Agency Quote by John A. Widtsoe
““No one attribute so clearly distinguishes man as does the intelligent will or the will to act intelligently. It was by the exercise of their wills that spiritual beings in the beginning gathered information rapidly or slowly, acquired experiences freely or laboriously. Through the exercise of their wills they grew, remained passive, or retrograded, for with living things motion in any direction is possible.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Great Within, 1935
Intelligent will drives spiritual growth; exercising will determines progress or regression in life
In simple terms: Will determines growth or decline
Key Takeaway
Cultivate and exercise purposeful will
Themes
spirituality
willpower
growth
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal development
- educational curricula
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
Philosophy of mind
theology
Questions to Reflect On
- What actions reinforce your intelligent will?
- How do you measure progress of willful exercise?
A Different Perspective
Will alone cannot overcome external constraints
![“When will and intention are developed through living a disciplined life, according to rules that we consider a divine template for right living, tremendous personal power results. [...] They include such gifts as prophecy, healing, bilocation, mind reading, and the ability unto levitate or walk on…” quote by Joan Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/92f/joan-borysenko-35411_disciplined-life_when-will-and-intention-are-developed-th_854204.jpg)
![“[M]an … makes Nature merely the servant of his will and needs, and … degrades it to a mere machine, a product of the will. … [I]ts existence is intelligible to him, … he explains and interprets it out of himself, in accordance with his own feelings and notions.” quote by Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/458/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_a-part_m-an-makes-nature-merely-the-servant-of_3060668.jpg)
![“We have no clear ideas of the agency of [demonic] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but tells us plainly that he is always watching us, and desiring to sift us as wheat. I believe we give him no more than his due, when we charge him with having a…” quote by John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c75/john-newton-6629_abundance_we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of_2907.jpg)
