---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...you have to be godly to be wise ..."
description: "\"“...you have to be godly to be wise ...”\" — Derek Kidner"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/derek-kidner-232407_godliness_you-have-to-be-godly-to-be-wise-575634_575634.jpg"
---

#  ...you have to be godly to be wise ...

![“...you have to be godly to be wise ...” quote by Derek Kidner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/derek-kidner-232407_godliness_you-have-to-be-godly-to-be-wise-575634_575634.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/derek-kidner-232407_godliness_you-have-to-be-godly-to-be-wise-575634_575634.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/derek-kidner-232407_godliness_you-have-to-be-godly-to-be-wise-575634_575634.jpg)

> ““...you have to be godly to be wise ...””

Derek Kidner

## About This Quote

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

Wisdom requires a godly, virtuous foundation; only then can true insight be achieved.

**In simple terms:** Godliness leads to wisdom.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate virtue to gain insight.

Themes

spirituality wisdom virtue morality growth knowledge

Mood

reflective inspirational serious

Type

Godliness:1 Godly:1 Wisdom:1 Wise:1 Godly Wise:0

When to use this quote

- religious study
- personal moral development
- leadership training

Key Concepts

theology philosophy ethical development

Questions to Reflect On

- Can wisdom exist without spirituality?
- What practices build godly character?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Godliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/godliness/) [Godly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/godly/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/)

## Related quotes

> [What exists is a godly existence, a divine existence. God not as a person but as a presence certainly exists. But to understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/what-exists-is-a-godly-existence-a-divine-existence-god-not-as-a/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [God is not a person at all. You cannot worship God. You can live in a godly way but you cannot worship God -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/god-is-not-a-person-at-all-you-cannot-worship-god-you-can-live-in-a/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [A godly man is never threatened by the gifts of a godly woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/a-godly-man-is-never-threatened-by-the-gifts-of-a-godly-woman/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [The way to be truly happy is to be truly human, and the way to be truly human is to be truly godly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/the-way-to-be-truly-happy-is-to-be-truly-human-and-the-way-to-be/)

[J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/)

> [Many things about man are not very godly: whenever a person excretes feces, how can he be a god then? But it is even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/many-things-about-man-are-not-very-godly-whenever-a-person-excretes/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [“Love is everything we can have because God is everything we have. God is love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/love-is-everything-we-can-have-because-god-is-everything-we-have-god/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [The godly man contrarily is afraid of nothing; not of God, because he knows Him his best friend, and will not hurt him; not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/the-godly-man-contrarily-is-afraid-of-nothing-not-of-god-because-he/)

[Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/)

> [Women need to remember that if nature has made them plain, grace can make them beautiful, and if nature has made them beautiful, good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/women-need-to-remember-that-if-nature-has-made-them-plain-grace-can/)

[Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/)

> [&lt;…&gt; God is a person; godliness is a quality. You cannot become God, but you can be godly. &lt;...&gt;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-is-a-person-godliness-is-a-quality-you-cannot-become-god-but-you/)

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

> [It is true that infidelity cannot withstand the force of reason and argument; but true godly example can come nearer the lifespot of religion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ichabod-spencer/it-is-true-that-infidelity-cannot-withstand-the-force-of-reason-and/)

[Ichabod Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ichabod-spencer/)

> [“When God's favour and Godly flavour is in you, your haters will taste wisdom and the only thing they can do is to regret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/when-god-s-favour-and-godly-flavour-is-in-you-your-haters-will-taste/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [A single woman should only marry a man she can follow: Ladies if you are single, be very, very careful who you date and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/a-single-woman-should-only-marry-a-man-she-can-follow-ladies-if-you/)

[Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/)

> [“It is this spirit of godliness that will bring forth the attributes, the principles and the life style of godliness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/it-is-this-spirit-of-godliness-that-will-bring-forth-the-attributes/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [“Godliness is a devotion to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/godliness-is-a-devotion-to-god/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [Some of God's noblest sons, I think, will be selected from those that know how to take wealth, with all its temptations, and maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/some-of-god-s-noblest-sons-i-think-will-be-selected-from-those-that/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

