--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To receive honestly is the best thanks…" description: "\"To receive honestly is the best thanks for a good thing.\" — George MacDonald" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/george-macdonald-295_good-thing_to-receive-honestly-is-the-best-thanks-f_756260.png" --- # To receive honestly is the best thanks for a good thing. ![“To receive honestly is the best thanks for a good thing.” quote by George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/george-macdonald-295_good-thing_to-receive-honestly-is-the-best-thanks-f_756260.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/george-macdonald-295_good-thing_to-receive-honestly-is-the-best-thanks-f_756260.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/george-macdonald-295_good-thing_to-receive-honestly-is-the-best-thanks-f_756260.png) > “To receive honestly is the best thanks for a good thing.” [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Honest reception of a gift is the highest gratitude, showing true appreciation. **In simple terms:** Being sincere is the best thanks. Key Takeaway Give sincere thanks, not just words. Themes gratitude honesty appreciation gift Mood warm thoughtful Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - receiving gifts - thank‑you notes - act of giving Key Concepts ethics social reciprocity humility Questions to Reflect On - When have you truly felt grateful? - How can you show honest appreciation? A Different Perspective Sincerity can be hard when feelings are conflicted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Thankfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thankfulness/) ## Related quotes > [“A "no" from God really is a "no." It is not a "yes" cached in a "wait" or something like that. In fact...a "no"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-r-hauff/a-no-from-god-really-is-a-no-it-is-not-a-yes-cached-in-a-wait-or/) Thomas R. Hauff > [I know it wasnt always easy but for loving me, I owe you my best thanks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/i-know-it-wasnt-always-easy-but-for-loving-me-i-owe-you-my-best-thanks/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [“It’s for the best. Thanks for being my friends. Goodbye.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/it-s-for-the-best-thanks-for-being-my-friends-goodbye/) [James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/) > [I ought you my best thanks to you, For being always supportive and understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/i-ought-you-my-best-thanks-to-you-for-being-always-supportive-and/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [Well, honestly, I give my best to every role, be it good or bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajesh-khattar/well-honestly-i-give-my-best-to-every-role-be-it-good-or-bad/) [Rajesh Khattar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajesh-khattar/) > [Being in the final four of 'Tough Enough' has honestly been the best experience of my life. It's truly been an honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/being-in-the-final-four-of-tough-enough-has-honestly-been-the-best/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [No one can really honestly be the very best, no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/no-one-can-really-honestly-be-the-very-best-no-one/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Coming out as non-binary has honestly been the best thing ever for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-flip/coming-out-as-non-binary-has-honestly-been-the-best-thing-ever-for-me/) [G Flip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-flip/) > [“Take note and give thanks for all the good things present in your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amey-hegde/take-note-and-give-thanks-for-all-the-good-things-present-in-your-life/) [Amey Hegde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amey-hegde/) > [“...thanks for good deeds do not amount to much except to prove one's politeness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/thanks-for-good-deeds-do-not-amount-to-much-except-to-prove-one-s/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [For Zhat hope yah like it I know its not perfect ill do a better one another time :) You are an amazing person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-zhat-hope-yah-like-it-i-know-its-not-perfect-ill-do-a-better-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Before you go to sleep, do not forget to say thanks for everything good that has happened to you in the last 24 hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-orbison/before-you-go-to-sleep-do-not-forget-to-say-thanks-for-everything/) [Roy Orbison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-orbison/) > [“Lord God we give thanks to you for all the good things you have bestowed upon us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/lord-god-we-give-thanks-to-you-for-all-the-good-things-you-have/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Thanks to the good samaritan that returned my Ish!! Its good to be good. Karma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/thanks-to-the-good-samaritan-that-returned-my-ish-its-good-to-be-good/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [Why is Caterpillar bad if we create a new job in India or China to receive U.S. exports? It makes no sense to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-r-oberhelman/why-is-caterpillar-bad-if-we-create-a-new-job-in-india-or-china-to/) [Douglas R. Oberhelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-r-oberhelman/) ## More by George MacDonald > [“No revelation can be other than partial. If for true revelation a man must be told all the truth, then farewell to revelation; yea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/no-revelation-can-be-other-than-partial-if-for-true-revelation-a-man/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [In low theologies, hell is invariably the deepest truth, and the love of God is not so deep as hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/in-low-theologies-hell-is-invariably-the-deepest-truth-and-the-love/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Life and religion are one, or neither is any thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/life-and-religion-are-one-or-neither-is-any-thing/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [The region belonging to the pure intellect is straitened: the imagination labours to extend its territories, to give it room. She sweeps across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/the-region-belonging-to-the-pure-intellect-is-straitened-the/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Come, then, affliction, if my Father wills, and be my frowning friend. A friend that frowns is better than a smiling enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/come-then-affliction-if-my-father-wills-and-be-my-frowning-friend-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Ah, what is it we send up thither, where our thoughts are either a dissonance or a sweetness and a grace?