--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man's acts are usually right, but his…" description: "\"A man's acts are usually right, but his reasons seldom are.\" — Elbert Hubbard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/elbert-hubbard-510_inspirational_a-man-s-acts-are-usually-right-but-his-r_1307935.png" --- # A man's acts are usually right, but his reasons seldom are. ![“A man's acts are usually right, but his reasons seldom are.” quote by Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/elbert-hubbard-510_inspirational_a-man-s-acts-are-usually-right-but-his-r_1307935.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/elbert-hubbard-510_inspirational_a-man-s-acts-are-usually-right-but-his-r_1307935.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/elbert-hubbard-510_inspirational_a-man-s-acts-are-usually-right-but-his-r_1307935.png) > “A man's acts are usually right, but his reasons seldom are.” [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often act correctly, but their underlying motives may be flawed or selfish. **In simple terms:** Right actions can have wrong reasons. Key Takeaway Examine motives behind actions. Themes ethics motivation human behavior integrity philosophy Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal decisions - leadership - policy making - relationship counseling Key Concepts intentionality moral psychology self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - What drives your actions? - Do you align your motives with your values? A Different Perspective Good deeds can mask harmful intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acts Usually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acts-usually-2782092/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Man Acts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-acts-344549/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reasons Seldom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasons-seldom-4316620/) [Right reasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-reasons/) [Usually Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usually-right-686319/) ## Related quotes > [“One sad thing about this world is that the acts that take the most out of you are usually the ones that other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/one-sad-thing-about-this-world-is-that-the-acts-that-take-the-most-2/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [One sad thing about this world is that the acts that take the most out of you are usually the ones that people will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/one-sad-thing-about-this-world-is-that-the-acts-that-take-the-most/) [Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/) > [I shook my head. “I don’t think so. This isn’t a good idea. This isn’t right.” “There’s all kinds of right,” he murmured. “On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/i-shook-my-head-i-don-t-think-so-this-isn-t-a-good-idea-this-isn-t/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/whether-you-think-that-you-can-or-that-you-can-t-you-are-usually-right/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [“People are basically good, and when they are in possession of the full truth, they usually do the right things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/people-are-basically-good-and-when-they-are-in-possession-of-the-full/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [If your opponent praises you: beware! But if he gets stuck into you, you are usually on the right way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-bebel/if-your-opponent-praises-you-beware-but-if-he-gets-stuck-into-you-you/) [August Bebel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-bebel/) > [Usually I'm right, by the way - so never mind all the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/usually-i-m-right-by-the-way-so-never-mind-all-the-other/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [When people tell you what doesn't work, they're usually right. 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Not always and not even usually, but once in a while, everyone is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherie-priest/sometimes-everyone-is-right-not-always-and-not-even-usually-but-once/) [Cherie Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherie-priest/) > [He who does not enjoy his own company is usually right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-chanel/he-who-does-not-enjoy-his-own-company-is-usually-right/) [Coco Chanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-chanel/) ## More by Elbert Hubbard > [The teacher is one who makes two ideas grow where only one grew before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-teacher-is-one-who-makes-two-ideas-grow-where-only-one-grew-before/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The highest reward that God gives us for good work is the ability to do better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-highest-reward-that-god-gives-us-for-good-work-is-the-ability-to/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Art is nothing; it's a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/art-is-nothing-it-s-a-way/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Library: A place where the dead lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/library-a-place-where-the-dead-lie/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The poor and ignorant will continue to lie and steal as long as the rich and educated show them how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-poor-and-ignorant-will-continue-to-lie-and-steal-as-long-as-the/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [So long as governments set the example of killing their enemies, private individuals will occasionally kill theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/so-long-as-governments-set-the-example-of-killing-their-enemies/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [If I supply you with a thought, you may remember it and you may not. But if I can make you think a thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-i-supply-you-with-a-thought-you-may-remember-it-and-you-may-not/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 A conservative is a man who is too cowardly to fight and too fat to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/1-2-3-4-5-a-conservative-is-a-man-who-is-too-cowardly-to-fight-and/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The great man is not so great as folks think, and the dull man is not quite so stupid as he seems. The difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-great-man-is-not-so-great-as-folks-think-and-the-dull-man-is-not/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Every knock is a boost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/every-knock-is-a-boost/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [What boy well raised can compare with your street gamin who has the knowledge and the shrewdness of a grown-up broker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/what-boy-well-raised-can-compare-with-your-street-gamin-who-has-the/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Don't make excuses, make good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/don-t-make-excuses-make-good/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [What people need and what they want may be very different… Teachers are those who educate the people to appreciate the things they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/what-people-need-and-what-they-want-may-be-very-different-teachers/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Men who sit back and pride themselves on their culture haven't any to speak of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/men-who-sit-back-and-pride-themselves-on-their-culture-haven-t-any-to/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) [Explore all 506 Elbert Hubbard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) ## More Inspirational quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) [Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A man's acts are usually right, but his reasons seldom are.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elbert Hubbard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/a-man-s-acts-are-usually-right-but-his-reasons-seldom-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inspirational" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/a-man-s-acts-are-usually-right-but-his-reasons-seldom-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/elbert-hubbard-510_inspirational_a-man-s-acts-are-usually-right-but-his-r_1307935.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/elbert-hubbard-510_inspirational_a-man-s-acts-are-usually-right-but-his-r_1307935.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/elbert-hubbard-510_inspirational_a-man-s-acts-are-usually-right-but-his-r_1307935.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A man's acts are usually right, but his reasons seldom are.” — Elbert Hubbard", "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": "Elbert Hubbard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A man's acts are usually right,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/a-man-s-acts-are-usually-right-but-his-reasons-seldom-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/a-man-s-acts-are-usually-right-but-his-reasons-seldom-are/#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 } } ] } ```