--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She was a dedicated churchgoer, devoted…" description: "\"“She was a dedicated churchgoer, devoted do-gooder, and throbbing artery of village gossip. She sharpened her tongue on the loose lives of others and j..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/christina-mckenna-26599_lives-of-others_she-was-a-dedicated-churchgoer-devoted-d_421131.jpg" --- # She was a dedicated churchgoer, devoted do-gooder, and… ![“She was a dedicated churchgoer, devoted do-gooder, and throbbing artery of village gossip. She sharpened her tongue on the loose lives of others and judged each member of the community by the dazzling light of her own unattainable standards.” quote by Christina McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/christina-mckenna-26599_lives-of-others_she-was-a-dedicated-churchgoer-devoted-d_421131.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/christina-mckenna-26599_lives-of-others_she-was-a-dedicated-churchgoer-devoted-d_421131.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/christina-mckenna-26599_lives-of-others_she-was-a-dedicated-churchgoer-devoted-d_421131.jpg) > ““She was a dedicated churchgoer, devoted do-gooder, and throbbing artery of village gossip. She sharpened her tongue on the loose lives of others and judged each member of the community by the dazzling light of her own unattainable standards.”” [Christina McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-mckenna/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A pious woman uses gossip and judgment, projecting her own lofty standards onto others, becoming a corrosive force in the community. **In simple terms:** She judges others harshly while hiding her own flaws. Key Takeaway Beware of hypocrisy in moral judgment. Themes hypocrisy gossip social pressure Mood critical reflective Type narrative social commentary When to use this quote - small town - religious setting - social gatherings - conflict resolution Key Concepts morality community dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does gossip shape community bonds? - What are the costs of moral superiority? A Different Perspective Her strict standards may alienate rather than uplift. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lives of others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives-of-others/) ## Related quotes > [A writer's business is minding other people's business ... all the vices of the village gossip are the virtues of the writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-powell/a-writer-s-business-is-minding-other-people-s-business-all-the-vices/) [Dawn Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-powell/) > [“Mon cher docteur! Do you not think I know the female mentality? The village gossip, it is based always, always on the relations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/mon-cher-docteur-do-you-not-think-i-know-the-female-mentality-the/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Doing something for your self is selfish and unproductive. Doing something to improve yourself is selfless, and extends your existence into the lives of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lombardi/doing-something-for-your-self-is-selfish-and-unproductive-doing/) [Michael Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lombardi/) > [“We each carry with us unique gifts, recognized and unrecognized. We long to harness those gifts in a way that gives life significance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hayes/we-each-carry-with-us-unique-gifts-recognized-and-unrecognized-we/) [Tom Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hayes/) > [“If we're lucky, we find the one person who will hold our trust and keep it sacred and safe against all attackers. That one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/if-we-re-lucky-we-find-the-one-person-who-will-hold-our-trust-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Is driving a right? You are entitled to a driving license if you can abide by the traffic laws and drive responsibly. If your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-sina/is-driving-a-right-you-are-entitled-to-a-driving-license-if-you-can/) [Ali Sina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-sina/) > [Do you want to come climb the transformationa l leadership mountain with me? Your first step begins with DESIRE. Do you want to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/do-you-want-to-come-climb-the-transformationa-l-leadership-mountain/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [we came to realize that a civilization which rode roughshod over the way of life of other peoples was incorporating evil in its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/we-came-to-realize-that-a-civilization-which-rode-roughshod-over-the/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“God-confidence comes as the Holy Spirit works in us. As we pray and when we make choices that honor God, the Holy Spirit fills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/god-confidence-comes-as-the-holy-spirit-works-in-us-as-we-pray-and/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [I personally claim no special insight into Satan's methods, but I have at times been able to identify his influence and his actions in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/i-personally-claim-no-special-insight-into-satan-s-methods-but-i-have/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [“I came with nothing, but I will leave with how I inspired, helped, and eased the lives of others, and that is everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-bekoe/i-came-with-nothing-but-i-will-leave-with-how-i-inspired-helped-and/) [Marion Bekoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-bekoe/) > [“-We need more love, to supersede hatred, -We need more strength, to resist our weaknesses, -We need more inspiration, to lighten up our innermind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/we-need-more-love-to-supersede-hatred-we-need-more-strength-to-resist/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [The soul of