--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Beware of self-righteousness in every…" description: "\"Beware of self-righteousness in every possible shape and form. Some people get as much harm from their \"virtues\" as others do from their sins.\" — J. C...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/j-c-ryle-789_character_beware-of-self-righteousness-in-every-po_2576166.png" --- # Beware of self-righteousness in every possible shape and… ![“Beware of self-righteousness in every possible shape and form. Some people get as much harm from their "virtues" as others do from their sins.” quote by J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/j-c-ryle-789_character_beware-of-self-righteousness-in-every-po_2576166.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/j-c-ryle-789_character_beware-of-self-righteousness-in-every-po_2576166.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/j-c-ryle-789_character_beware-of-self-righteousness-in-every-po_2576166.png) > “Beware of self-righteousness in every possible shape and form. Some people get as much harm from their "virtues" as others do from their sins.” [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑righteousness blinds us, causing harm equal to or greater than sin; humility prevents this. **In simple terms:** Pride harms like sin. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility. Themes humility pride morality Mood reflective cautionary Type ethical spiritual When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership - community service Key Concepts ethical self‑awareness spiritual growth Questions to Reflect On - How does pride affect your decisions? - When have you mistaken virtue for superiority? A Different Perspective Self‑righteousness can be a defense mechanism masking insecurity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Harm Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm-virtues-1736815/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteousness/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self righteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-righteous/) [Self righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-righteousness/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sins/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues/) [Virtues Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues-sins-551533/) ## Related quotes > [Its virtues, not its sins, are as scarlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/its-virtues-not-its-sins-are-as-scarlet/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Pigheaded covers a multitude of virtues - as well as sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjory-stoneman-douglas/pigheaded-covers-a-multitude-of-virtues-as-well-as-sins/) [Marjory Stoneman Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjory-stoneman-douglas/) > [That which of all things unfits man for the reception of Christ as a Saviour, is not gross profligacy and outward, vehement transgression, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/that-which-of-all-things-unfits-man-for-the-reception-of-christ-as-a/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [“I have spoken to many parents who feared they were producing little hypocrites who were proud and self-righteous. Hypocrisy and self-righteousness is the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tedd-tripp/i-have-spoken-to-many-parents-who-feared-they-were-producing-little/) [Tedd Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tedd-tripp/) > [Like Muslims we assume that God will judge us "on balance." If our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds, we will arrive safely in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/like-muslims-we-assume-that-god-will-judge-us-on-balance-if-our-good/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Ah, there is nothing more beautiful than the difference between the thought about sinful creatures which is natural to a holy being, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/ah-there-is-nothing-more-beautiful-than-the-difference-between-the/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [“Yet what moved Our Blessed Lord to invective was not badness but just such self-righteousness as this…He said that the harlots and the Quislings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/yet-what-moved-our-blessed-lord-to-invective-was-not-badness-but-just/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Self-righteousness is the most shameless slut of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/self-righteousness-is-the-most-shameless-slut-of-all/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [If we think we are usually good, then God is usually irrelevant... Such thinking ignores the depths of sin in my own heart, and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch-2/if-we-think-we-are-usually-good-then-god-is-usually-irrelevant-such/) [Edward T Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch-2/) > [“You will never overcome your self righteousness if you continue to believe that God prefers you over other people. The moment you feel entitled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/you-will-never-overcome-your-self-righteousness-if-you-continue-to/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Our sin is what separates us from God, but it's our self righteousness that keeps us from running to Him for the grace He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/our-sin-is-what-separates-us-from-god-but-it-s-our-self-righteousness/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [So when we call pain a problem, we claim we do not deserve it. We are even prepared to scuttle God to maintain our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gerstner/so-when-we-call-pain-a-problem-we-claim-we-do-not-deserve-it-we-are/) [John Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gerstner/) > [But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/but-to-be-fully-known-and-truly-loved-is-well-a-lot-like-being-loved/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [The saints are sinners still. Our best tears need to be wept over, the strongest faith is mixed with unbelief, our most