--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let us not become so intense in our zeal…" description: "\"Let us not become so intense in our zeal to do good by winning arguments or by our pure intention in disputing doctrine that we go beyond good sense an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/james-e-faust-1274_argument_let-us-not-become-so-intense-in-our-zeal_1884531.jpg" --- # Let us not become so intense in our zeal to do good by… ![“Let us not become so intense in our zeal to do good by winning arguments or by our pure intention in disputing doctrine that we go beyond good sense and manners, thereby promoting contention, or say and do imprudent things, invoke cynicism, or ridicule with flippancy.” quote by James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/james-e-faust-1274_argument_let-us-not-become-so-intense-in-our-zeal_1884531.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/james-e-faust-1274_argument_let-us-not-become-so-intense-in-our-zeal_1884531.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/james-e-faust-1274_argument_let-us-not-become-so-intense-in-our-zeal_1884531.jpg) > “Let us not become so intense in our zeal to do good by winning arguments or by our pure intention in disputing doctrine that we go beyond good sense and manners, thereby promoting contention, or say and do imprudent things, invoke cynicism, or ridicule with flippancy.” [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excessive zeal in moral arguments can lead to arrogance, cynicism, and imprudent behavior, undermining good intentions. **In simple terms:** Overzealous moral arguments cause arrogance and imprudence. Key Takeaway Temper zeal with humility and prudence. Themes ethics humility communication moderation Mood thoughtful balanced Type ethical leadership When to use this quote - team meetings - public debates - conflict mediation Key Concepts moral philosophy dialogue leadership development Questions to Reflect On - How can you argue ethically without becoming dogmatic? - What practices keep moral discussions constructive? A Different Perspective Excessive zeal can alienate others and damage relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Cynicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynicism/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Good sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-sense/) [Intense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intense/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Ridicule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridicule/) [Thereby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thereby/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Zeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zeal/) ## Related quotes > [There is no doctrine will do good where nature is wanting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/there-is-no-doctrine-will-do-good-where-nature-is-wanting/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [The film opens up the world beyond Katniss' point of view, allowing the audience access to the happenings of places like the Hunger Games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/the-film-opens-up-the-world-beyond-katniss-point-of-view-allowing-the/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I believe the quickest and most sure way to reduce poverty, raise living standards and create jobs around the world is to make economies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-bisnow/i-believe-the-quickest-and-most-sure-way-to-reduce-poverty-raise/) [Elliott Bisnow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-bisnow/) > [Mr. Chairman, on September 11, we were attacked by terrorists who took advantage of weaknesses in our border security. After infiltrating our country, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ryun/mr-chairman-on-september-11-we-were-attacked-by-terrorists-who-took/) [Jim Ryun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ryun/) > [Theology necessitates an image of God as a conscious, rational, supernatural being of unlimited power and scope who cares about humans and imposes moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/theology-necessitates-an-image-of-god-as-a-conscious-rational/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [The aim is to postpone frailty, postpone degenerative disease, debilitation and so on and thereby shorten the period at the end of life, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-de-grey/the-aim-is-to-postpone-frailty-postpone-degenerative-disease/) [Aubrey de Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-de-grey/) > [We Protestants automatically assume that the Pharisees are the Catholics. They are the self-righteous people who have made Christianity a form of legalistic religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/we-protestants-automatically-assume-that-the-pharisees-are-the/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [That tax relief can spur the economy and thereby benefit all Americans is something that Washington Democrats used to understand. President Kennedy, for example,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bouchard/that-tax-relief-can-spur-the-economy-and-thereby-benefit-all/) Mike Bouchard > [Your genome sequence will become a vital part of your medical record, thereby providing critical information about how to optimize your wellness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/your-genome-sequence-will-become-a-vital-part-of-your-medical-record/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) > [When we fall asleep, we withdraw our awareness from its hypnotic fascination with physical sensation, thereby enabling us to listen with our now awakening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-reed/when-we-fall-asleep-we-withdraw-our-awareness-from-its-hypnotic/) [Henry Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-reed/) > [God removes the sin of the one who makes humble confession, and thereby the devil loses the sovereignty he had gained over the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-bernard/god-removes-the-sin-of-the-one-who-makes-humble-confession-and/) [Saint Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-bernard/) > [Italy has piled up huge public debt because the successive governments were too close to the life of ordinary citizens, too willing to please…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-monti/italy-has-piled-up-huge-public-debt-because-the-successive/) [Mario Monti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-monti/) > [The reason that last-ditch political maneuvering has become business as usual in Washington is that the actors involved are drunk on blame and are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/the-reason-that-last-ditch-political-maneuvering-has-become-business/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [They definitely mean to maintain that the process called death is a mere severence of soul and body, and that the soul is freed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-joseph-lodge/they-definitely-mean-to-maintain-that-the-process-called-death-is-a/) Oliver Joseph Lodge > [Electrical science has revealed to us the true nature of light, has provided us with innumerable appliances and instruments of precision, and has thereby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/electrical-science-has-revealed-to-us-the-true-nature-of-light-has/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) ## More