the truly benevolent man does not seem to reside much in his own body. Its life, to a great extent, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/the-soul-of-the-truly-benevolent-man-does-not-seem-to-reside-much-in/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [ “I realized Jack \[Kerouac\] was deeply committed to writing. Kesey was just as deeply committed to living and experiencing the lives of others; for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-lord/i-realized-jack-kerouac-was-deeply-committed-to-writing-kesey-was/) [Sterling Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-lord/) > [“That story you're scared to share --- that story has the power to change both your life and the lives of others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-ann-fore/that-story-you-re-scared-to-share-that-story-has-the-power-to-change/) [Jo Ann Fore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-ann-fore/) ## More by Christina McKenna > [ “\[Lydia tut-tutted on seeing the grocer's apostrophe\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/lydia-tut-tutted-on-seeing-the-grocer-s-apostrophe/) [Christina McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-mckenna/) > [“The burdens he carried in daytime became the demons he fought at night. He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/the-burdens-he-carried-in-daytime-became-the-demons-he-fought-at/) [Christina McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-mckenna/) > [“If there was one great benefit to the whole practice of art, it was to focus him in the “now,” where the ugly past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/if-there-was-one-great-benefit-to-the-whole-practice-of-art-it-was-to/) [Christina McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-mckenna/) > [“leaving a chink through which Rose could reach to help build for Jamie a whole, hitherto unimagined future. Chapter four “The doctor will see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/leaving-a-chink-through-which-rose-could-reach-to-help-build-for/) [Christina McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-mckenna/) > [“Those institutions—the so-called “industrial schools,” orphanages and “Magdalene” laundries—were run by certain religious orders in Ireland for the better part of a century, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/those-institutions-the-so-called-industrial-schools-orphanages-and/) [Christina McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-mckenna/) > [“The fitting room was small and Jamie felt like an elephant in a shoebox.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/the-fitting-room-was-small-and-jamie-felt-like-an-elephant-in-a/) [Christina McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-mckenna/) > [“Perhaps, she mused, we never really stop being the children we once were.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/perhaps-she-mused-we-never-really-stop-being-the-children-we-once-were/) [Christina McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-mckenna/) > [“He would scrub the floors on his hands and knees, beat the rugs, wash the windows and pound the bed linen in the tin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/he-would-scrub-the-floors-on-his-hands-and-knees-beat-the-rugs-wash/) [Christina McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-mckenna/) > [“How interesting, she mused, that we pick up and repeat the qualities of those closest to us, like walking reflections, whether they be good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/how-interesting-she-mused-that-we-pick-up-and-repeat-the-qualities-of/) [Christina McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-mckenna/) > [“Gladys. Places, of themselves, were rarely at fault, but rather the people who inhabited them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/gladys-places-of-themselves-were-rarely-at-fault-but-rather-the/) [Christina McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-mckenna/) > [“It took him longer than usual. Every sound—the clanking of the mug as he retrieved it from the crammed sink, the gushing and spitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/it-took-him-longer-than-usual-every-sound-the-clanking-of-the-mug-as/) [Christina McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-mckenna/) > [“they understood that to be bound by another’s needs and wishes was perhaps, in essence, a far more fearful state than being on one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/they-understood-that-to-be-bound-by-another-s-needs-and-wishes-was/) [Christina McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-mckenna/) > [“That’s the spirit, James!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/that-s-the-spirit-james/) [Christina McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-mckenna/) > [“All he wanted was to somehow get there, and taste that joy which everyone but him seemed to be experiencing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/all-he-wanted-was-to-somehow-get-there-and-taste-that-joy-which/) [Christina McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-mckenna/) > [“How interesting, she mused, that we pick up and repeat the qualities of those closest to us, like walking reflections, whether they be good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/how-interesting-she-mused-that-we-pick-up-and-repeat-the-qualities-of-2/) [Christina McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-mckenna/) [Explore all 20 Christina McKenna quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-mckenna/) ## More Lives of others quotes > [“That story you're scared to share --- that story has the power to change both your life and the lives of others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-ann-fore/that-story-you-re-scared-to-share-that-story-has-the-power-to-change/) [Jo Ann Fore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-ann-fore/) > [ “I realized Jack \[Kerouac\] was deeply committed to writing. Kesey was just as deeply committed to living and experiencing the lives of