--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who is righteous? Anyone who is…" description: "\"Who is righteous? Anyone who is repenting. No matter how bad he has been, if he is repenting he is a righteous man. There is hope for him. And no matte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/hugh-nibley-13330_bottom_who-is-righteous-anyone-who-is-repenting_424168.jpg" --- # Who is righteous? Anyone who is repenting. No matter how… ![“Who is righteous? Anyone who is repenting. No matter how bad he has been, if he is repenting he is a righteous man. There is hope for him. And no matter how good he has been all his life, if he is not repenting, he is a wicked man. The difference is which way you are facing. The man on the top of…” quote by Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/hugh-nibley-13330_bottom_who-is-righteous-anyone-who-is-repenting_424168.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/hugh-nibley-13330_bottom_who-is-righteous-anyone-who-is-repenting_424168.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/hugh-nibley-13330_bottom_who-is-righteous-anyone-who-is-repenting_424168.jpg) > “Who is righteous? Anyone who is repenting. No matter how bad he has been, if he is repenting he is a righteous man. There is hope for him. And no matter how good he has been all his life, if he is not repenting, he is a wicked man. The difference is which way you are facing. The man on the top of the stairs facing down if much worse off than the man on the bottom step who is facing up. The direction we are facing, that is repentance; and that is what determines whether we are good or bad.” [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Righteousness is defined by the act of repentance, not past deeds; turning toward virtue determines moral standing. **In simple terms:** Righteousness depends on repentance, not past actions. Key Takeaway Repent to be righteous. Themes morality repentance spiritual direction Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - religious counseling - conflict resolution - life choices Key Concepts theology ethics redemption Questions to Reflect On - How does true repentance change one's character? - Can a person be righteous without feeling remorse? A Different Perspective Repentance alone may not erase consequences of past harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance/) [Righteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteous/) [Righteous man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteous-man/) [Wicked man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wicked-man/) ## Related quotes > [A righteous man hates lying, But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/a-righteous-man-hates-lying-but-a-wicked-man-is-loathsome-and-comes/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [Believing, repenting, and the like, are the product of the new nature; and can never be produced by the old corrupt nature... as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-boston/believing-repenting-and-the-like-are-the-product-of-the-new-nature/) [Thomas Boston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-boston/) > [To many people virtue consists chiefly in repenting faults, not in avoiding them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/to-many-people-virtue-consists-chiefly-in-repenting-faults-not-in/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [When we strive to keep the commandments of God, repenting of our sins and promising our best efforts to follow the Savior, we begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilford-w-andersen/when-we-strive-to-keep-the-commandments-of-god-repenting-of-our-sins/) [Wilford W. Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilford-w-andersen/) > [I do believe that I will see the apocalypse in my lifetime. And when it comes, I'm not repenting for anything I've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/i-do-believe-that-i-will-see-the-apocalypse-in-my-lifetime-and-when/) [Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/) > [I've got some repenting to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/i-ve-got-some-repenting-to-do/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [“Two thirds of human existence are wasted in hesitation, and the last third in repenting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mile-souvestre/two-thirds-of-human-existence-are-wasted-in-hesitation-and-the-last/) [Émile Souvestre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mile-souvestre/) > [The gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to change. “Repent” is its most frequent message, and repenting means giving up all of our practices-perso…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/the-gospel-of-jesus-christ-challenges-us-to-change-repent-is-its-most/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [“The many imperfections which trouble our daily lives require us to be a repenting as well as a repentant people. We should pay attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-grant-bangerter/the-many-imperfections-which-trouble-our-daily-lives-require-us-to-be/) [William Grant Bangerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-grant-bangerter/) > [I've got some repenting to do. I doubt, however, that those who have wedded Christianity with laissez-faire capitalism will see things this way. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/i-ve-got-some-repenting-to-do-i-doubt-however-that-those-who-have/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [When I repent, here is where it starts. I try to name my sin as honestly and as specifically as possible. Here is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/when-i-repent-here-is-where-it-starts-i-try-to-name-my-sin-as/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [God hates the LUKEWARM GOSPEL OF HALF-TRUTHS that is now spreading over the Globe. This gospel says, 'Just believe in Jesus and you'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wilkerson/god-hates-the-lukewarm-gospel-of-half-truths-that-is-now-spreading/) [David Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wilkerson/) > [“Sweet assurance of this truth is given. In Luke 23:39-43 we see how the repenting thief turned to Jesus on the cross beside him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-rice/sweet-assurance-of-this-truth-is-given-in-luke-23-39-43-we-see-how/) [John R. