--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Existence was given us for action, rather…" description: "\"Existence was given us for action, rather than indolent and aimless contemplation; our worth is determined by the good deeds we do, rather than by the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/836/elias-lyman-magoon-34835_action_existence-was-given-us-for-action-rather_2043102.jpg" --- # Existence was given us for action, rather than indolent… ![“Existence was given us for action, rather than indolent and aimless contemplation; our worth is determined by the good deeds we do, rather than by the fine emotions we feel. They greatly mistake who suppose that God cares for no other pursuit than devotion.” quote by Elias Lyman Magoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/836/elias-lyman-magoon-34835_action_existence-was-given-us-for-action-rather_2043102.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/836/elias-lyman-magoon-34835_action_existence-was-given-us-for-action-rather_2043102.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/836/elias-lyman-magoon-34835_action_existence-was-given-us-for-action-rather_2043102.jpg) > “Existence was given us for action, rather than indolent and aimless contemplation; our worth is determined by the good deeds we do, rather than by the fine emotions we feel. They greatly mistake who suppose that God cares for no other pursuit than devotion.” [Elias Lyman Magoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-lyman-magoon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human worth is measured by actions and good deeds, not by idle thoughts or feelings; true devotion is active, not merely emotional. **In simple terms:** Worth comes from deeds, not thoughts. Key Takeaway Act to create value. Themes morality purpose action Mood reflective inspirational Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - community service - personal development - volunteering - leadership Key Concepts virtue ethics existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance thought and action? - What deeds reflect your values? A Different Perspective Action alone may not guarantee moral outcomes without reflection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Contemplation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplation/) [Contemplation Worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplation-worth-3812163/) [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Devotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotion/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [God Cares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-cares-278902/) [Good deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-deeds/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Pursuit Devotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit-devotion-3812162/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [For indeed, grace is the key to it all. It is not our lavish good deeds that procure salvation, but God's lavish love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/for-indeed-grace-is-the-key-to-it-all-it-is-not-our-lavish-good-deeds/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [The height of devotion is reached when reverence and contemplation produce passionate worship, which in turn breaks forth in thanksgiving and praise in word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kent-hughes/the-height-of-devotion-is-reached-when-reverence-and-contemplation/) [R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/) > [God cares more about your obedience to His Spirit's leading TODAY than what you will do next year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/god-cares-more-about-your-obedience-to-his-spirit-s-leading-today/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [The heart of the Christian Gospel is precisely that God is the all holy One; the all powerful One is also the One full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/the-heart-of-the-christian-gospel-is-precisely-that-god-is-the-all/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“The Word says that we ought to commit our plans to the Lord and He will cause them to succeed.  So I pray on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-word-says-that-we-ought-to-commit-our-plans-to-the-lord-and-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God cares about everything that concerns you, so feel free to talk to Him about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/god-cares-about-everything-that-concerns-you-so-feel-free-to-talk-to/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Sometimes it’s hard for us to believe, really believe, that God cares and wants good things for us and doesn’t just want us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/sometimes-it-s-hard-for-us-to-believe-really-believe-that-god-cares/) [Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/) > [“Worry is common, it's not good for us, it accomplishes little, and it dishonors the God who cares for us. Worry may be our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foster/worry-is-common-it-s-not-good-for-us-it-accomplishes-little-and-it/) [George Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foster/) > [“I have since come to understand the reality that sometimes God wants us to go through a process without ever achieving what we thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelene-bryan/i-have-since-come-to-understand-the-reality-that-sometimes-god-wants/) [Shelene Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelene-bryan/) > [When it seems like nobody cares, God cares. When it seems like nobody is there for you, God is ready to listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/when-it-seems-like-nobody-cares-god-cares-when-it-seems-like-nobody/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“I don’t think that God cares about what you think. It’s the actions that count. Actually He doesn’t care what you do as long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-hochberg/i-don-t-think-that-god-cares-about-what-you-think-it-s-the-actions/) [Art Hochberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-hochberg/) > [I will have nothing to do with a God who cares only occasionally. I need a God who is with us always, everywhere, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-will-have-nothing-to-do-with-a-god-who-cares-only-occasionally-i/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“Honey, God loves you just as you are. As people who have been created by God, we are infinitely precious to Him because we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corallie-buchanan/honey-god-loves-you-just-as-you-are-as-people-who-have-been-created/) [Corallie Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corallie-buchanan/) > [People say, I want someone to be there for me. They forget that God is always there for us. People say, I want someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumaisa-ansari/people-say-i-want-someone-to-be-there-for-me-they-forget-that-god-is/) [Rumaisa Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumaisa-ansari/) > [He will never leave you no matter what because God cares for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-alapan/he-will-never-leave-you-no-matter-what-because-god-cares-for-you/) [Mitch Alapan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-alapan/) ## More by Elias Lyman Magoon > [Invariably will you find perseverance exemplified as the radical principle in every truly great character. It facilitates, perfects, and consolidates the execution of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-lyman-magoon/invariably-will-you-find-perseverance-exemplified-as-the-radical/) [Elias Lyman Magoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-lyman-magoon/) > [In what a delightful communion with God does that man live who habitually seeketh love! With the same mantle thrown over him from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-lyman-magoon/in-what-a-delightful-communion-with-god-does-that-man-live-who/) [Elias Lyman Magoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-lyman-magoon/) > [The period of youth is the glory of nature, and the healthful development of all the resources of strength deposited in our nature is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-lyman-magoon/the-period-of-youth-is-the-glory-of-nature-and-the-healthful/) [Elias Lyman Magoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-lyman-magoon/) > [True emotions and sincere words never perish. The great heart of humanity gladly receives and embalms every true utterance of the humblest of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-lyman-magoon/true-emotions-and-sincere-words-never-perish-the-great-heart-of/) [Elias Lyman Magoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-lyman-magoon/) > [Perseverance is the master impulse of the firmest souls, the discipline of the noblest virtues, and the guaranty of acquisitions the most invigorating in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-lyman-magoon/perseverance-is-the-master-impulse-of-the-firmest-souls-the/) [Elias Lyman Magoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-lyman-magoon/) > [The practice of perseverance is the discipline of the noblest virtues. To run well, we must run to the end. It is not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-lyman-magoon/the-practice-of-perseverance-is-the-discipline-of-the-noblest-virtues/) [Elias Lyman Magoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-lyman-magoon/) > [The advent of truth, like the dawn of day, agitates the elements, while it disperses the gloom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-lyman-magoon/the-advent-of-truth-like-the-dawn-of-day-agitates-the-elements-while/) [Elias Lyman Magoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-lyman-magoon/) > [The Lord's visitations of distinguished favor are always to the diligent. That great men may not be ashamed of honest vocations, the greatest that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-lyman-magoon/the-lord-s-visitations-of-distinguished-favor-are-always-to-the/) [Elias Lyman Magoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-lyman-magoon/) > [Those who do the least themselves are always the severest critics upon the noble achievements of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-lyman-magoon/those-who-do-the-least-themselves-are-always-the-severest-critics/) [Elias Lyman Magoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-lyman-magoon/) > [Lying is sometimes acted, insinuated, or implied, in a manner as injurious and shameful as when the falsehood is spoken outright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-lyman-magoon/lying-is-sometimes-acted-insinuated-or-implied-in-a-manner-as/) [Elias Lyman Magoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-lyman-magoon/) > [While the censorious man is most severe in judging others, he is invariably the most ready to repel any animadversions made upon himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-lyman-magoon/while-the-censorious-man-is-most-severe-in-judging-others-he-is/) [Elias Lyman Magoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-lyman-magoon/) > [Language the most forcible proceeds from the man who is most sincere. 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