--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: May we not say, that true zeal is not…" description: "\"May we not say, that true zeal is not mostly charitable, but wholly so? That is, if we take charity in St. Paul's sense, for love; the love of God and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f3/john-wesley-1398_certain_may-we-not-say-that-true-zeal-is-not-mos_2111602.jpg" --- # May we not say, that true zeal is not mostly charitable… ![“May we not say, that true zeal is not mostly charitable, but wholly so? That is, if we take charity in St. Paul's sense, for love; the love of God and our neighbour. For it is a certain truth, (although little understood in the world), that Christian zeal is all love. It is nothing else.” quote by John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f3/john-wesley-1398_certain_may-we-not-say-that-true-zeal-is-not-mos_2111602.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f3/john-wesley-1398_certain_may-we-not-say-that-true-zeal-is-not-mos_2111602.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f3/john-wesley-1398_certain_may-we-not-say-that-true-zeal-is-not-mos_2111602.jpg) > “May we not say, that true zeal is not mostly charitable, but wholly so? That is, if we take charity in St. Paul's sense, for love; the love of God and our neighbour. For it is a certain truth, (although little understood in the world), that Christian zeal is all love. It is nothing else.” [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True zeal is fundamentally love, encompassing both divine and neighborly affection, not mere enthusiasm. **In simple terms:** Zeal equals love for God and others. Key Takeaway Cultivate love as the core of zeal. Themes faith love zeal charity Mood reflective inspirational Type theological motivational When to use this quote - mission work - community service - personal devotion - church leadership Key Concepts Christian theology spiritual motivation Questions to Reflect On - How does love shape your enthusiasm? - Can zeal exist without love? A Different Perspective Zeal without love can become selfish ambition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charitable/) [Charity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-of-god/) [Neighbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbour/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Zeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zeal/) ## Related quotes > [Not grace, or zeal, love only was my call, And if I lose thy love, I lose my all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/not-grace-or-zeal-love-only-was-my-call-and-if-i-lose-thy-love-i-lose/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [I am sure, zeal or love for truth can never permit falsehood to be used in the defense of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/i-am-sure-zeal-or-love-for-truth-can-never-permit-falsehood-to-be/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Zeal is that pure and heavenly flame,The fire of love supplies ;While that which often bears the name,Is self in a disguise.True zeal is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/zeal-is-that-pure-and-heavenly-flame-the-fire-of-love-supplies-while/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [False zeal is every day bringing true zeal into disrepute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tomlinson/false-zeal-is-every-day-bringing-true-zeal-into-disrepute/) [Charles Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tomlinson/) > [True zeal is an ignis lambeus, a soft and gentle flame, that will not scorch one's hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-cudworth/true-zeal-is-an-ignis-lambeus-a-soft-and-gentle-flame-that-will-not/) [Ralph Cudworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-cudworth/) > [True zeal is connected with a holy life. It is remarkable how often the greatest zealots for God, the Church, and sound doctrine (as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hodge/true-zeal-is-connected-with-a-holy-life-it-is-remarkable-how-often/) [Charles Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hodge/) > [Nothing can be fairer, or more noble, than the holy fervor of true zeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/nothing-can-be-fairer-or-more-noble-than-the-holy-fervor-of-true-zeal/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Nowhere is wisdom more necessary than in the guidance of charitable impulses. 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In Europe, it hardly does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/companies-are-not-charitable-enterprises-they-hire-workers-to-make/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [Capitalists have done more good for society through their charitable giving, philanthropy and generosity than all their critics combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/capitalists-have-done-more-good-for-society-through-their-charitable/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [Businesses acting as businesses, not as charitable donors, are the most powerful force for addressing the pressing issues society face(s)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-elumelu/businesses-acting-as-businesses-not-as-charitable-donors-are-the-most/) Tony Elumelu ## More by John Wesley > [I build on Christ, the rock of ages; on his sure mercies described in his word, and on his promises, all which I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/i-build-on-christ-the-rock-of-ages-on-his-sure-mercies-described-in/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [“I set myself on fire and people come to watch me burn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/i-set-myself-on-fire-and-people-come-to-watch-me-burn/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [Having, First, gained all you can, and, Secondly saved all you can, Then give all you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/having-first-gained-all-you-can-and-secondly-saved-all-you-can-then/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [People who wish to be offended will always find some occasion for taking offense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/people-who-wish-to-be-offended-will-always-find-some-occasion-for/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [“Those without enough love experience rage, but love drives rage away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/those-without-enough-love-experience-rage-but-love-drives-rage-away/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [I reflected much on that vain desire, which had pursued me for so many years, of being in solitude in order to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/i-reflected-much-on-that-vain-desire-which-had-pursued-me-for-so-many/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [“By salvation I mean not barely according to the vulgar notion deliverance from hell or going to heaven but a present deliverance from sin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/by-salvation-i-mean-not-barely-according-to-the-vulgar-notion/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [They say I killed six or seven men for snoring. 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Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/the-case-is-this-god-offers-you-one-of-the-greatest-mercies-on-this/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/though-i-am-always-in-haste-i-am-never-in-a-hurry/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [In all cases, the Church is to be judged by the Scripture, not the Scripture by the Church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/in-all-cases-the-church-is-to-be-judged-by-the-scripture-not-the/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) [Explore all 246 John Wesley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) ## More Certain quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. 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I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A dialogue is very important. 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