---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a man teach uprightly and walk…"
description: "\"If a man teach uprightly and walk crookedly, more will fall down in the night of his life than he built in the day of his doctrine.\" — John Owen"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/john-owen-1415_built_if-a-man-teach-uprightly-and-walk-crooke_2805108.png"
---

#  If a man teach uprightly and walk crookedly, more will…

![“If a man teach uprightly and walk crookedly, more will fall down in the night of his life than he built in the day of his doctrine.” quote by John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/john-owen-1415_built_if-a-man-teach-uprightly-and-walk-crooke_2805108.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/john-owen-1415_built_if-a-man-teach-uprightly-and-walk-crooke_2805108.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a9/john-owen-1415_built_if-a-man-teach-uprightly-and-walk-crooke_2805108.png)

> “If a man teach uprightly and walk crookedly, more will fall down in the night of his life than he built in the day of his doctrine.”

[John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Living inconsistently—teaching moral standards while acting contrary—leads to greater personal ruin than any good one accomplishes.

**In simple terms:** Hypocrisy harms more than it helps.

Key Takeaway

Align actions with teachings.

Themes

integrity hypocrisy consequences

Mood

reflective serious

Type

ethical advisory

When to use this quote

- leadership
- parenting
- public speaking
- personal development

Key Concepts

Christian ethics moral dissonance

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you ensure your behavior reflects your values?
- What habits reveal hidden inconsistencies?

A Different Perspective

Even sincere teachings can be undermined by personal failings.

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[Built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built/) [Crookedly Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crookedly-fall-3477552/) [Day Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-doctrine-3477553/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Falling down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-down/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Man Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-teach-487303/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teach Uprightly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-uprightly-3477551/) [Walk Crookedly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walk-crookedly-3477550/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/)

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