--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 5. I Will Strive to Finish…" description: "\"“5. I Will Strive to Finish Well—Faithfulness Matters The final “rung” on my character ladder is the determination to keep building character and livin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/john-c-maxwell-113_becoming-a-better-pe_5-i-will-strive-to-finish-well-faithfuln_1201448.jpg" --- # 5. I Will Strive to Finish Well—Faithfulness Matters The… ![“5. I Will Strive to Finish Well—Faithfulness Matters The final “rung” on my character ladder is the determination to keep building character and living at the highest standard until the day I die. I am endeavoring to do that by doing the right thing and becoming a better person every day. To do…” quote by John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/john-c-maxwell-113_becoming-a-better-pe_5-i-will-strive-to-finish-well-faithfuln_1201448.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/john-c-maxwell-113_becoming-a-better-pe_5-i-will-strive-to-finish-well-faithfuln_1201448.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f4/john-c-maxwell-113_becoming-a-better-pe_5-i-will-strive-to-finish-well-faithfuln_1201448.jpg) > ““5. I Will Strive to Finish Well—Faithfulness Matters The final “rung” on my character ladder is the determination to keep building character and living at the highest standard until the day I die. I am endeavoring to do that by doing the right thing and becoming a better person every day. To do the right thing, I don’t wait to feel like it. I recognize that emotion follows motion. Do the right thing and you feel right. Do the wrong thing and you feel bad. If you take control of your behavior, your emotions will fall into place.”” [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consistent moral effort builds character; actions precede feelings, and disciplined behavior shapes emotions. **In simple terms:** Do right, feel right. Key Takeaway Act before feeling. Themes character discipline emotion growth Mood motivational practical Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - daily decision making - leadership challenges - personal improvement Key Concepts self‑control habit formation moral development Questions to Reflect On - How can you start good habits without waiting for motivation? - What small actions reinforce your values? A Different Perspective Emotions can be complex and not always align with actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Becoming a better person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming-a-better-person/) [Better person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-person/) [Building character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building-character/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Doing the right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-the-right-thing/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Final Rung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/final-rung-3605282/) [Finish Faithfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finish-faithfulness-3605279/) [Finish Well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finish-well/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Rung Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rung-character-3605281/) [Strive Finish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive-finish-3605280/) ## Related quotes > [Let us strive on to finish the work we are in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-strive-on-to-finish-the-work-we-are-in/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“Pastor and radio broadcaster Tony Evans says, “If you want a better world, composed of better nations, inhabited by better states, filled with better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/pastor-and-radio-broadcaster-tony-evans-says-if-you-want-a-better/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“All nuts are high in protein and monounsaturated fat. But almonds are the Usain Bolt of nuts: They’re undeniably nutty, but they still manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-zinczenko/all-nuts-are-high-in-protein-and-monounsaturated-fat-but-almonds-are/) [David Zinczenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-zinczenko/) > [In life, even if you start off badly, you can finish well.. Henry Ford said, 'mistakes are simply the opportunity to start again, knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nushra/in-life-even-if-you-start-off-badly-you-can-finish-well-henry-ford/) [Nushra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nushra/) > [It is easier to begin well than to finish well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/it-is-easier-to-begin-well-than-to-finish-well/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [Stop comparing yourself to others. You have your own race to run. Finish well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-comparing-yourself-to-others-you-have-your-own-race-to-run/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is really bad, when you create so many chances but you can't finish well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-daei/this-is-really-bad-when-you-create-so-many-chances-but-you-can-t/) [Ali Daei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-daei/) > [“Leaders who finish well have the faith to trust God’s Word—its promises and its commands. They are willing to step out in faith, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-chappell/leaders-who-finish-well-have-the-faith-to-trust-god-s-word-its/) [Paul Chappell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-chappell/) > [Let's determine to finish well by helping facilitate a lifelong conversation and sense of community between God and the people He has called us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-baloche/let-s-determine-to-finish-well-by-helping-facilitate-a-lifelong/) [Paul Baloche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-baloche/) > [When you live well and do well, you will finish well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale-ogundare/when-you-live-well-and-do-well-you-will-finish-well/) [Wale Ogundare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale-ogundare/) > [No-one wants to finish a job badly. If you know that you are going to finish your job in six months, then you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sven-goran-eriksson/no-one-wants-to-finish-a-job-badly-if-you-know-that-you-are-going-to/) [Sven-Goran Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sven-goran-eriksson/) > [“Finish Well; Anyone Can Start Well”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-anthony-smith/finish-well-anyone-can-start-well/) [Miles Anthony Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-anthony-smith/) > [More important than starting well in our walk with God is to finish well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-manuel-rivera/more-important-than-starting-well-in-our-walk-with-god-is-to-finish/) [Victor Manuel Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-manuel-rivera/) > [“Finishing Well Requires Mountains of Grace. The mountainous problems that surround us are made flat in the end by God’s grace (4: 7). Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-brogden/finishing-well-requires-mountains-of-grace-the-mountainous-problems/) [Dick Brogden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-brogden/) > [If you bowl well early in the innings, it is also important to finish well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuvneshwar-kumar/if-you-bowl-well-early-in-the-innings-it-is-also-important-to-finish/) [Bhuvneshwar Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuvneshwar-kumar/) ## More by John C. Maxwell > [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [You cannot have growth without change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/you-cannot-have-growth-without-change/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/change-is-inevitable-growth-is-optional/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Goals not only help you develop initial motivation by making your dreams obtainable, but they also help you continue to be motivated and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/goals-not-only-help-you-develop-initial-motivation-by-making-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Vision is a picture of a desired future; a picture of something that I don't possess right now, but it is something I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/vision-is-a-picture-of-a-desired-future-a-picture-of-something-that-i/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you want to make your mother happy, talk to her. If you want to make your father happy, listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/if-you-want-to-make-your-mother-happy-talk-to-her-if-you-want-to-make/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Experiences isn't the best teacher - evaluated experience is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/experiences-isn-t-the-best-teacher-evaluated-experience-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A big man is one who makes us feel bigger when we are with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-big-man-is-one-who-makes-us-feel-bigger-when-we-are-with-him/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Passion gives you an advantage over others, because one person with passion is greater than ninety-nine who have only an interest!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/passion-gives-you-an-advantage-over-others-because-one-person-with/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I thought if I was open and honest, it would help the reader to get open and honest, and they also would realize sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/i-thought-if-i-was-open-and-honest-it-would-help-the-reader-to-get/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A person who has a dream knows what he is willing to give up in order to go up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-person-who-has-a-dream-knows-what-he-is-willing-to-give-up-in-order/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [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/) > [Working together precedes winning together...collaboration is multiplication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/working-together-precedes-winning-together-collaboration-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Leaders don't rise to the pinnacle of success without developing the right set of attitudes and habits; they make every day a masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/leaders-don-t-rise-to-the-pinnacle-of-success-without-developing-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Your leadership skills determine the level of your success, and the success of those who work around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/your-leadership-skills-determine-the-level-of-your-success-and-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) [Explore all 1,233 John C. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## More Becoming a better person quotes > [If you're honest with yourself, that's the first step in maturing and becoming a better person. If you suppress your shortcomings and fears, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-millard/if-you-re-honest-with-yourself-that-s-the-first-step-in-maturing-and/) [Keith Millard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-millard/) > [“Pastor and radio broadcaster Tony Evans says, “If you want a better world, composed of better nations, inhabited by better states, filled with better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/pastor-and-radio-broadcaster-tony-evans-says-if-you-want-a-better/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I knew what the sanctified life was not. Not a life filled with more rituals, more scrupulously observed. Not more praying. Not becoming a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-l-ochs/i-knew-what-the-sanctified-life-was-not-not-a-life-filled-with-more/) [Vanessa L Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-l-ochs/) > [“The best investment you will ever make is in yourself. Never stop exploring, learning, experiencing, and becoming a better person each day”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-seetubtim/the-best-investment-you-will-ever-make-is-in-yourself-never-stop/) [Mo Seetubtim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-seetubtim/) > [You can't expect to find this amazing person if you're not growing and becoming a better person yourself...the harvest depends on the seed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-expect-to-find-this-amazing-person-if-you-re-not-growing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are really two things that drive New Year's resolution success. Number one is telling somebody about your goal. Chances are, they'll either join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-oz/there-are-really-two-things-that-drive-new-year-s-resolution-success/) [Mehmet Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-oz/) > [“The empirical fact is that self-actualizing people, our best experiencers, are also our most compassionate, our great improvers and reformers of society, our most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-h-maslow/the-empirical-fact-is-that-self-actualizing-people-our-best/) [Abraham H. Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-h-maslow/) > [“Focus your future efforts on becoming a better person adding value to your community and the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/focus-your-future-efforts-on-becoming-a-better-person-adding-value-to/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“Maybe there was a reason for me waking up and becoming a better person. Maybe it was because all along I was meant to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-stone/maybe-there-was-a-reason-for-me-waking-up-and-becoming-a-better/) [Amanda Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-stone/) > [I worked on becoming a better person and nurturing what I've been blessed with, improving my skills and taking care of my health and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heart-evangelista/i-worked-on-becoming-a-better-person-and-nurturing-what-i-ve-been/) [Heart Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heart-evangelista/) > [Sometimes, off the field you learn the most, becoming a better person, and nutritionally, I've worked a lot on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-pickford/sometimes-off-the-field-you-learn-the-most-becoming-a-better-person/) [Jordan Pickford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-pickford/) > [I refuse to go back to the old me. I'm becoming a better person using my past experiences as lessons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-refuse-to-go-back-to-the-old-me-i-m-becoming-a-better-person-using/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When characters change on screen, it makes you feel better about yourself. You think, 'Oh I change too, I'm constantly becoming a better person.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reitman/when-characters-change-on-screen-it-makes-you-feel-better-about/) [Jason Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reitman/) > [Becoming a better person isn't just about talking about things that can make you a better person, it's actually about stepping up and making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/becoming-a-better-person-isn-t-just-about-talking-about-things-that/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [The first step to change into becoming a better person is to accept that nobody is perfect and there is always something that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-cabading/the-first-step-to-change-into-becoming-a-better-person-is-to-accept/) [Ivy Cabading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-cabading/) [Browse all 22 Becoming a better person quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming-a-better-person/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“5. 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