---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mortification from a self-strength…"
description: "\"Mortification from a self-strength, carried on by ways of self-invention, unto the end of a self-righteousness, is the soul and substance of all false ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91d/john-owen-1415_ends_mortification-from-a-self-strength-carri_1934465.png"
---

#  Mortification from a self-strength, carried on by ways of…

![“Mortification from a self-strength, carried on by ways of self-invention, unto the end of a self-righteousness, is the soul and substance of all false religion in the world.” quote by John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91d/john-owen-1415_ends_mortification-from-a-self-strength-carri_1934465.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91d/john-owen-1415_ends_mortification-from-a-self-strength-carri_1934465.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91d/john-owen-1415_ends_mortification-from-a-self-strength-carri_1934465.png)

> “Mortification from a self-strength, carried on by ways of self-invention, unto the end of a self-righteousness, is the soul and substance of all false religion in the world.”

[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.

Self‑righteousness and false piety are rooted in pride, leading to a religion that is merely a self‑serving illusion.

**In simple terms:** Pride creates false religion.

Key Takeaway

Guard against self‑righteousness.

Themes

pride religion authenticity humility

Mood

serious introspective

Type

theological philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal prayer
- community worship
- ethical decision‑making
- leadership accountability

Key Concepts

self‑deception spiritual integrity

Questions to Reflect On

- What pride fuels your beliefs?
- How can humility reshape your faith?

A Different Perspective

May overlook systemic issues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[End Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-self-1289087/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [False religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/false-religion/) [Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention/) [Mortification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortification/) [Mortification Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortification-self-3046833/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteousness/) [Righteousness Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteousness-soul-336261/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-righteousness/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Substance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/substance/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [Peace springs from righteousness in the soul, from upright living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/peace-springs-from-righteousness-in-the-soul-from-upright-living/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [Now nothing can prevent this but mortification; that withers the root and strikes at the head of sin every hour, so that whatever it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/now-nothing-can-prevent-this-but-mortification-that-withers-the-root/)

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

> [The good Lord send out a spirit of mortification to cure our distempers, or we are in a sad condition!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/the-good-lord-send-out-a-spirit-of-mortification-to-cure-our/)

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

> [“A man may beat down the bitter fruit from an evil tree until he is weary; while the root abides in strength and vigour,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/a-man-may-beat-down-the-bitter-fruit-from-an-evil-tree-until-he-is/)

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

> [A man may be carried on in a constant course of mortification all his days; and yet perhaps never enjoy a good day of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/a-man-may-be-carried-on-in-a-constant-course-of-mortification-all-his/)

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

> [“The Holy Spirit is promised of God to be given to us, to do this work (of mortification). The taking away of the stony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/the-holy-spirit-is-promised-of-god-to-be-given-to-us-to-do-this-work/)

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

> [Without a sincere and diligent effort in every area of obedience, there will be no sucessful mortification of any one besetting sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/without-a-sincere-and-diligent-effort-in-every-area-of-obedience/)

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

> [All attempts, then, for mortification of any lust, without an interest in Christ, are vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/all-attempts-then-for-mortification-of-any-lust-without-an-interest/)

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

> [“Not to be daily employing the Spirit and new nature for the mortifying of sin is to neglect that excellent succor which God has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/not-to-be-daily-employing-the-spirit-and-new-nature-for-the/)

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

> [When sin lets us alone we may let sin alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/when-sin-lets-us-alone-we-may-let-sin-alone/)

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

> [Sin also carries on its war by entangling the affections and drawing them into an alliance against the mind. Grace may be enthroned in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/sin-also-carries-on-its-war-by-entangling-the-affections-and-drawing/)

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

> [Not to be daily mortifying sin, is to sin against the goodness, kindness, wisdom, grace, and love of God, who hath furnished us with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/not-to-be-daily-mortifying-sin-is-to-sin-against-the-goodness/)

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

> [When sin lets us alone we may let sin alone; but as sin is never less quiet than when it seems to be most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/when-sin-lets-us-alone-we-may-let-sin-alone-but-as-sin-is-never-less/)

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

> [“a sense of the love of Christ in the cross; lie at the bottom of all true spiritual mortification”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/a-sense-of-the-love-of-christ-in-the-cross-lie-at-the-bottom-of-all/)

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

> [Christ's blood is the great sovereign remedy for sin-sick souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/christ-s-blood-is-the-great-sovereign-remedy-for-sin-sick-souls/)

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

## More by John Owen

> [God hath work to do in this world; and to desert it because of its difficulties and entanglements, is to cast off His authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/god-hath-work-to-do-in-this-world-and-to-desert-it-because-of-its/)

