---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Beginning empty handed and alone…"
description: "\"Beginning empty handed and alone frightens the best of men. It also speaks volumes of just how sure they are that God is with them.\" — Gene Edwards"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/gene-edwards-34849_best-of-me_beginning-empty-handed-and-alone-frighte_1121398.jpg"
---

#  Beginning empty handed and alone frightens the best of…

![“Beginning empty handed and alone frightens the best of men. It also speaks volumes of just how sure they are that God is with them.” quote by Gene Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/gene-edwards-34849_best-of-me_beginning-empty-handed-and-alone-frighte_1121398.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/gene-edwards-34849_best-of-me_beginning-empty-handed-and-alone-frighte_1121398.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/gene-edwards-34849_best-of-me_beginning-empty-handed-and-alone-frighte_1121398.jpg)

> “Beginning empty handed and alone frightens the best of men. It also speaks volumes of just how sure they are that God is with them.”

[Gene Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-edwards/)

## About This Quote

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

Feeling vulnerable alone highlights faith; confidence in God's presence eases fear.

**In simple terms:** Alone feels scary, but faith comforts.

Key Takeaway

Trust in God when alone.

Themes

faith fear confidence solitude

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

spiritual inspirational

When to use this quote

- missionary work
- personal crisis
- spiritual counseling

Key Concepts

spiritual reliance existential anxiety

Questions to Reflect On

- How does faith change your perception of loneliness?
- What practices strengthen that confidence?

A Different Perspective

Faith alone may not erase all fear.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Best of me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-of-me/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/)

## Related quotes

> [The best of men are only men at their very best. Patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, - martyrs, fathers, reformers, puritans, - all are sinners,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/the-best-of-men-are-only-men-at-their-very-best-patriarchs-prophets/)

[J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/)

> [ He \[Gen. Douglas MacArthur\] was a great thundering paradox of a man, noble and ignoble, inspiring and outrageous, arrogant and shy, the best of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-manchester/he-gen-douglas-macarthur-was-a-great-thundering-paradox-of-a-man/)

[William Manchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-manchester/)

> [The best of men are men at best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/the-best-of-men-are-men-at-best/)

[J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/)

> [I know nothing more worthy of a man's ambition than that his son be the best of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-know-nothing-more-worthy-of-a-man-s-ambition-than-that-his-son-be/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [No worse a husband than the best of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/no-worse-a-husband-than-the-best-of-men/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [J.C. Ryle is an evangelical champion...One of the bravest and best of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/j-c-ryle-is-an-evangelical-champion-one-of-the-bravest-and-best-of-men/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [ To seek out the best \[persons to serve in the government\] though the whole Union, we must resort to the information which from the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/to-seek-out-the-best-persons-to-serve-in-the-government-though-the/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [Power tempts even the best of men to take liberties with the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-sobran/power-tempts-even-the-best-of-men-to-take-liberties-with-the-truth/)

[Joseph Sobran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-sobran/)

> [The best men of the best epochs are simply those who make the fewest blunders and commit the fewest sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/the-best-men-of-the-best-epochs-are-simply-those-who-make-the-fewest/)

[Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/)

> [“The best of men are still men at their very best. Gods' factor makes the difference”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-ndidi/the-best-of-men-are-still-men-at-their-very-best-gods-factor-makes/)

Vincent Ndidi

> [The best men are the least suspicious of fraudulent purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/the-best-men-are-the-least-suspicious-of-fraudulent-purposes/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [To get the best out of your men, they must feel that you are their real leader and must know that they can depend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-j-pershing/to-get-the-best-out-of-your-men-they-must-feel-that-you-are-their/)

[John J. Pershing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-j-pershing/)

> [If my impressions are correct, our educational planing mill cuts down all the knots of genius, and reduces the best of the men who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/if-my-impressions-are-correct-our-educational-planing-mill-cuts-down/)

[Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/)

> [“Men can be brilliant and strong, they whispered to one another. But men can be mad, as well. And the mad ones can ruin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/men-can-be-brilliant-and-strong-they-whispered-to-one-another-but-men/)

[David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/)

> [We come to know best what men are, in their worse jeopardizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-daniel/we-come-to-know-best-what-men-are-in-their-worse-jeopardizes/)

[Samuel Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-daniel/)

## More by Gene Edwards

> [Remove the centrality-of-Jesus-Christ message from ministry and meetings, and you can forget church life or organic meetings. He must be the center of everything...not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-edwards/remove-the-centrality-of-jesus-christ-message-from-ministry-and/)

[Gene Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-edwards/)

> [God has a university. It's a small school. Few enroll; even fewer graduate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-edwards/god-has-a-university-it-s-a-small-school-few-enroll-even-fewer/)

[Gene Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-edwards/)

> [“David was caught in a very uncomfortable position; however, he seemed to grasp a deep understanding of the unfolding drama in which he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-edwards/david-was-caught-in-a-very-uncomfortable-position-however-he-seemed/)

[Gene Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-edwards/)

> [What does this world need: gifted men and women, outwardly empowered? Or individuals who are broken, inwardly transformed?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-edwards/what-does-this-world-need-gifted-men-and-women-outwardly-empowered-or/)

[Gene Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-edwards/)

> [There is a vast difference between the outward clothing of the Spirit's power and the inward filling of the Spirit's life. In the first,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-edwards/there-is-a-vast-difference-between-the-outward-clothing-of-the-spirit/)

[Gene Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-edwards/)

> [You can easily tell when someone has been hit by a spear. he turns a deep shade of bitter. David never got hit. Gradually,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-edwards/you-can-easily-tell-when-someone-has-been-hit-by-a-spear-he-turns-a/)

[Gene Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-edwards/)

