--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good intentions aren't enough. They're…" description: "\"“Good intentions aren't enough. They're not meaningless, but - that's where we have to start. Not where we end.”\" — Claudia Gray" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/claudia-gray-2020_good-intentions_good-intentions-aren-t-enough-they-re-no_1472950.png" --- # Good intentions aren't enough. They're not meaningless… ![“Good intentions aren't enough. They're not meaningless, but - that's where we have to start. Not where we end.” quote by Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/claudia-gray-2020_good-intentions_good-intentions-aren-t-enough-they-re-no_1472950.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/claudia-gray-2020_good-intentions_good-intentions-aren-t-enough-they-re-no_1472950.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/claudia-gray-2020_good-intentions_good-intentions-aren-t-enough-they-re-no_1472950.png) > ““Good intentions aren't enough. They're not meaningless, but - that's where we have to start. Not where we end.”” [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Good intentions are a starting point, not the final measure; they must be followed by actions to be meaningful. **In simple terms:** Intentions start things, but actions finish them. Key Takeaway Begin with good intentions, then act. Themes intention action morality Mood motivational reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - goal setting - volunteering - leadership - personal growth - community projects Key Concepts ethics personal development Questions to Reflect On - How do you turn intention into action? - What obstacles stop you from acting? A Different Perspective Intentions alone can be empty without follow‑through. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-intentions/) [Intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intentions/) ## Related quotes > [“Good intentions aren't enough, you must take right actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/good-intentions-aren-t-enough-you-must-take-right-actions/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [Good intentions aren't enough. People have good intentions when they set a goal to do something, but then they miss a deadline or other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/good-intentions-aren-t-enough-people-have-good-intentions-when-they/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Good intentions aren't good enough!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush-2/good-intentions-aren-t-good-enough/) [George W Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush-2/) > [“The impatience you felt before kissing someone you liked wasn't nearly as bad as the impatience you felt afterward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/the-impatience-you-felt-before-kissing-someone-you-liked-wasn-t/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [“My parents. My friends. My world. These are the things the Empire can never take away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/my-parents-my-friends-my-world-these-are-the-things-the-empire-can/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [It can bum you out when your intentions aren't, like, translated properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kesha/it-can-bum-you-out-when-your-intentions-aren-t-like-translated/) [Kesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kesha/) > [“Sometimes, someone's intentions aren't shown until long after they have made you think they are someone to be trusted," Eloy said darkly. "I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-timmins/sometimes-someone-s-intentions-aren-t-shown-until-long-after-they/) [Kara Timmins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-timmins/) > [“Hope is good,” Leia said, her voice gentle with understanding. “Hope is important, and sometimes it is all we have. But,” she said, smiling,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-roanhorse/hope-is-good-leia-said-her-voice-gentle-with-understanding-hope-is/) Rebecca Roanhorse > [“He saw a figure in white robes near the bridge entrance and turned the tape over in his hand. He approached the woman and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-freed/he-saw-a-figure-in-white-robes-near-the-bridge-entrance-and-turned/) [Alexander Freed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-freed/) > [I may have had good reasons. I may have had the best of intentions. But intentions aren’t enough, no matter how good they are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-may-have-had-good-reasons-i-may-have-had-the-best-of-intentions-but/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [My intentions aren't bad, but I gotta realize being selfish isn't worth breaking a good girls heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-intentions-aren-t-bad-but-i-gotta-realize-being-selfish-isn-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't be SELFISH! If your intentions aren't to give them the love that they DESERVE let them go so they can find someone that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker-pla/don-t-be-selfish-if-your-intentions-aren-t-to-give-them-the-love-that/) Sonya Parker Pla > [“If God had good intentions, he would have rewarded the sex.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/if-god-had-good-intentions-he-would-have-rewarded-the-sex/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Good intentions do not guarantee good results. Somehow Andrew Keates turns works of merit into evenings of entertainment. Don't call him a dramaturge, call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gambaccini/good-intentions-do-not-guarantee-good-results-somehow-andrew-keates/) [Paul Gambaccini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gambaccini/) > [Dashed hopes and good intentions. Good, better, best, bested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/dashed-hopes-and-good-intentions-good-better-best-bested/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) ## More by Claudia Gray > [“That's what the dead would tell the living, if they could - to grab hold of joy whenever it comes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/that-s-what-the-dead-would-tell-the-living-if-they-could-to-grab-hold/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [I was the only one who knew the whole truth about Lucas--who he really was, and what we felt for each other. The truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/i-was-the-only-one-who-knew-the-whole-truth-about-lucas-who-he-really/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [What kind of life am i supposed to have without you?You were the one good thing,the only good thing i ever found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/what-kind-of-life-am-i-supposed-to-have-without-you-you-were-the-one/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [I wonder how much of the rest of his clothes I could convince him to take off, then wonder where that thought came from.