---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know that charity covereth a multitude…"
description: "\"I know that charity covereth a multitude of sins; but it does not call evil good, because a good man has done it; it does not excuse inconsistencies, b..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/573/charles-spurgeon-82_attainment_i-know-that-charity-covereth-a-multitude_467630.png"
---

#  I know that charity covereth a multitude of sins; but it…

![“I know that charity covereth a multitude of sins; but it does not call evil good, because a good man has done it; it does not excuse inconsistencies, because the inconsistent brother has a high name and a fervent spirit; crookedness and worldliness are still crookedness and worldliness, though…” quote by Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/573/charles-spurgeon-82_attainment_i-know-that-charity-covereth-a-multitude_467630.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/573/charles-spurgeon-82_attainment_i-know-that-charity-covereth-a-multitude_467630.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/573/charles-spurgeon-82_attainment_i-know-that-charity-covereth-a-multitude_467630.png)

> “I know that charity covereth a multitude of sins; but it does not call evil good, because a good man has done it; it does not excuse inconsistencies, because the inconsistent brother has a high name and a fervent spirit; crookedness and worldliness are still crookedness and worldliness, though exhibited in one who seems to have reached no common height of attainment.”

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

## About This Quote

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

Charity is virtuous but does not excuse moral failings; true goodness requires consistency beyond outward deeds.

**In simple terms:** Good deeds don’t hide bad character.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate integrity, not just charity.

Themes

morality charity integrity

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

religious philosophical

When to use this quote

- community service
- personal confession
- leadership decisions
- public speaking

Key Concepts

ethics spirituality human nature

Questions to Reflect On

- Can charity inspire deeper moral change?
- How do we address inconsistency in others?

A Different Perspective

Emphasis on personal judgment may ignore systemic issues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Charity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Inconsistency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inconsistency/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Worldliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worldliness/)

## Related quotes

> [A Christian making money fast is just a man in a cloud of dust, it will fill his eyes if he be not careful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/a-christian-making-money-fast-is-just-a-man-in-a-cloud-of-dust-it/)

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

> [“I remember I once told him: 'Women's minds are so petty, so crooked!' 'Like the feet of Chinese women,' he replied. 'Has not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/i-remember-i-once-told-him-women-s-minds-are-so-petty-so-crooked-like/)

[Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/)

> [There's as much crookedness as you want to find. There was something Abraham Lincoln said - he'd rather trust and be disappointed than distrust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/there-s-as-much-crookedness-as-you-want-to-find-there-was-something/)

[John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/)

> [But are sailors, frequenters of fiddlers' greens, without vices? No; but less often than with landsmen do their vices, so called, partake of crookedness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/but-are-sailors-frequenters-of-fiddlers-greens-without-vices-no-but/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [Your thoughts should agree with your words, and the words should agree with your actions. In this world people think one thing, say another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sivananda/your-thoughts-should-agree-with-your-words-and-the-words-should-agree/)

[Sivananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sivananda/)

> [“The crookedness of the serpent is still straight enough to slide through the snake hole.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/the-crookedness-of-the-serpent-is-still-straight-enough-to-slide/)

[Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/)

> [Some, it seems to me, elect their rulers for their crookedness. But I think that a straight stick makes the best cane, and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/some-it-seems-to-me-elect-their-rulers-for-their-crookedness-but-i/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [“The great spectacle of human crookedness. It keeps coming at you from all sides, and whether you like it or not, it's the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/the-great-spectacle-of-human-crookedness-it-keeps-coming-at-you-from/)

[Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/)

> [Never trust a man who says he is only a little crooked, and that the crookedness is exercised in your interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/never-trust-a-man-who-says-he-is-only-a-little-crooked-and-that-the/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [“The Word of God I think of as a straight edge, which shows up our own crookedness. We can't really tell how crooked our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/the-word-of-god-i-think-of-as-a-straight-edge-which-shows-up-our-own/)

[Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/)

