parts of the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/it-is-a-great-delusion-to-suppose-that-flesh-meat-of-any-kind-is/)

[Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/)

> [What the Lord wants is that you shall go about the business to which He sets you, not asking for an easy post, nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/what-the-lord-wants-is-that-you-shall-go-about-the-business-to-which/)

[Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/)

> [There is no improving the future without disturbing the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/there-is-no-improving-the-future-without-disturbing-the-present/)

[Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/)

> [We are made for larger ends than Earth can encompass. Oh, let us be true to our exalted destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/we-are-made-for-larger-ends-than-earth-can-encompass-oh-let-us-be/)

[Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/)

> [I don't believe in any religion apart from doing the will of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/i-don-t-believe-in-any-religion-apart-from-doing-the-will-of-god/)

[Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/)

> [The Gospel that represents Jesus Christ, not as a system of truth to be received, into the mind, as I should receive a system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/the-gospel-that-represents-jesus-christ-not-as-a-system-of-truth-to/)

[Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/)

> [Faith is inseparable from expectations. Where there is real faith, there is always expectation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/faith-is-inseparable-from-expectations-where-there-is-real-faith/)

[Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/)

> [“It seemed clear to me from the teaching of the Bible that Christ’s people should be separate from the world in everything which denoted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/it-seemed-clear-to-me-from-the-teaching-of-the-bible-that-christ-s/)

[Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/)

> [Cast off all bonds of prejudice and custom, and let the love of Christ, which is in you, have free course to run out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/cast-off-all-bonds-of-prejudice-and-custom-and-let-the-love-of-christ/)

[Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/)

> [The Gospel that represents Jesus Christ, not as a system of truth to be received into the mind like I should receive a system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/the-gospel-that-represents-jesus-christ-not-as-a-system-of-truth-to-2/)

[Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/)

> [The popular gospel of this day, is the laughing-stock of Hell; it dare neither damn the sinner, nor sanctify the saint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/the-popular-gospel-of-this-day-is-the-laughing-stock-of-hell-it-dare/)

[Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/)

> [The waters are rising, but so am I. I am not going under, but over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/the-waters-are-rising-but-so-am-i-i-am-not-going-under-but-over/)

[Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/)

> [And we find from Church history that the primitive Christians thus understood it; for that women did actually speak and preach amongst them we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/and-we-find-from-church-history-that-the-primitive-christians-thus/)

[Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/)

> [Whatever the particular call is, the particular sacrifice God asks you to make, the particular cross He wishes you to embrace, whatever the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/whatever-the-particular-call-is-the-particular-sacrifice-god-asks-you/)

[Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/)

> [Here is the principle - adapt your measures to the necessity of the people to whom you minister. You are to take the Gospel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/here-is-the-principle-adapt-your-measures-to-the-necessity-of-the/)

[Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/)

[Explore all 24 Catherine Booth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/)

## More Christianity quotes

> [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/)

[Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/)

[Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/)

> [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/)

[Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/)

> [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/)

[Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/)

> [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/)

[Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/)

> [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/)

> [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/)

[David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/)

> [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/)

[Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/)

> [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/)

[David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/)

> [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/)

[Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/)

[Browse all 14,385 Christianity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "What the law tried to do by a restraining power from without, the gospel does by an inspiring power from within.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Catherine Booth"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/what-the-law-tried-to-do-by-a-restraining-power-from-without-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Christianity"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/what-the-law-tried-to-do-by-a-restraining-power-from-without-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/catherine-booth-24751_christianity_what-the-law-tried-to-do-by-a-restrainin_1315793.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/catherine-booth-24751_christianity_what-the-law-tried-to-do-by-a-restrainin_1315793.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e6/catherine-booth-24751_christianity_what-the-law-tried-to-do-by-a-restrainin_1315793.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What the law tried to do by a restraining power from without, the gospel does by an inspiring power from…” — Catherine Booth",
                "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": "Catherine Booth",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "What the law tried to do...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/what-the-law-tried-to-do-by-a-restraining-power-from-without-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/what-the-law-tried-to-do-by-a-restraining-power-from-without-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