flaming love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-saints-are-sinners-still-our-best-tears-need-to-be-wept-over-the/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Calamity, war, famine, plague, death, adversity, disease, injury do not necessarily produce repentance. We may become better in a calamity but it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/calamity-war-famine-plague-death-adversity-disease-injury-do-not/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) ## More by J. C. Ryle > [When a person’s tongue is extensively wrong, it is absurd, no less than unscriptural, to say that their heart is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/when-a-person-s-tongue-is-extensively-wrong-it-is-absurd-no-less-than/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Love should be the silver thread that runs through all your conduct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/love-should-be-the-silver-thread-that-runs-through-all-your-conduct/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Amidst the flood of dangerous reading, I plead for my Master's book; I call upon you not to forget the book of the soul.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/amidst-the-flood-of-dangerous-reading-i-plead-for-my-master-s-book-i/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Persecution, in short, is like the goldsmith's stamp on real silver and gold - it is one of the marks of a converted man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/persecution-in-short-is-like-the-goldsmith-s-stamp-on-real-silver-and/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [The parent who tries to train without setting a good example is building with one hand, and pulling down with the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/the-parent-who-tries-to-train-without-setting-a-good-example-is/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [We are all naturally self-righteous. It is the family disease of all the children of Adam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/we-are-all-naturally-self-righteous-it-is-the-family-disease-of-all/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Sunday morning, before we go to hear the Word of God preached...let us not rush into God’s presence careless, reckless, and unprepared, as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/sunday-morning-before-we-go-to-hear-the-word-of-god-preached-let-us/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [The true secret of spiritual strength is self-distrust and deep humilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/the-true-secret-of-spiritual-strength-is-self-distrust-and-deep/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [That Bible is read best, which is practised most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/that-bible-is-read-best-which-is-practised-most/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [O Christian, look up and take comfort. Jesus has prepared a place for you, and those who follow Him shall never perish, neither shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/o-christian-look-up-and-take-comfort-jesus-has-prepared-a-place-for/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Let your Christianity be so unmistakable, your eye so single, your heart so whole, your walk so straightforward, that all who see you may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/let-your-christianity-be-so-unmistakable-your-eye-so-single-your/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Let it be a settled principle ...that men's salvation, if saved, is wholly of God; and that man's ruin, if lost, is wholly of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/let-it-be-a-settled-principle-that-men-s-salvation-if-saved-is-wholly/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [That Bible is read best - which is practiced most!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/that-bible-is-read-best-which-is-practiced-most/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [If we would know whether our faith is genuine, we do well to ask ourselves how we are living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/if-we-would-know-whether-our-faith-is-genuine-we-do-well-to-ask/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [To be born again is, as it were, to enter upon a new existence, to have a new mind, a new heart, new views,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/to-be-born-again-is-as-it-were-to-enter-upon-a-new-existence-to-have/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) [Explore all 369 J. C. Ryle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [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/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Beware of self-righteousness in every possible shape and form. Some people get as much harm from their \"virtues\" as others do from their sins.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. C. Ryle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/beware-of-self-righteousness-in-every-possible-shape-and-form-some/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/beware-of-self-righteousness-in-every-possible-shape-and-form-some/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/j-c-ryle-789_character_beware-of-self-righteousness-in-every-po_2576166.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/j-c-ryle-789_character_beware-of-self-righteousness-in-every-po_2576166.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e86/j-c-ryle-789_character_beware-of-self-righteousness-in-every-po_2576166.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Beware of self-righteousness in every possible shape and form. Some people get as much harm from their…” — J. C. Ryle", "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": "J. C. Ryle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Beware of self-righteousness in every possible...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/beware-of-self-righteousness-in-every-possible-shape-and-form-some/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/beware-of-self-righteousness-in-every-possible-shape-and-form-some/#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 } } ] } ```