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

> [If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation. Let this be one aspect of our daily intercession: "God, preserve my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/if-we-do-not-abide-in-prayer-we-will-abide-in-temptation-let-this-be/)

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

> [The least grace is a better security for heaven than the greatest gifts or privileges whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/the-least-grace-is-a-better-security-for-heaven-than-the-greatest/)

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

> [“Our belief of the Scriptures to be the word of God, or a divine revelation, and our understanding of the mind and will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/our-belief-of-the-scriptures-to-be-the-word-of-god-or-a-divine/)

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

> [How can we possibly believe the promises concerning Heaven, immortality, and glory, when we do not believe the promises concerning our present life? And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/how-can-we-possibly-believe-the-promises-concerning-heaven/)

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

> [It must be observed, that the best of men, the most holy and spiritually minded, may have, nay, ought to have, their thoughts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/it-must-be-observed-that-the-best-of-men-the-most-holy-and/)

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

> [I will not judge a person to be spiritually dead whom I have judged formerly to have had spiritual life, though I see him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/i-will-not-judge-a-person-to-be-spiritually-dead-whom-i-have-judged/)

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

> [“And those who pretend to be teachers of others, and yet despise his teaching assistance, will one day find that they undertook a work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/and-those-who-pretend-to-be-teachers-of-others-and-yet-despise-his/)

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

> [Spiritual wisdom consists in finding out the subtleties, policies, and depths of any indwelling sin... to trace this serpent in all its turnings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/spiritual-wisdom-consists-in-finding-out-the-subtleties-policies-and/)

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

> [Christ by his death destroying the works of the devil, procuring the Spirit for us, hath so killed sin, as to its reign in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/christ-by-his-death-destroying-the-works-of-the-devil-procuring-the/)

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

> [A man may easier see without eyes, speak without a tongue, than truly mortify one sin without the Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/a-man-may-easier-see-without-eyes-speak-without-a-tongue-than-truly/)

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

> [Christ's blood is the great sovereign remedy for sin-sick souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/christ-s-blood-is-the-great-sovereign-remedy-for-sin-sick-souls/)

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

> [Sin aims always at the utmost; every time it rises up to tempt or entice, if it has its own way it will go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/sin-aims-always-at-the-utmost-every-time-it-rises-up-to-tempt-or/)

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

> [Never was sin seen to be more abominably sinful and full of provocation than when the burden of it was upon the shoulders of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/never-was-sin-seen-to-be-more-abominably-sinful-and-full-of/)

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

> [He, then, that would really, thoroughly, and acceptably mortify any disquieting lust, let him take care to be equally diligent in all parts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/he-then-that-would-really-thoroughly-and-acceptably-mortify-any/)

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

[Explore all 244 John Owen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/)

## More Ends quotes

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [The end is nothing; the road is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/the-end-is-nothing-the-road-is-all/)

[Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/)

> [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/)

[Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/)

[Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/)

> [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/)

[Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/)

> [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/)

[Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/)

> [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/)

[Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/)

> [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/)

[Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/)

> [it is the brevity of life which makes it tolerable; its experiences have value because they have an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/it-is-the-brevity-of-life-which-makes-it-tolerable-its-experiences/)

[Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/)

> [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/)

[Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/)

> [Believe to the end, even if all men went astray and you were left the only one faithful; bring your offering even then and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/believe-to-the-end-even-if-all-men-went-astray-and-you-were-left-the/)

[Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/)

> [When the amount of change externally exceeds the amount of change internally, the end is in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-the-amount-of-change-externally-exceeds-the-amount-of-change/)

[Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/)

> [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [The beginning of love is all about the butterflies, but the end of it is when you can't get out of bed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-beginning-of-love-is-all-about-the-butterflies-but-the-end-of-it/)

[Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/)

[Browse all 20,790 Ends quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Mortification from a self-strength, carried on by ways of self-invention, unto the end of a self-righteousness, is the soul and substance of all false religion in the world.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Owen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/mortification-from-a-self-strength-carried-on-by-ways-of-self/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ends"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/mortification-from-a-self-strength-carried-on-by-ways-of-self/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91d/john-owen-1415_ends_mortification-from-a-self-strength-carri_1934465.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91d/john-owen-1415_ends_mortification-from-a-self-strength-carri_1934465.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91d/john-owen-1415_ends_mortification-from-a-self-strength-carri_1934465.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Mortification from a self-strength, carried on by ways of self-invention, unto the end of a…” — John Owen",
                "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 Owen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Mortification from a self-strength, carried on...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/mortification-from-a-self-strength-carried-on-by-ways-of-self/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/mortification-from-a-self-strength-carried-on-by-ways-of-self/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
