--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: \"What Thou wilt, when Thou wilt, how Thou…" description: "\"\"What Thou wilt, when Thou wilt, how Thou wilt.\" I had rather speak these three sentences from my heart in my mother tongue than be master of all the l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/john-newton-6629_christian_what-thou-wilt-when-thou-wilt-how-thou-w_1371687.jpg" --- # "What Thou wilt, when Thou wilt, how Thou wilt." I had… ![“"What Thou wilt, when Thou wilt, how Thou wilt." I had rather speak these three sentences from my heart in my mother tongue than be master of all the languages in Europe.” quote by John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/john-newton-6629_christian_what-thou-wilt-when-thou-wilt-how-thou-w_1371687.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/john-newton-6629_christian_what-thou-wilt-when-thou-wilt-how-thou-w_1371687.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/john-newton-6629_christian_what-thou-wilt-when-thou-wilt-how-thou-w_1371687.jpg) > “"What Thou wilt, when Thou wilt, how Thou wilt." I had rather speak these three sentences from my heart in my mother tongue than be master of all the languages in Europe.” [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote emphasizes personal authenticity and the freedom to act according to one’s own will, valuing heartfelt expression over external mastery. **In simple terms:** Be true to yourself and speak from the heart. Key Takeaway Prioritize inner truth over external accolades. Themes authenticity freedom self‑expression Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal relationships - creative writing - public speaking - cross‑cultural communication Key Concepts will personal agency language culture Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to act with true will? - How can we balance personal freedom with social responsibility? A Different Perspective May be misinterpreted as endorsing selfishness without regard for others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mother tongue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-tongue/) [My heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-heart/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sentences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentences/) [Spanish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spanish/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Thou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou/) [Thou Wilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou-wilt/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Tongue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tongue/) [Wilt Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wilt-speak-4726024/) [Wilt Thou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wilt-thou-527943/) ## Related quotes > [Go where thou wilt, thou canst not go out of thy Father's ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-boston/go-where-thou-wilt-thou-canst-not-go-out-of-thy-father-s-ground/) [Thomas Boston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-boston/) > [To her who gives and takes back all, to nature, the man who is instructed and modest says, Give what thou wilt; take back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/to-her-who-gives-and-takes-back-all-to-nature-the-man-who-is/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [But thou, through good and evil, praise and blame, Wilt not thou love me for myself alone? Yes, thou wilt love me with exceeding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/but-thou-through-good-and-evil-praise-and-blame-wilt-not-thou-love-me/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [“O thou dissembling cub! what wilt thou be When time hath sow'd a grizzle on thy case? Or will not else thy craft so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-thou-dissembling-cub-what-wilt-thou-be-when-time-hath-sow-d-a/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Wilt thou, then, my soul, never be good and simple and one and naked, more manifest than the body which surrounds thee?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/wilt-thou-then-my-soul-never-be-good-and-simple-and-one-and-naked/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [If I leave all for thee, wilt thou exchange And be all to me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/if-i-leave-all-for-thee-wilt-thou-exchange-and-be-all-to-me/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [“Give, O Lord, what Thou commandest, and then command what Thou wilt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/give-o-lord-what-thou-commandest-and-then-command-what-thou-wilt/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [If thou love each thing thou wilt perceive the mystery of God in all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/if-thou-love-each-thing-thou-wilt-perceive-the-mystery-of-god-in-all/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“I am but a flower. Do with me what thou wilt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-am-but-a-flower-do-with-me-what-thou-wilt/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Da quod iubes et iube quod vis Give what thou commandest and command what thou wilt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine-of-hippo/da-quod-iubes-et-iube-quod-vis-give-what-thou-commandest-and-command/) [Saint Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine-of-hippo/) > [Yet leave me not; yet, if thou wilt, be free; love me no more, but love my love of thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/yet-leave-me-not-yet-if-thou-wilt-be-free-love-me-no-more-but-love-my/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [Be faithful and true of word; let thy walk be plain and lowly: thou wilt get on, though in savage land. If thy words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/be-faithful-and-true-of-word-let-thy-walk-be-plain-and-lowly-thou/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [If thou wilt be observant and vigilant, thou wilt see at every moment the response to thy action. Be observant if thou wouldst have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-thou-wilt-be-observant-and-vigilant-thou-wilt-see-at-every-moment/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Make