## More Godliness quotes

> [Some of God's noblest sons, I think, will be selected from those that know how to take wealth, with all its temptations, and maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/some-of-god-s-noblest-sons-i-think-will-be-selected-from-those-that/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [“Godliness is a devotion to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/godliness-is-a-devotion-to-god/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [“It is this spirit of godliness that will bring forth the attributes, the principles and the life style of godliness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/it-is-this-spirit-of-godliness-that-will-bring-forth-the-attributes/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [Purity in person and in morals is true godliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/purity-in-person-and-in-morals-is-true-godliness/)

[Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/)

> [Godliness is more easily feigned in words than in actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/godliness-is-more-easily-feigned-in-words-than-in-actions/)

[Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/)

> [Women are dirt searchers; their greatest worth is irradicating rings on collars and tables. Never mind real-estate boards' corruption and racism, here's your soapsuds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florynce-kennedy/women-are-dirt-searchers-their-greatest-worth-is-irradicating-rings/)

[Florynce Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florynce-kennedy/)

> [Juliet's version of cleanliness was next to godliness, which was to say it was erratic, past all understanding and was seldom seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/juliet-s-version-of-cleanliness-was-next-to-godliness-which-was-to/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Thanksgiving speaks in clear, crisp tones of forgotten terms, like integrity - bravery - respect - freedom - discipline - sacrifice - godliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/thanksgiving-speaks-in-clear-crisp-tones-of-forgotten-terms-like/)

[Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/)

> [Fear is negative; faith is positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mbuko/fear-is-negative-faith-is-positive/)

[Michael Mbuko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mbuko/)

> [“If men and women were surer of their God there would be more genuine manliness, womanliness, and godliness in the world, and a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/if-men-and-women-were-surer-of-their-god-there-would-be-more-genuine/)

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

> [God's word tells us that righteousness is a gift; it cannot be earned. But godliness is not a gift. We must pay a price…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-p-yohannan/god-s-word-tells-us-that-righteousness-is-a-gift-it-cannot-be-earned/)

[K.P. Yohannan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-p-yohannan/)

> [The fruit of patience in all its aspects - long-suffering, forbearance, endurance, and perseverance - is a fruit that is most intimately associated with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/the-fruit-of-patience-in-all-its-aspects-long-suffering-forbearance/)

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

> [Fear act out of emotions; faith act out of the spirit. Fear scares to death; faith give new life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mbuko/fear-act-out-of-emotions-faith-act-out-of-the-spirit-fear-scares-to/)

[Michael Mbuko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mbuko/)

> [If missions languish, it is because the whole life of godliness is feeble. The command to go everywhere and preach to everybody is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-missions-languish-it-is-because-the-whole-life-of-godliness-is/)

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

> [Fear makes one to take, take, take and forgets; faith give, give and forgives. Fear needs a shield of ego; faith's shield becomes love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mbuko/fear-makes-one-to-take-take-take-and-forgets-faith-give-give-and/)

[Michael Mbuko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mbuko/)

[Browse all 280 Godliness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/godliness/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“...you have to be godly to be wise ...”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Derek Kidner"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-kidner/you-have-to-be-godly-to-be-wise/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Godliness"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-kidner/you-have-to-be-godly-to-be-wise/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/derek-kidner-232407_godliness_you-have-to-be-godly-to-be-wise-575634_575634.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/derek-kidner-232407_godliness_you-have-to-be-godly-to-be-wise-575634_575634.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/derek-kidner-232407_godliness_you-have-to-be-godly-to-be-wise-575634_575634.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“...you have to be godly to be wise ...” — Derek Kidner",
                "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": "Derek Kidner",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-kidner/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“...you have to be godly to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-kidner/you-have-to-be-godly-to-be-wise/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-kidner/you-have-to-be-godly-to-be-wise/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