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/ah-what-is-it-we-send-up-thither-where-our-thoughts-are-either-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [You must learn to be strong in the dark as well as in the day, else you will always be only half brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/you-must-learn-to-be-strong-in-the-dark-as-well-as-in-the-day-else/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Few delights can equal the mere presence of one whom we trust utterly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/few-delights-can-equal-the-mere-presence-of-one-whom-we-trust-utterly/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“You have tasted of death now,” said the old man. “Is it good?” “It is good,” said Mossy. “It is better than life.” “No,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/you-have-tasted-of-death-now-said-the-old-man-is-it-good-it-is-good/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [ “I wish I had \[made that song\]. No, I don't That would be to take it from somebody else. But it's mine for all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-wish-i-had-made-that-song-no-i-don-t-that-would-be-to-take-it-from/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Past tears are present strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/past-tears-are-present-strength/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Age is not all decay; it is the ripening, the swelling, of the fresh life within, that withers and bursts the husk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/age-is-not-all-decay-it-is-the-ripening-the-swelling-of-the-fresh/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [I want to help you grow as beautiful as God meant you to be when he thought of you first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-want-to-help-you-grow-as-beautiful-as-god-meant-you-to-be-when-he/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Immeasurably imperfect it was, but false the impression could not be, for she saw with the eyes made for seeing, and saw indeed what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/immeasurably-imperfect-it-was-but-false-the-impression-could-not-be/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Those that hope little cannot grow much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/those-that-hope-little-cannot-grow-much/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) [Explore all 720 George MacDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## More Good thing quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [“Of the good things they do many will pass unnoticed, or will even not be considered good at all; but they need not fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/of-the-good-things-they-do-many-will-pass-unnoticed-or-will-even-not/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Certainly, it is. Love is love, and loss is loss. We all love, and we all die, and everyone suffers the pain of grieving.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/certainly-it-is-love-is-love-and-loss-is-loss-we-all-love-and-we-all/) [Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/) > [It is a sweet thing that we serve a dissatisfied God who has destinations in mind for us that we would never choose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/it-is-a-sweet-thing-that-we-serve-a-dissatisfied-god-who-has/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [“At times, competition can be a good thing. But a person's value isn't something that can be ranked, is it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hotaru-odagiri/at-times-competition-can-be-a-good-thing-but-a-person-s-value-isn-t/) [Hotaru Odagiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hotaru-odagiri/) > [Here are the good things about independent films: They do the more interesting, chancy scripts. They're run by love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/here-are-the-good-things-about-independent-films-they-do-the-more/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/gratitude-transforms-the-torment-of-memory-of-good-things-now-gone/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The absence of judgment becomes a catalyst and an enabler for greater injustice. Contrary to popular thought, judgment is a GOOD thing when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-chace-gordon/the-absence-of-judgment-becomes-a-catalyst-and-an-enabler-for-greater/) [J. Chace Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-chace-gordon/) > [“I took that warm feeling running through my veins as a good thing and embraced the darkness for I knew it was only temporary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cox/i-took-that-warm-feeling-running-through-my-veins-as-a-good-thing-and/) [James Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cox/) > [If good things come to those who wait then I must have something ridiculously awesome coming!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/if-good-things-come-to-those-who-wait-then-i-must-have-something/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [IVE LEARNED THE BEST WAY FOR YOU TO HAVE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO YOU , ALL THE TIME, IS TO DO GOOD THINGS FOR…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-paul-rose/ive-learned-the-best-way-for-you-to-have-good-things-happen-to-you/) [LEONARD PAUL ROSE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-paul-rose/) > [In my rear view mirror the sun is going down sinking behind bridges in the road and I think of all the good things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/in-my-rear-view-mirror-the-sun-is-going-down-sinking-behind-bridges/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [“These are all good things, I said. 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