--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: However glorious an action in itself, it…" description: "\"However glorious an action in itself, it ought not to pass for great if it be not the effect of wisdom and intention.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b7/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_action_however-glorious-an-action-in-itself-it_2159998.png" --- # However glorious an action in itself, it ought not to pass… ![“However glorious an action in itself, it ought not to pass for great if it be not the effect of wisdom and intention.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b7/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_action_however-glorious-an-action-in-itself-it_2159998.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b7/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_action_however-glorious-an-action-in-itself-it_2159998.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b7/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_action_however-glorious-an-action-in-itself-it_2159998.png) > “However glorious an action in itself, it ought not to pass for great if it be not the effect of wisdom and intention.” [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great actions must be guided by wisdom and intention, not just their appearance. **In simple terms:** Good deeds need thoughtful purpose. Key Takeaway Align deeds with intention. Themes ethics wisdom intentionality appearance vs reality moral philosophy Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - making decisions - leadership - public service - personal conduct Key Concepts virtue ethics intentional action authenticity moral integrity Questions to Reflect On - What intentions underlie your actions? - How do you ensure wisdom guides your deeds? A Different Perspective Intentions can be hidden or misinterpreted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [One hour of life, crowded to the full with glorious action, and filled with noble risks, is worth whole years of those mean observances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-hour-of-life-crowded-to-the-full-with-glorious-action-and-filled-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you ought to pass through a mist, first think of the ground, then of the sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florin-marian-hera/if-you-ought-to-pass-through-a-mist-first-think-of-the-ground-then-of/) Florin-Marian Hera > [The instinct of brutes and insects can be the effect of nothing else than the wisdom and skill of a powerful ever-living agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/the-instinct-of-brutes-and-insects-can-be-the-effect-of-nothing-else/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [One's action ought to come out of an achieved stillness: not to be a mere rushing on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-s-action-ought-to-come-out-of-an-achieved-stillness-not-to-be-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some crimes get honor and renown by being committed with more pomp, by a greater number, and in a higher degree of wickedness thanothers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/some-crimes-get-honor-and-renown-by-being-committed-with-more-pomp-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [There are crimes which become innocent and even glorious through their splendor, number and excess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/there-are-crimes-which-become-innocent-and-even-glorious-through/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We are about to change history, said Saphira. 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What a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-nockels/so-many-times-we-come-to-jesus-in-worship-and-ask-him-for-things-that/) Christy Nockels > [Islam expect every Muslim to do this duty, and if we realise our responsibility time will come soon when we shall justify ourselves worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali-jinnah/islam-expect-every-muslim-to-do-this-duty-and-if-we-realise-our/) [Muhammad Ali Jinnah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali-jinnah/) > [Where did you find that one?" "I have no idea. I'm a magnet for crazies, I guess." "They must be able to sense a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/where-did-you-find-that-one-i-have-no-idea-i-m-a-magnet-for-crazies-i/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [“What a glorious day !”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pancol/what-a-glorious-day/) Katherine Pancol > [The Louvre! The Louvre has me in its clutches. Every time I'm there rich blessings rain down upon me. I am coming to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-modersohn-becker/the-louvre-the-louvre-has-me-in-its-clutches-every-time-i-m-there/) [Paula Modersohn-Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-modersohn-becker/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) ## More by Francois de La Rochefoucauld > [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/) [François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-intention-of-never-deceiving-often-exposes-us-to-deception/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-springs-more-from-love-of-self-than-from-love-of-another/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-distrust-of-another-justifies-his-deceit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/no-persons-are-more-frequently-wrong-than-those-who-will-not-admit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-is-always-born-with-love-but-does-not-die-with-it-in/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-of-all-gifts-is-the-power-to-estimate-things-at-their/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-have-not-strength-enough-to-follow-our-reason-so-far-as-it-would/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) [Explore all 1,134 Francois de La Rochefoucauld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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