--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here’s the bottom line: We can pay now or…" description: "\"“Here’s the bottom line: We can pay now or we can pay later. It’s our choice. You can pay the price now to deal with attitudes and roots in your life t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/jennifer-leclaire-247334_bottom-line_here-s-the-bottom-line-we-can-pay-now-or_2863802.jpg" --- # Here’s the bottom line: We can pay now or we can pay… ![“Here’s the bottom line: We can pay now or we can pay later. It’s our choice. You can pay the price now to deal with attitudes and roots in your life that are anything but Christ-like. (That price is often self-denial rather than self-indulgence.) Or you can decide to run the race carrying the…” quote by Jennifer LeClaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/jennifer-leclaire-247334_bottom-line_here-s-the-bottom-line-we-can-pay-now-or_2863802.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/jennifer-leclaire-247334_bottom-line_here-s-the-bottom-line-we-can-pay-now-or_2863802.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/jennifer-leclaire-247334_bottom-line_here-s-the-bottom-line-we-can-pay-now-or_2863802.jpg) > ““Here’s the bottom line: We can pay now or we can pay later. It’s our choice. You can pay the price now to deal with attitudes and roots in your life that are anything but Christ-like. (That price is often self-denial rather than self-indulgence.) Or you can decide to run the race carrying the cumbersome weights of sin and self as you chase ministry opportunities that seem too good to pass up. The cost of taking the time to prepare yourself for the higher calling may seem too much to bear. Impatience clouds the realities of readiness. But I guarantee this: If you put off reconciling your character debts today you’ll pay the piper with compounded interest later.”” [Jennifer LeClaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-leclaire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing to address personal flaws now versus later influences spiritual growth; delaying leads to compounded consequences. **In simple terms:** Address personal flaws now; delay worsens them. Key Takeaway Prioritize immediate self‑improvement. Themes spirituality growth responsibility Mood reflective motivational Type Bottom line:1 Higher calling:1 Pay the price:1 Later Choice:1 Pay Price:1 Price Self:0 Pay Later:0 Indulgence Decide:0 When to use this quote - religious counseling - personal development - coaching Key Concepts self‑assessment discipline long‑term planning Questions to Reflect On - What character debts need reconciling? - How can you balance self‑care with growth? A Different Perspective Self‑denial can be misinterpreted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bottom line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom-line/) [Higher calling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-calling/) [Indulgence Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indulgence-decide-3878375/) [Later Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/later-choice-295062/) [Pay Later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-later-789009/) [Pay Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-price/) [Pay the price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-the-price/) [Price Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/price-self-413049/) ## Related quotes > [One cannot pay the price of self-respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/one-cannot-pay-the-price-of-self-respect/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [There is a price which is too great to pay for peace, and that price can be put in one word. One cannot pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/there-is-a-price-which-is-too-great-to-pay-for-peace-and-that-price/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Eventually we have to "settle up" and pay the price for our ethical violations. Just remember the old line that says, "You can pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/eventually-we-have-to-settle-up-and-pay-the-price-for-our-ethical/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [Later is always my first choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/later-is-always-my-first-choice/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [If it goes against what you stand for or believe in, you can decline it NOW or you can regret it LATER. The choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/if-it-goes-against-what-you-stand-for-or-believe-in-you-can-decline/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [The price of self-empowerment is what I call it. Somebody who thinks outside the box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/the-price-of-self-empowerment-is-what-i-call-it-somebody-who-thinks/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“If anything occurs that causes your price to go down, it’s a self-inflicted wound.