--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thinking good thoughts is not enough…" description: "\"Thinking good thoughts is not enough, doing good deeds is not enough, seeing others follow your good examples is enough.\" — Douglas Horton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/douglas-horton-11608_deeds_thinking-good-thoughts-is-not-enough-doi_2929155.png" --- # Thinking good thoughts is not enough, doing good deeds is… ![“Thinking good thoughts is not enough, doing good deeds is not enough, seeing others follow your good examples is enough.” quote by Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/douglas-horton-11608_deeds_thinking-good-thoughts-is-not-enough-doi_2929155.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/douglas-horton-11608_deeds_thinking-good-thoughts-is-not-enough-doi_2929155.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/douglas-horton-11608_deeds_thinking-good-thoughts-is-not-enough-doi_2929155.png) > “Thinking good thoughts is not enough, doing good deeds is not enough, seeing others follow your good examples is enough.” [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Good thoughts, actions, and role models together create sufficient positive influence. **In simple terms:** Thoughts, deeds, and examples matter. Key Takeaway Lead by example. Themes ethics leadership influence community morality Mood reflective encouraging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - team building - community projects - mentoring - public campaigns Key Concepts social responsibility behavioral modeling Questions to Reflect On - Who can you inspire through your actions? - How can you amplify good examples? A Different Perspective Relying solely on examples may not reach those resistant to change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Doing good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-good/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Follow Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-good-340657/) [Good deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-deeds/) [Good thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thoughts/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-good/) [Thinking Good Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-good-thoughts-220852/) ## Related quotes > [In order to be kind, one must do. There is no point in thinking good thoughts and not acting on them. There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/in-order-to-be-kind-one-must-do-there-is-no-point-in-thinking-good/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [If you are feeling good , it is because you are thinking good thoughts .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/if-you-are-feeling-good-it-is-because-you-are-thinking-good-thoughts/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [Simply by performing good actions and thinking good thoughts you will not attain enlightenment. It takes something more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/simply-by-performing-good-actions-and-thinking-good-thoughts-you-will/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“You'll be thinking of me. You may not be thinking good thoughts, but you'll be thinking of me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-de-becker/you-ll-be-thinking-of-me-you-may-not-be-thinking-good-thoughts-but/) [Gavin de Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-de-becker/) > [Turn yourself not away from three best things: Good Thought, Good Word, and Good Deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoroaster/turn-yourself-not-away-from-three-best-things-good-thought-good-word/) [Zoroaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoroaster/) > [Jane: Mr. Rochester, if ever I did a good deed in my life-if ever I thought a good thought-if ever I prayed a sincere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/jane-mr-rochester-if-ever-i-did-a-good-deed-in-my-life-if-ever-i/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Our hearts are the shrine; that is where God should be installed. Our good thoughts are the flowers to worship Him. Good deeds form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/our-hearts-are-the-shrine-that-is-where-god-should-be-installed-our/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [Your good thoughts, good words and good deeds alone will be your intercessors. Nothing more will be wanted. They alone will serve you as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoroaster/your-good-thoughts-good-words-and-good-deeds-alone-will-be-your/) [Zoroaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoroaster/) > [Doing Good is a simple and universal vision. A vision to which each and every one of us can connect and contribute to its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-arison/doing-good-is-a-simple-and-universal-vision-a-vision-to-which-each/) [Shari Arison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-arison/) > [When one begins to purposefully perform acts of kindness, the spirit changes and soon doing good deeds becomes a focal point for our life;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-blair/when-one-begins-to-purposefully-perform-acts-of-kindness-the-spirit/) [Gary Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-blair/) > [I swear, every person I know gets far more satisfaction from doing good deeds than receiving them. Maybe that’s the whole point in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-gilbert-murdock/i-swear-every-person-i-know-gets-far-more-satisfaction-from-doing/) [Catherine Gilbert Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-gilbert-murdock/) > [A good deed, "said the prophet Mohammed, "is one that brings a smile of joy to the face of another." Why will doing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/a-good-deed-said-the-prophet-mohammed-is-one-that-brings-a-smile-of/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [I have been doing good deeds since I was just a small child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chen-guangbiao/i-have-been-doing-good-deeds-since-i-was-just-a-small-child/) [Chen Guangbiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chen-guangbiao/) > [Reward will follow every good deed. Only by doing good deeds can a man know the true joy of living and have a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/reward-will-follow-every-good-deed-only-by-doing-good-deeds-can-a-man/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [We are not to preach the doing of good things; good deeds are not to be preached, they are to be performed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-not-to-preach-the-doing-of-good-things-good-deeds-are-not-to/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## More by Douglas Horton > [Why ask why? If it's raining it just is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/why-ask-why-if-it-s-raining-it-just-is/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Being sorry is the highest act of selfishness, seeing value only after discarding it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/being-sorry-is-the-highest-act-of-selfishness-seeing-value-only-after/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [The more we are filled with thoughts of lust the less we find true romantic love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/the-more-we-are-filled-with-thoughts-of-lust-the-less-we-find-true/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [If wishes were fishes we'd all be throwing nets. If wishes were horses we'd all ride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/if-wishes-were-fishes-we-d-all-be-throwing-nets-if-wishes-were-horses/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Materialism is the only form of distraction from true bliss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/materialism-is-the-only-form-of-distraction-from-true-bliss/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [While seeking revenge, dig two graves - one for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/while-seeking-revenge-dig-two-graves-one-for-yourself/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [If food were free, why work?