> [The religion of both Old and New Testaments is marked by fervent outspoken testimonies against evil. To speak smooth things in such a case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-religion-of-both-old-and-new-testaments-is-marked-by-fervent/)

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

> [“I am wired by nature to love the same toys that the world loves. I start to fit in. I start to love what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/i-am-wired-by-nature-to-love-the-same-toys-that-the-world-loves-i/)

[John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/)

> [The memories which peaceful country scenes call up, are not of this world, nor of its thoughts and hopes. Their gentle influence may teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-memories-which-peaceful-country-scenes-call-up-are-not-of-this/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [Increasingly, the balance between living in the world and not being of the world is becoming more delicate. Publications, radio, television, and the Internet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/increasingly-the-balance-between-living-in-the-world-and-not-being-of/)

[L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/)

> [The essence of worldliness is exclusion of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jacobsen/the-essence-of-worldliness-is-exclusion-of-god/)

[Henry Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jacobsen/)

## More by Charles Spurgeon

> [The more holy, the more humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-more-holy-the-more-humble/)

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

> [He is not humanity deified. He is not Godhead humanized. He is God. He is man. He is all that God is, and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/he-is-not-humanity-deified-he-is-not-godhead-humanized-he-is-god-he/)

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

> [Lord, send Your life throughout the entire church. Visit Your church; restore sound doctrine and holy, earnest living. Take away from professing Christians their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/lord-send-your-life-throughout-the-entire-church-visit-your-church/)

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

> [Christ came to bring healing to those who are spiritually sick-you say that you are perfectly well, so you must go your own way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/christ-came-to-bring-healing-to-those-who-are-spiritually-sick-you/)

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

> [Who among you today is doing the most for your Master's kingdom? I will tell you. Lend me a spiritual thermometer by which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/who-among-you-today-is-doing-the-most-for-your-master-s-kingdom-i/)

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

> [I do not know when I am more perfectly happy than when I am weeping for sin at the foot of the cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/i-do-not-know-when-i-am-more-perfectly-happy-than-when-i-am-weeping/)

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

> [Light physical is said by Solomon to be sweet, but gospel light is infinitely more precious, for it reveals eternal things, and ministers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/light-physical-is-said-by-solomon-to-be-sweet-but-gospel-light-is/)

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

> [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/)

> [Don't you know that day dawns after night, showers displace drought, and spring and summer follow winter? Then, have hope! Hope forever, for God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/don-t-you-know-that-day-dawns-after-night-showers-displace-drought/)

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

> [“A mother can translate baby-talk: she comprehends incomprehensible noises. Even so doth our Father in heaven know all about our poor baby talk, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/a-mother-can-translate-baby-talk-she-comprehends-incomprehensible/)

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

> [God is our portion, Christ our companion, the Spirit our Comforter, Earth our lodge, and Heaven is our home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/god-is-our-portion-christ-our-companion-the-spirit-our-comforter/)

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

> [Jesus poured out his soul in life before he poured it out unto death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/jesus-poured-out-his-soul-in-life-before-he-poured-it-out-unto-death/)

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

> [There are believers who by God's grace, have climbed the mountains of full assurance and near communion, their place is with the eagle in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/there-are-believers-who-by-god-s-grace-have-climbed-the-mountains-of/)

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

> [If we want revivals, we must revive our reverence for the Word of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-we-want-revivals-we-must-revive-our-reverence-for-the-word-of-god/)

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

> [Believe only half of the praise and half of the criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/believe-only-half-of-the-praise-and-half-of-the-criticism/)

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

[Explore all 1,523 Charles Spurgeon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

## More Attainment quotes

> [Life, whether in this world or any other, is the sum of our attainment, our experience, our character. The conditions are secondary. In what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/life-whether-in-this-world-or-any-other-is-the-sum-of-our-attainment/)

[Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/)