> [It is the Father's life, and the Father's life alone, that ever lives the Christian life. It is the Father's life, and Father's life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-edwards/it-is-the-father-s-life-and-the-father-s-life-alone-that-ever-lives/)

[Gene Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-edwards/)

> [Understand this: The Bible presents Christ. You have an inner sense of an indwelling Lord. You either have that or you do not. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-edwards/understand-this-the-bible-presents-christ-you-have-an-inner-sense-of/)

[Gene Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-edwards/)

> [“Rules were invented by elders so they could get to bed early. Men who speak endlessly on authority only prove they have none. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-edwards/rules-were-invented-by-elders-so-they-could-get-to-bed-early-men-who/)

[Gene Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-edwards/)

> [“...he seemed to grasp a deep understanding of the unfolding drama in which he had been caught. He seemed to understand something that few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-edwards/he-seemed-to-grasp-a-deep-understanding-of-the-unfolding-drama-in/)

[Gene Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-edwards/)

> [“God has a university. It’s a small school. Few enroll; even fewer graduate. Very, very few indeed. God has this school because he does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-edwards/god-has-a-university-it-s-a-small-school-few-enroll-even-fewer-2/)

[Gene Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-edwards/)

> [Legalism is nothing but a leader's way of avoiding suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-edwards/legalism-is-nothing-but-a-leader-s-way-of-avoiding-suffering/)

[Gene Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-edwards/)

[Explore all 13 Gene Edwards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-edwards/)

## More Best of me quotes

> [I don't want to be overdramatic about it, but I'm starting to see a lot of my bad habits get the best of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/i-don-t-want-to-be-overdramatic-about-it-but-i-m-starting-to-see-a/)

[Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/)

> [It must be observed, that the best of men, the most holy and spiritually minded, may have, nay, ought to have, their thoughts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/it-must-be-observed-that-the-best-of-men-the-most-holy-and/)

[John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/)

> [That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in. and the best of me is diligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/that-which-ordinary-men-are-fit-for-i-am-qualified-in-and-the-best-of/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> ['Cause your love got the best of me, and baby you're making a fool of me. You got me sprung and i don't care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/cause-your-love-got-the-best-of-me-and-baby-you-re-making-a-fool-of/)

[Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/)

> [I couldn't wait to see you smile but all I saw were tears in your pretty eyes and that said it all It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brantley-gilbert/i-couldn-t-wait-to-see-you-smile-but-all-i-saw-were-tears-in-your/)

[Brantley Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brantley-gilbert/)

> [Birthdays? yes, in a general way; For the most if not for the best of men: You were born (I suppose) on a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kenneth-stephen/birthdays-yes-in-a-general-way-for-the-most-if-not-for-the-best-of/)

[James Kenneth Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kenneth-stephen/)

> [I will fall on my face sometimes And I can't color inside the lines 'Cause I'm perfectly incomplete I'm still working on my masterpiece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-j/i-will-fall-on-my-face-sometimes-and-i-can-t-color-inside-the-lines/)

[Jessie J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-j/)

> [By one hour's intimate access to the throne of grace, where the Lord causes His glory to pass before the soul that seeks Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/by-one-hour-s-intimate-access-to-the-throne-of-grace-where-the-lord/)

[John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/)

> [I keep trying to forget, but I must remember. And gather the scattered continents of a self, once whole. Before they plant flags and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-williams/i-keep-trying-to-forget-but-i-must-remember-and-gather-the-scattered/)

[Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/)

> [I was strong enough not to let them get the best of me, but I'm definitely one who has taken what people say to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverley-mitchell/i-was-strong-enough-not-to-let-them-get-the-best-of-me-but-i-m/)

[Beverley Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverley-mitchell/)

> [“What are gods for if not to sit in judgment over men? The Many-Faced God does not weigh men’s souls, however. He gives his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-are-gods-for-if-not-to-sit-in-judgment-over-men-the-many-faced/)

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

> [To set one's name to a work gives no one a title to be remembered, for who knows how many of the best of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-set-one-s-name-to-a-work-gives-no-one-a-title-to-be-remembered-for/)

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

> [Complicity with error will take from the best of men the power to enter any successful protest against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/complicity-with-error-will-take-from-the-best-of-men-the-power-to/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [The thing is, my education was music. I knew I'd be playing music no matter what. That's all I thought about, I was obsessed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/the-thing-is-my-education-was-music-i-knew-i-d-be-playing-music-no/)

[Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/)

> [Of the various executive abilities, no one excited more anxious concern than that of placing the interests of our fellow-citizens in the hands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/of-the-various-executive-abilities-no-one-excited-more-anxious/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

[Browse all 70 Best of me quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-of-me/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Beginning empty handed and alone frightens the best of men. It also speaks volumes of just how sure they are that God is with them.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gene Edwards"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-edwards/beginning-empty-handed-and-alone-frightens-the-best-of-men-it-also/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Best of me"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-edwards/beginning-empty-handed-and-alone-frightens-the-best-of-men-it-also/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/gene-edwards-34849_best-of-me_beginning-empty-handed-and-alone-frighte_1121398.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/gene-edwards-34849_best-of-me_beginning-empty-handed-and-alone-frighte_1121398.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/gene-edwards-34849_best-of-me_beginning-empty-handed-and-alone-frighte_1121398.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Beginning empty handed and alone frightens the best of men. It also speaks volumes of just how sure they are…” — Gene Edwards",
                "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": "Gene Edwards",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-edwards/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Beginning empty handed and alone frightens...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-edwards/beginning-empty-handed-and-alone-frightens-the-best-of-men-it-also/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-edwards/beginning-empty-handed-and-alone-frightens-the-best-of-men-it-also/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