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-l-steinmetz/if-anything-occurs-that-causes-your-price-to-go-down-it-s-a-self/) [Lawrence L. Steinmetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-l-steinmetz/) > [“The price of self-destiny is never cheap, and in certain situations it is unthinkable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-price-of-self-destiny-is-never-cheap-and-in-certain-situations-it/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Never lower your standards just to fill a position. You will pay for it later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cottrell/never-lower-your-standards-just-to-fill-a-position-you-will-pay-for/) [David Cottrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cottrell/) > [You're trying to sleep off a debt that you've lumbered your brain and body with during the week, and wouldn't it be lovely if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/you-re-trying-to-sleep-off-a-debt-that-you-ve-lumbered-your-brain-and/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [Denial is a save now, pay later scheme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-de-becker/denial-is-a-save-now-pay-later-scheme/) [Gavin de Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-de-becker/) > [“When a person’s debt increases a lot, at first he will feel he wants to pay it all back, later he will think, ‘Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/when-a-person-s-debt-increases-a-lot-at-first-he-will-feel-he-wants/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [You don't know what to say to me because the kingdom is within...flesh and blood's dream...so you fly now, pay later, all of us...I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/you-don-t-know-what-to-say-to-me-because-the-kingdom-is-within-flesh/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“Our debts don't leave us much in terms of choices. We can choose to pay now or try to pay later. But the longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/our-debts-don-t-leave-us-much-in-terms-of-choices-we-can-choose-to/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [Pay now, play later; play now, pay later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/pay-now-play-later-play-now-pay-later/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## More Bottom line quotes > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/filmmaking-like-sex-isn-t-a-polite-enterprise-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [Cheer up. You're not going to be single forever. Bottom line is, you're young. Don't base your future on your past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cheer-up-you-re-not-going-to-be-single-forever-bottom-line-is-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I plead with my Moonlight fans to give this show a chance if they let me give it a chance. 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/) > [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/) > [The bottom line, in the professional level, no matter where you go, there's going to be competition. That's what it is. At the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/the-bottom-line-in-the-professional-level-no-matter-where-you-go/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [The political satirist usually votes against their own interests, but the bottom line is that it doesn't really matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/the-political-satirist-usually-votes-against-their-own-interests-but/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) > [I'm very grateful to be where I'm at and be able to play. That's really the bottom line for me. Survival and being able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/i-m-very-grateful-to-be-where-i-m-at-and-be-able-to-play-that-s/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [Bottom line is, work ethic equals dreams, and I am walking proof that that's a fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diamond-dallas-page/bottom-line-is-work-ethic-equals-dreams-and-i-am-walking-proof-that/) [Diamond Dallas Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diamond-dallas-page/) > [One of two things when the guy you're dating isn't really ready to commit. He's an a\*\*hole and he's cheating on you; bottom line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-catherwood/one-of-two-things-when-the-guy-you-re-dating-isn-t-really-ready-to/) [Michael Catherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-catherwood/) > [The bottom line on attitude is that a good one helps to increase your possibilities. Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-bottom-line-on-attitude-is-that-a-good-one-helps-to-increase-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you look at the statistics, I genuinely understand why when we go to a production company or a broadcaster, and they say our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joivan-wade/if-you-look-at-the-statistics-i-genuinely-understand-why-when-we-go/) [Joivan Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joivan-wade/) > [With a reality show, the bottom line is, there's no plot; there's no finale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-gosselin/with-a-reality-show-the-bottom-line-is-there-s-no-plot-there-s-no/) [Kate Gosselin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-gosselin/) > [Two to 4% of cancers respond to chemotherapy…The bottom line is for a few kinds of cancer chemo is a life extending procedure-Hodgkin's disease,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-w-moss/two-to-4-of-cancers-respond-to-chemotherapy-the-bottom-line-is-for-a/) [Ralph W. Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-w-moss/) > [The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-never-perfect-but-love-can-be-b/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) [Browse all 942 Bottom line quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom-line/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Here’s the bottom line: We can pay now or we can pay later. It’s our choice. You can pay the price now to deal with attitudes and roots in your life that are anything but Christ-like. (That price is often self-denial rather than self-indulgence.) Or you can decide to run the race carrying the cumbersome weights of sin and self as you chase ministry opportunities that seem too good to pass up. 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