by James E. Faust > [Leadership is about three-fourths show-the-way and about one-fourth follow-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/leadership-is-about-three-fourths-show-the-way-and-about-one-fourth/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [The Holy Ghost is the greatest guarantor of inward peace in our unstable world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/the-holy-ghost-is-the-greatest-guarantor-of-inward-peace-in-our/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [I personally claim no special insight into Satan's methods, but I have at times been able to identify his influence and his actions in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/i-personally-claim-no-special-insight-into-satan-s-methods-but-i-have/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [I hope that each of you girls will become an individual of significant worth and a person of virtue so that your contributions are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/i-hope-that-each-of-you-girls-will-become-an-individual-of/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [For women, the important ingredients for happiness are to forge an identity, serve the Lord, get an education, develop your talents, serve your family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/for-women-the-important-ingredients-for-happiness-are-to-forge-an/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [You want to make your own decisions, but you ought to make those decisions with an eternal perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/you-want-to-make-your-own-decisions-but-you-ought-to-make-those/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [ Satan had two conditions \[to his plan\]: the first was the denial of agency, and the second, that he would have the honor. In… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/satan-had-two-conditions-to-his-plan-the-first-was-the-denial-of/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [Just as order gave life and beauty to the earth when it was dark and void, so it does to us. Obedience helps us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/just-as-order-gave-life-and-beauty-to-the-earth-when-it-was-dark-and/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [Integrity is the value we set on ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/integrity-is-the-value-we-set-on-ourselves/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [Your criticism may be worse than the conduct you are trying to correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/your-criticism-may-be-worse-than-the-conduct-you-are-trying-to-correct/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [You cannot convert people beyond your own conversion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/you-cannot-convert-people-beyond-your-own-conversion/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [In order to do well, missionary work has to be totally positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/in-order-to-do-well-missionary-work-has-to-be-totally-positive/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [We were called, male and female, to do great works with separate approaches and separate assignments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/we-were-called-male-and-female-to-do-great-works-with-separate/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [It is not good practice to become intrigued by Satan and his mysteries. No good can come from getting close to evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/it-is-not-good-practice-to-become-intrigued-by-satan-and-his/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [As children of the Lord we should strive every day to rise to a higher level of personal righteousness in all of our actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/as-children-of-the-lord-we-should-strive-every-day-to-rise-to-a/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) [Explore all 263 James E. Faust quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) ## More Argument quotes > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [On the stage, the characters express themselves more through words than images. So the arguments of the characters and the tension between characters -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/on-the-stage-the-characters-express-themselves-more-through-words/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [One argument goes that recessions are good for female artists because when money flies out the window, women are allowed in the house. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/one-argument-goes-that-recessions-are-good-for-female-artists-because/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) > [“Arguments led by subjectivity are a waste of time. And, if they take place online, add to that, a waste of one’s keyboard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/arguments-led-by-subjectivity-are-a-waste-of-time-and-if-they-take/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [If in the middle of an argument I suddenly fall silent it does not mean you have won... No it means you should probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/if-in-the-middle-of-an-argument-i-suddenly-fall-silent-it-does-not/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) > [“The motive behind my arguments have always been to come at truth. I am not interested in conquering anyone with my ideologies or seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-evans/the-motive-behind-my-arguments-have-always-been-to-come-at-truth-i-am/) [Crystal Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-evans/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) [Browse all 3,479 Argument quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let us not become so intense in our zeal to do good by winning arguments or by our pure intention in disputing doctrine that we go beyond good sense and manners, thereby promoting contention, or say and do imprudent things, invoke cynicism, or ridicule with flippancy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James E. Faust" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/let-us-not-become-so-intense-in-our-zeal-to-do-good-by-winning/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Argument" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/let-us-not-become-so-intense-in-our-zeal-to-do-good-by-winning/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/james-e-faust-1274_argument_let-us-not-become-so-intense-in-our-zeal_1884531.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/james-e-faust-1274_argument_let-us-not-become-so-intense-in-our-zeal_1884531.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/james-e-faust-1274_argument_let-us-not-become-so-intense-in-our-zeal_1884531.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let us not become so intense in our zeal to do good by winning arguments or by our pure intention in…” — James E. Faust", "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": "James E. Faust", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Let us not become so intense...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/let-us-not-become-so-intense-in-our-zeal-to-do-good-by-winning/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/let-us-not-become-so-intense-in-our-zeal-to-do-good-by-winning/#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 } } ] } ```