---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good intentions are not sufficient to…"
description: "\"“Good intentions are not sufficient to creat a positive outcome; you must act. As you take part and become actively engaged, answers to your questions ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4b/colleen-houck-1066_good-intentions_good-intentions-are-not-sufficient-to-cr_1917984.png"
---

#  Good intentions are not sufficient to creat a positive…

![“Good intentions are not sufficient to creat a positive outcome; you must act. As you take part and become actively engaged, answers to your questions will appear. Lastly, like a great rock is not disturbed by the buffetings of the wind, the mind of a judicious man is steady. He exists as a…” quote by Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4b/colleen-houck-1066_good-intentions_good-intentions-are-not-sufficient-to-cr_1917984.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4b/colleen-houck-1066_good-intentions_good-intentions-are-not-sufficient-to-cr_1917984.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4b/colleen-houck-1066_good-intentions_good-intentions-are-not-sufficient-to-cr_1917984.png)

> ““Good intentions are not sufficient to creat a positive outcome; you must act. As you take part and become actively engaged, answers to your questions will appear. Lastly, like a great rock is not disturbed by the buffetings of the wind, the mind of a judicious man is steady. He exists as a stanchion, a stalwart support. Others can cling to him, for he will not falter.””

[Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/)

## 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 must be paired with decisive action; a steady mind provides support for others.

**In simple terms:** Act on intentions; stay steady for others.

Key Takeaway

Combine intention with action and stay reliable.

Themes

action steadiness leadership

Mood

motivational steady

Type

inspirational practical

When to use this quote

- team projects
- community service
- personal challenges
- crisis management

Key Concepts

psychology resilience

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you turn good intentions into action?
- What practices keep your mind steady?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on steadiness may hinder adaptability to change.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Act Actively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act-actively-2928068/) [Good intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-intentions/) [Intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intentions/) [Intentions Sufficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intentions-sufficient-765678/) [Judicious Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judicious-man-1333134/)

## Related quotes

> [... good intentions are not sufficient to solve our problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/good-intentions-are-not-sufficient-to-solve-our-problems/)

[Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/)

> [“Hard labor and good intentions are not sufficient to carry a man through to success, for how may a man be sure that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/hard-labor-and-good-intentions-are-not-sufficient-to-carry-a-man-2/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [Hard labor and good intentions are not sufficient to carry a man through to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/hard-labor-and-good-intentions-are-not-sufficient-to-carry-a-man/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [In art intentions are not sufficient and, as we say in Spanish, love must be proved by deeds and not by reasons. What one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/in-art-intentions-are-not-sufficient-and-as-we-say-in-spanish-love/)

[Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/)

> [A judicious man looks at Statistics, not to "get knowledge, but to save himself from having ignorance foisted 'on him".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/a-judicious-man-looks-at-statistics-not-to-get-knowledge-but-to-save/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [A judicious man uses statistics, not to get knowledge, but to save himself from having ignorance foisted upon him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/a-judicious-man-uses-statistics-not-to-get-knowledge-but-to-save/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Statistics, one may hope, will improve gradually, and become good for something. Meanwhile, it is to be feared the crabbed satirist was partly right,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/statistics-one-may-hope-will-improve-gradually-and-become-good-for/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Our good intentions have gotten in our own way and it's bad for immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-crenshaw/our-good-intentions-have-gotten-in-our-own-way-and-it-s-bad-for/)

[Dan Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-crenshaw/)

> [I see that I've become a really bad correspondent. It's not that I don't think of you. You come into my thoughts often. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/i-see-that-i-ve-become-a-really-bad-correspondent-it-s-not-that-i-don/)

[Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/)

> [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/)

> [“It’s not the things you do with love and good intentions that you end up regretting. It’s the things you don’t do that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/it-s-not-the-things-you-do-with-love-and-good-intentions-that-you-end/)

[Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/)

> [As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we are capable of so much more. For that, good intentions are not enough. We must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/as-sons-and-daughters-of-our-heavenly-father-we-are-capable-of-so/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [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/)

> [“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/)

## More by Colleen Houck

> [And yes, I'll admit, I am jealous. I'm jealous of every minute you spend with him, of every concerned expression you send his way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/and-yes-i-ll-admit-i-am-jealous-i-m-jealous-of-every-minute-you-spend/)

[Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/)

> [“Grant me the serenity to selflessly forgo my relationship to save humankind; To accept that the man I love cannot and will not change;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/grant-me-the-serenity-to-selflessly-forgo-my-relationship-to-save/)

[Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/)

> [“When he was finished, he set his plate down, looked at me, and raised an eyebrow. I leaned forward and whispered angrily, “I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/when-he-was-finished-he-set-his-plate-down-looked-at-me-and-raised-an/)

[Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/)

> [“If I were a Jedi, I had definitely turned to the dark side of the Force.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/if-i-were-a-jedi-i-had-definitely-turned-to-the-dark-side-of-the-force/)

[Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/)

> [“His vulnerability allowed me to let my guard down, and gently and methodically, he tore apart my well-constructed dam. Waves of tender feelings were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/his-vulnerability-allowed-me-to-let-my-guard-down-and-gently-and/)

[Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/)

> [“I’ve experienced a lot in my life. I’ve been in bloody battles. I’ve been with friends who were killed. I’ve seen terrible things done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/i-ve-experienced-a-lot-in-my-life-i-ve-been-in-bloody-battles-i-ve/)

[Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/)

> [“I promise to remain faithfully beside you. I pledge to conquer faults; perfect my character. I vow to deserve you. I declare you're my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/i-promise-to-remain-faithfully-beside-you-i-pledge-to-conquer-faults/)

[Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/)

> [“perhaps you three could continue this conversation when the ship is not under attack? Mr.Kadam said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/perhaps-you-three-could-continue-this-conversation-when-the-ship-is/)

[Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/)

> [“I was immediately aware of her when she stood at the window but I didn't move at first. I wanted to look at her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/i-was-immediately-aware-of-her-when-she-stood-at-the-window-but-i/)

[Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/)

> [“The house was quiet. Silently, I walked down the stairs and passed the peacock room where I found Mr. Kadam sitting and waiting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/the-house-was-quiet-silently-i-walked-down-the-stairs-and-passed-the/)

[Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/)

> [I don’t mind being alone either. The only problem is that if you’re always alone, you get lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/i-don-t-mind-being-alone-either-the-only-problem-is-that-if-you-re/)

[Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/)

> [“Holy Hannah, that man is dangerous!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/holy-hannah-that-man-is-dangerous/)

[Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/)

> [“Long dormant feelings poured through my dried-up limbs and wound through me, slowly filling the emptiness. Like an irrigated field, I felt myself blossom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/long-dormant-feelings-poured-through-my-dried-up-limbs-and-wound/)

[Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/)

> [“I don't like sleeping in the dark jungle by myself. Ren”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/i-don-t-like-sleeping-in-the-dark-jungle-by-myself-ren/)

[Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/)

> [“Oregon almost never got too hot. An Oregon governor must have passed a law a long, long time ago that said Oregon had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/oregon-almost-never-got-too-hot-an-oregon-governor-must-have-passed-a/)

[Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/)

[Explore all 298 Colleen Houck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/)

## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 are not sufficient to creat a positive outcome; you must act. As you take part and become actively engaged, answers to your questions will appear. Lastly, like a great rock is not disturbed by the buffetings of the wind, the mind of a judicious man is steady. He exists as a stanchion, a stalwart support. Others can cling to him, for he will not falter.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Colleen Houck"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/good-intentions-are-not-sufficient-to-creat-a-positive-outcome-you/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Good intentions"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/good-intentions-are-not-sufficient-to-creat-a-positive-outcome-you/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4b/colleen-houck-1066_good-intentions_good-intentions-are-not-sufficient-to-cr_1917984.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4b/colleen-houck-1066_good-intentions_good-intentions-are-not-sufficient-to-cr_1917984.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4b/colleen-houck-1066_good-intentions_good-intentions-are-not-sufficient-to-cr_1917984.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Good intentions are not sufficient to creat a positive outcome; you must act. As you take part and become…” — Colleen Houck",
                "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": "Colleen Houck",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Good intentions are not sufficient to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/good-intentions-are-not-sufficient-to-creat-a-positive-outcome-you/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/good-intentions-are-not-sufficient-to-creat-a-positive-outcome-you/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