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/i-wonder-how-much-of-the-rest-of-his-clothes-i-could-convince-him-to/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [“You could stay in my bed." That conjured up all kinds of dangerous thoughts. Stop it, he told himself. Her teddy bear is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/you-could-stay-in-my-bed-that-conjured-up-all-kinds-of-dangerous/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [“The impatience you felt before kissing someone you liked wasn't nearly as bad as the impatience you felt afterward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/the-impatience-you-felt-before-kissing-someone-you-liked-wasn-t/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [I know we only talked once-" "But it meant something to you." Our eyes met for only an instant. "It meant something to me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/i-know-we-only-talked-once-but-it-meant-something-to-you-our-eyes-met/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [“As you can see, it´s More with one o, not two - pet peeve of mine". "More as in give me more". Madison´s crush…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/as-you-can-see-it-s-more-with-one-o-not-two-pet-peeve-of-mine-more-as/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [“The universe is in fact a multiverse. Countless quantum realities exist, all layered within one another; we'll call these dimensions, for short.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/the-universe-is-in-fact-a-multiverse-countless-quantum-realities/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [Thunder rumbled. My heart beat faster. I turned away from Evernight for the last time and looked back at the flower as it trembled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/thunder-rumbled-my-heart-beat-faster-i-turned-away-from-evernight-for/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [Lucas seemed to have realized our prediciment at the same moment I had. "I haven't got my credit card with me. Kinda left in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/lucas-seemed-to-have-realized-our-prediciment-at-the-same-moment-i/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [If you loved someone, you couldn’t let lies come between you. No matter what happened—even if you’d already lost each other forever—you owed each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/if-you-loved-someone-you-couldn-t-let-lies-come-between-you-no-matter/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [“Wow, your mom pulls her act together pretty quick." "Her act is always together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/wow-your-mom-pulls-her-act-together-pretty-quick-her-act-is-always/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [“There is a place just past terror where it turns into calm...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/there-is-a-place-just-past-terror-where-it-turns-into-calm/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [“Beauty is no guarantee of goodness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/beauty-is-no-guarantee-of-goodness/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) [Explore all 182 Claudia Gray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) ## More Good intentions quotes > [“When it comes to smarts, adolescents like Jesse have plenty. What they lack, however, are some of the brain-based skills that we all need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-guare/when-it-comes-to-smarts-adolescents-like-jesse-have-plenty-what-they/) [Richard Guare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-guare/) > [After she got hurt by someone that she cared about, she's so scared to get attached again. Do you know what kind of effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callhershorty/after-she-got-hurt-by-someone-that-she-cared-about-she-s-so-scared-to/) CallHerShorty > [It has been more wittily than charitably said that hell is paved with good intentions; they have their place in heaven also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/it-has-been-more-wittily-than-charitably-said-that-hell-is-paved-with/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [No one is born with good character; it's not a hereditary trait. And it isn't determined by a single noble act. Character is established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/no-one-is-born-with-good-character-it-s-not-a-hereditary-trait-and-it/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [“The idea is that your clients are looking for good suggestions, and they don’t mind sifting through some not-so-good ones as long as they’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-idea-is-that-your-clients-are-looking-for-good-suggestions-and/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [I have no control over my writing. I have lots of good intentions, but no control. There's a story that wants to be told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/i-have-no-control-over-my-writing-i-have-lots-of-good-intentions-but/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Justice for some people is an evil for others. Good intentions, kindness, and hope will not necessarily make people happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gen-urobuchi/justice-for-some-people-is-an-evil-for-others-good-intentions/) [Gen Urobuchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gen-urobuchi/) > [“There is an important difference between openness and naïveté. Not everyone has good intentions nor means me well. I remind myself I do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/there-is-an-important-difference-between-openness-and-na-vet-not/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [“I reach out in love, my hands are guns, my good intentions are completely lethal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-reach-out-in-love-my-hands-are-guns-my-good-intentions-are/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Start your day with good intentions and set yourself up for a good attitude. It's not what happens to you that matters but how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/start-your-day-with-good-intentions-and-set-yourself-up-for-a-good/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [“It wasn't good, he wasn't good, he did not have good intentions. I stood there, and he stood there. He breathed out the bitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/it-wasn-t-good-he-wasn-t-good-he-did-not-have-good-intentions-i-stood/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [“Map-making had never been a precise art on the Discworld. People tended to start off with good intentions and then get so carried away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/map-making-had-never-been-a-precise-art-on-the-discworld-people/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Nowhere is wisdom more necessary than in the guidance of charitable impulses. Meaning well is only half our duty; Thinking right is the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-gridley-howe/nowhere-is-wisdom-more-necessary-than-in-the-guidance-of-charitable/) Samuel Gridley Howe > [“Envy shrugged. 'Can no value be found in good intentions?' 'What, precisely, are you trying to justify? And to me, or yourself?' She glared,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/envy-shrugged-can-no-value-be-found-in-good-intentions-what-precisely/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [Neither smiles nor frowns, neither good intentions nor harsh words, are a substitute for strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/neither-smiles-nor-frowns-neither-good-intentions-nor-harsh-words-are/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) [Browse all 568 Good intentions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-intentions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Good intentions aren't enough. They're not meaningless, but - that's where we have to start. 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