others; for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-lord/i-realized-jack-kerouac-was-deeply-committed-to-writing-kesey-was/) [Sterling Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-lord/) > [The soul of the truly benevolent man does not seem to reside much in his own body. Its life, to a great extent, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/the-soul-of-the-truly-benevolent-man-does-not-seem-to-reside-much-in/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [“-We need more love, to supersede hatred, -We need more strength, to resist our weaknesses, -We need more inspiration, to lighten up our innermind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/we-need-more-love-to-supersede-hatred-we-need-more-strength-to-resist/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“I came with nothing, but I will leave with how I inspired, helped, and eased the lives of others, and that is everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-bekoe/i-came-with-nothing-but-i-will-leave-with-how-i-inspired-helped-and/) [Marion Bekoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-bekoe/) > [I personally claim no special insight into Satan's methods, but I have at times been able to identify his influence and his actions in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/i-personally-claim-no-special-insight-into-satan-s-methods-but-i-have/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [“God-confidence comes as the Holy Spirit works in us. As we pray and when we make choices that honor God, the Holy Spirit fills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/god-confidence-comes-as-the-holy-spirit-works-in-us-as-we-pray-and/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [we came to realize that a civilization which rode roughshod over the way of life of other peoples was incorporating evil in its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/we-came-to-realize-that-a-civilization-which-rode-roughshod-over-the/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Do you want to come climb the transformationa l leadership mountain with me? Your first step begins with DESIRE. Do you want to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/do-you-want-to-come-climb-the-transformationa-l-leadership-mountain/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Is driving a right? You are entitled to a driving license if you can abide by the traffic laws and drive responsibly. If your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-sina/is-driving-a-right-you-are-entitled-to-a-driving-license-if-you-can/) [Ali Sina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-sina/) > [“If we're lucky, we find the one person who will hold our trust and keep it sacred and safe against all attackers. That one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/if-we-re-lucky-we-find-the-one-person-who-will-hold-our-trust-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“We each carry with us unique gifts, recognized and unrecognized. We long to harness those gifts in a way that gives life significance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hayes/we-each-carry-with-us-unique-gifts-recognized-and-unrecognized-we/) [Tom Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hayes/) > [“Doing something for your self is selfish and unproductive. Doing something to improve yourself is selfless, and extends your existence into the lives of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lombardi/doing-something-for-your-self-is-selfish-and-unproductive-doing/) [Michael Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lombardi/) > [“Strange creatures are those who do not make positive impact in the lives of others, no work of substance is recorded against their names,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anikor-daniel/strange-creatures-are-those-who-do-not-make-positive-impact-in-the/) [ANIKOR Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anikor-daniel/) > [Many people do not know that they can strengthen or diminish the life around them. The way we live day to day simply may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/many-people-do-not-know-that-they-can-strengthen-or-diminish-the-life/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) [Browse all 433 Lives of others quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives-of-others/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“She was a dedicated churchgoer, devoted do-gooder, and throbbing artery of village gossip. She sharpened her tongue on the loose lives of others and judged each member of the community by the dazzling light of her own unattainable standards.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christina McKenna" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/she-was-a-dedicated-churchgoer-devoted-do-gooder-and-throbbing-artery/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Lives of others" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/she-was-a-dedicated-churchgoer-devoted-do-gooder-and-throbbing-artery/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/christina-mckenna-26599_lives-of-others_she-was-a-dedicated-churchgoer-devoted-d_421131.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/christina-mckenna-26599_lives-of-others_she-was-a-dedicated-churchgoer-devoted-d_421131.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/christina-mckenna-26599_lives-of-others_she-was-a-dedicated-churchgoer-devoted-d_421131.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“She was a dedicated churchgoer, devoted do-gooder, and throbbing artery of village gossip. She sharpened her…” — Christina McKenna", "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": "Christina McKenna", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-mckenna/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“She was a dedicated churchgoer, devoted...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/she-was-a-dedicated-churchgoer-devoted-do-gooder-and-throbbing-artery/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/she-was-a-dedicated-churchgoer-devoted-do-gooder-and-throbbing-artery/#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 } } ] } ```