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/if-food-were-free-why-work/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Thought precedes action, action does not always precede thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/thought-precedes-action-action-does-not-always-precede-thought/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Man worships because God lays His hand to the dust of our experience, and man miraculously becomes a living soul - and knows it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/man-worships-because-god-lays-his-hand-to-the-dust-of-our-experience/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Seeing the light is a choice, not seeing the light is no choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/seeing-the-light-is-a-choice-not-seeing-the-light-is-no-choice/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [First rule of Economics 101: our desires are insatiable. Second rule: we can stomach only three Big Macs at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/first-rule-of-economics-101-our-desires-are-insatiable-second-rule-we/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [We may not always get what we want, but surely we will get what we deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/we-may-not-always-get-what-we-want-but-surely-we-will-get-what-we/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Sherrill On Easter Day the veil between time and eternity thins to gossamer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/sherrill-on-easter-day-the-veil-between-time-and-eternity-thins-to/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [As the fly bangs against the window attempting freedom while the door stands open, so we bang against death ignoring heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/as-the-fly-bangs-against-the-window-attempting-freedom-while-the-door/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [Beauty is variable, ugliness is constant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/beauty-is-variable-ugliness-is-constant/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) [Explore all 59 Douglas Horton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) ## More Deeds quotes > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [Time often serves to justify a deed which seems at first unjustifiable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-p-ryan/time-often-serves-to-justify-a-deed-which-seems-at-first-unjustifiable/) [Donald P. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-p-ryan/) > [When deeds speak, words are nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/when-deeds-speak-words-are-nothing/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [Somehow, what's in our hearts, good or bad is eventually translated into words and deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/somehow-what-s-in-our-hearts-good-or-bad-is-eventually-translated/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [Honest people don't hide their deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/honest-people-don-t-hide-their-deeds/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [Mechanical instruments, potentially a vehicle of rational human purposes, are scarcely a blessing when they enable the gossip of the village idiot and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/mechanical-instruments-potentially-a-vehicle-of-rational-human/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [Tis e'er the wont of simple folk to prize the deed and o'erlook the motive, and of learned folk to discount the deed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/tis-e-er-the-wont-of-simple-folk-to-prize-the-deed-and-o-erlook-the/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds makes ill deeds done!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-oft-the-sight-of-means-to-do-ill-deeds-makes-ill-deeds-done/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A nation of character is filled with citizens who gradually build lives based on the living awareness that their deeds are judged by eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/a-nation-of-character-is-filled-with-citizens-who-gradually-build/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [Time, which wears down and diminishes all things, augments and increases good deeds, because a good turn liberally offered to a reasonable man grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/time-which-wears-down-and-diminishes-all-things-augments-and/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [I rejoice that the reign of Christ is such, while it thrills the soul with emotions, and opens before the highest intellect the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-simpson/i-rejoice-that-the-reign-of-christ-is-such-while-it-thrills-the-soul/) [Matthew Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-simpson/) > [The final estimate of men shows that history cares not an iota for the rank or title a man has borne, or the office…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/the-final-estimate-of-men-shows-that-history-cares-not-an-iota-for/) [J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) [Browse all 2,029 Deeds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Thinking good thoughts is not enough, doing good deeds is not enough, seeing others follow your good examples is enough.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Douglas Horton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/thinking-good-thoughts-is-not-enough-doing-good-deeds-is-not-enough/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deeds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/thinking-good-thoughts-is-not-enough-doing-good-deeds-is-not-enough/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/douglas-horton-11608_deeds_thinking-good-thoughts-is-not-enough-doi_2929155.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/douglas-horton-11608_deeds_thinking-good-thoughts-is-not-enough-doi_2929155.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/douglas-horton-11608_deeds_thinking-good-thoughts-is-not-enough-doi_2929155.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Thinking good thoughts is not enough, doing good deeds is not enough, seeing others follow your good…” — Douglas Horton", "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": "Douglas Horton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Thinking good thoughts is not enough,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/thinking-good-thoughts-is-not-enough-doing-good-deeds-is-not-enough/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/thinking-good-thoughts-is-not-enough-doing-good-deeds-is-not-enough/#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 } } ] } ```