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) > [The tears of those repenting are the wine of angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/the-tears-of-those-repenting-are-the-wine-of-angels/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [“Berating ourselves for our flaws and our weakness only serves to undermine our strength to become. Repenting from our sin is essential. Beating ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stasi-eldredge/berating-ourselves-for-our-flaws-and-our-weakness-only-serves-to/) [Stasi Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stasi-eldredge/) ## More by Hugh Nibley > [Joseph Smith could not have picked a better year to start The Book of Mormon than 600 B.C.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/joseph-smith-could-not-have-picked-a-better-year-to-start-the-book-of/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [ \[Eve\] sees through Satan's disquise of clever hypocrisy, identifies him, and exposes him for what he is...\[ever since Satan has\] had it in for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/eve-sees-through-satan-s-disquise-of-clever-hypocrisy-identifies-him/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [The worst sinners, according to Jesus, are not the harlots and publicans, but the religious leaders with their insistence on proper dress and grooming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/the-worst-sinners-according-to-jesus-are-not-the-harlots-and/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Only if you reach the boundary will the boundary recede before you. And if you don't, if you confine your efforts, the boundary will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/only-if-you-reach-the-boundary-will-the-boundary-recede-before-you/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [“Blindness to larger contexts is a constitutional defect of human thinking imposed by the painful necessity of being able to concentrate on only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/blindness-to-larger-contexts-is-a-constitutional-defect-of-human/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Careerism is the determination to reign in hell rather than serve in heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/careerism-is-the-determination-to-reign-in-hell-rather-than-serve-in/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [The very helplessness of the public which makes it necessary for them to consult the experts also makes it impossible for them to judge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/the-very-helplessness-of-the-public-which-makes-it-necessary-for-them/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [The unique value of Christianity lies in those things which would never in a million years occur to men if left to themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/the-unique-value-of-christianity-lies-in-those-things-which-would/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Competitiveness always rests on the assumption of a life-and-death struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/competitiveness-always-rests-on-the-assumption-of-a-life-and-death/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Being self-taught is no disgrace; but being self-certified is another matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/being-self-taught-is-no-disgrace-but-being-self-certified-is-another/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Why do people feel guilty about TV? What is wrong with it? Just this: it shuts out all the wonderful things of which the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/why-do-people-feel-guilty-about-tv-what-is-wrong-with-it-just-this-it/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Nobody loves the rat race, but nobody can think of anything else—Satan has us just where he wants us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/nobody-loves-the-rat-race-but-nobody-can-think-of-anything-else-satan/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Why read the Book of Mormon? Because angels do not come on trivial errands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/why-read-the-book-of-mormon-because-angels-do-not-come-on-trivial/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [If you pray for an angel to visit you, you know what he'll do if he comes. He'll just quote the scriptures to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/if-you-pray-for-an-angel-to-visit-you-you-know-what-he-ll-do-if-he/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [“You can always somebody who is worse than you are to make you feel virtuous. It's a cheap shot: those awful terrorists, perverts, communists--they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/you-can-always-somebody-who-is-worse-than-you-are-to-make-you-feel/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) [Explore all 50 Hugh Nibley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) ## More Bottom quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. 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I can’t do Moonlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-o-loughlin/i-plead-with-my-moonlight-fans-to-give-this-show-a-chance-if-they-let/) [Alex O'Loughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-o-loughlin/) > [Well, the bottom line is that I'm extremely pleased with 'The Stupids.' I'm pleased that it's coming out, and it should look good. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/well-the-bottom-line-is-that-i-m-extremely-pleased-with-the-stupids-i/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [Search for the seed of good in every adversity. Master that principle and you will own a precious shield that will guard you well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/search-for-the-seed-of-good-in-every-adversity-master-that-principle/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [I would have had a clause in my contract; I would've definitely put some fine print in my contract that said, "If the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/i-would-have-had-a-clause-in-my-contract-i-would-ve-definitely-put/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [When I hit bottom, I can attack the problem and get to where I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/when-i-hit-bottom-i-can-attack-the-problem-and-get-to-where-i-want-to/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The bottom line, in the professional level, no matter where you go, there's going to be competition. That's what it is. 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