me what Thou wouldst have me. I bargain for nothing. I make no terms. I seek for no previous information whither Thou art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/make-me-what-thou-wouldst-have-me-i-bargain-for-nothing-i-make-no/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [“Who calls us Thelemites will do no wrong, if he look but close into the word. For there are therein Three Grades, the Hermit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley-frater-perdurabo/who-calls-us-thelemites-will-do-no-wrong-if-he-look-but-close-into/) [Aleister Crowley (Frater Perdurabo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley-frater-perdurabo/) ## More by John Newton > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [I compare the troubles which we have to undergo in the course of the year to a great bundle of sticks, far too large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/i-compare-the-troubles-which-we-have-to-undergo-in-the-course-of-the/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [God works powerfully, but for the most part gently and gradually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/god-works-powerfully-but-for-the-most-part-gently-and-gradually/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [Time, by moments, steals away, First the hour, and then the day; Small the daily loss appears, Yet it soon amounts to years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/time-by-moments-steals-away-first-the-hour-and-then-the-day-small-the/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [Whether men are pleased or not, we will, we must, worship the Lamb that was slain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/whether-men-are-pleased-or-not-we-will-we-must-worship-the-lamb-that/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [If two angels were sent down from heaven,--one to conduct an empire, and the other to sweep a street,--they would feel no inclination to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/if-two-angels-were-sent-down-from-heaven-one-to-conduct-an-empire-and/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [A soul disengaged from the world is a heavenly one; and then are we ready for heaven when our heart is there before us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/a-soul-disengaged-from-the-world-is-a-heavenly-one-and-then-are-we/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [By one hour's intimate access to the throne of grace, where the Lord causes His glory to pass before the soul that seeks Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/by-one-hour-s-intimate-access-to-the-throne-of-grace-where-the-lord/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“The weapons of our warfare, and which alone are powerful to break down the strongholds of error, are not carnal, but spiritual. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/the-weapons-of-our-warfare-and-which-alone-are-powerful-to-break-down/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [If two angels were to receive at the same moment a commission from God, one to go down and rule earth’s grandest empire, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/if-two-angels-were-to-receive-at-the-same-moment-a-commission-from/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [If it were possible for me to alter any part of his plan, I could only spoil it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/if-it-were-possible-for-me-to-alter-any-part-of-his-plan-i-could-only/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [May we sit at the foot of the cross; and there learn what sin has done, what justice has done, what love has done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/may-we-sit-at-the-foot-of-the-cross-and-there-learn-what-sin-has-done/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Self-righteousness can feed upon doctrines—as well as upon works!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/self-righteousness-can-feed-upon-doctrines-as-well-as-upon-works/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [We can easily manage if we will only take, each day, the burden appointed to it. But the load will be too heavy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-can-easily-manage-if-we-will-only-take-each-day-the-burden/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) [Explore all 98 John Newton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) ## More Christian quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/) [Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/) > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) [Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "\"What Thou wilt, when Thou wilt, how Thou wilt.\" I had rather speak these three sentences from my heart in my mother tongue than be master of all the languages in Europe.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Newton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/what-thou-wilt-when-thou-wilt-how-thou-wilt-i-had-rather-speak-these/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/what-thou-wilt-when-thou-wilt-how-thou-wilt-i-had-rather-speak-these/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/john-newton-6629_christian_what-thou-wilt-when-thou-wilt-how-thou-w_1371687.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/john-newton-6629_christian_what-thou-wilt-when-thou-wilt-how-thou-w_1371687.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/john-newton-6629_christian_what-thou-wilt-when-thou-wilt-how-thou-w_1371687.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“\"What Thou wilt, when Thou wilt, how Thou wilt.\" I had rather speak these three sentences from my heart in…” — John Newton", "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": "John Newton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "\"What Thou wilt, when Thou wilt,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/what-thou-wilt-when-thou-wilt-how-thou-wilt-i-had-rather-speak-these/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/what-thou-wilt-when-thou-wilt-how-thou-wilt-i-had-rather-speak-these/#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 } } ] } ```