> [The Attainment of freedom, whether for a person, a nation or a world, must be in exact proportion to the attainment of nonviolence for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-attainment-of-freedom-whether-for-a-person-a-nation-or-a-world/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [“All achievements, whether in the business, intellectual, or spiritual world, are the result of definitely directed thought, are governed by the same law and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/all-achievements-whether-in-the-business-intellectual-or-spiritual/)

[James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/)

> [In transmitting the dharma, there is neither explanation nor teaching; there is neighter hearing nor attainment. Since explanations never really explains, nor are they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-daido-loori/in-transmitting-the-dharma-there-is-neither-explanation-nor-teaching/)

[John Daido Loori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-daido-loori/)

> [At length weariness succeeds to labor, and the mind lies at ease in the contemplation of her own attainments without any desire of new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/at-length-weariness-succeeds-to-labor-and-the-mind-lies-at-ease-in/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [The mind of one meditating on a single object becomes one-pointed. And one-pointedness of mind leads to abidance in the self. Real attainment is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-mind-of-one-meditating-on-a-single-object-becomes-one-pointed-and/)

[Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/)

> [Wisdom can boast no higher attainment than happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-radcliffe/wisdom-can-boast-no-higher-attainment-than-happiness/)

[Ann Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-radcliffe/)

> [Not merely by rules of conduct and religious observances, nor by much learning either, nor even by attainment of concentration, nor by sleeping alone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/not-merely-by-rules-of-conduct-and-religious-observances-nor-by-much/)

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

> [The most important rules that I ever adopted to help me in achieving my goals were those I learned from a very successful man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/the-most-important-rules-that-i-ever-adopted-to-help-me-in-achieving/)

[Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/)

> [Like myself, all Americans have a deep concern for the well-being of Iran. With them I have watched closely your courageous efforts, your steadfastness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/like-myself-all-americans-have-a-deep-concern-for-the-well-being-of/)

[Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/)

> [The ability to discriminate between that which is true and that which is false is one of the last attainments of the human mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/the-ability-to-discriminate-between-that-which-is-true-and-that-which/)

[James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/)

> [The more clearly defined and keenly desired your goals, the more of your natural creativity will be released for goal attainment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-more-clearly-defined-and-keenly-desired-your-goals-the-more-of/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [Every attainment, every step forward in knowledge, follows from courage, from hardness against oneself, from cleanliness in relation to oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-attainment-every-step-forward-in-knowledge-follows-from-courage/)

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

> [And only the very courageous will be able to keep alive the spirit of individualism and dissent which gave birth to this nation, nourished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/and-only-the-very-courageous-will-be-able-to-keep-alive-the-spirit-of/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [Some read for style, and some for argument: one has little care about the sentiment, he observes only how it is expressed; another regards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/some-read-for-style-and-some-for-argument-one-has-little-care-about/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

Browse all 363 Attainment quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I know that charity covereth a multitude of sins; but it does not call evil good, because a good man has done it; it does not excuse inconsistencies, because the inconsistent brother has a high name and a fervent spirit; crookedness and worldliness are still crookedness and worldliness, though exhibited in one who seems to have reached no common height of attainment.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charles Spurgeon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/i-know-that-charity-covereth-a-multitude-of-sins-but-it-does-not-call/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Attainment"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/i-know-that-charity-covereth-a-multitude-of-sins-but-it-does-not-call/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/573/charles-spurgeon-82_attainment_i-know-that-charity-covereth-a-multitude_467630.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/573/charles-spurgeon-82_attainment_i-know-that-charity-covereth-a-multitude_467630.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/573/charles-spurgeon-82_attainment_i-know-that-charity-covereth-a-multitude_467630.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I know that charity covereth a multitude of sins; but it does not call evil good, because a good man has…” — Charles Spurgeon",
                "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": "Charles Spurgeon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I know that charity covereth a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/i-know-that-charity-covereth-a-multitude-of-sins-but-it-does-not-call/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/i-know-that-charity-covereth-a-multitude-of-sins-but-it-does-not-call/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
