---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Plain horse sense ought to tell us that…"
description: "\"Plain horse sense ought to tell us that anything that makes no change in the man who professes it makes no difference to God either, and it is an easil..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/kevin-deyoung-1086_differences_plain-horse-sense-ought-to-tell-us-that_2163044.png"
---

#  Plain horse sense ought to tell us that anything that…

![“Plain horse sense ought to tell us that anything that makes no change in the man who professes it makes no difference to God either, and it is an easily observable fact that for countless numbers of persons the change from no-faith to faith makes no actual difference in the life.” quote by Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/kevin-deyoung-1086_differences_plain-horse-sense-ought-to-tell-us-that_2163044.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/kevin-deyoung-1086_differences_plain-horse-sense-ought-to-tell-us-that_2163044.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/kevin-deyoung-1086_differences_plain-horse-sense-ought-to-tell-us-that_2163044.png)

> “Plain horse sense ought to tell us that anything that makes no change in the man who professes it makes no difference to God either, and it is an easily observable fact that for countless numbers of persons the change from no-faith to faith makes no actual difference in the life.”

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

## 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 suggests that if a belief does not transform the believer, it is meaningless to both the believer and to God; many people experience no real change when converting to faith.

**In simple terms:** Faith without personal transformation is empty.

Key Takeaway

Seek beliefs that change you.

Themes

faith personal growth meaning spirituality

Mood

contemplative serious

Type

philosophical reflective

When to use this quote

- religious conversion
- personal crises
- spiritual counseling
- life decisions

Key Concepts

transformation authenticity existential purpose

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you feel your beliefs have altered your actions?
- How can you measure spiritual growth?

A Different Perspective

Change may be subtle and take time, not always obvious.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Change Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-faith-1130553/) [Difference God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference-god/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faith Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-faith/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse/) [Horse sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse-sense/) [Makes Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-change-829680/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/)

## Related quotes

> [Plain horse sense ought to tell us that anything that makes no change in the man who professes it makes no difference to God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/plain-horse-sense-ought-to-tell-us-that-anything-that-makes-no-change-2/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [In the corporate world, if you have analysts, due diligence, and no horse sense, you've just described hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/in-the-corporate-world-if-you-have-analysts-due-diligence-and-no/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [The profession of music is lacking in horse sense, not only because the commonplace variety of horse is absent from its operations, but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-partch/the-profession-of-music-is-lacking-in-horse-sense-not-only-because/)

[Harry Partch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-partch/)

> [You can change your faith without changing gods, and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/you-can-change-your-faith-without-changing-gods-and-vice-versa/)

[Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/)

> [“If you have Hope for a needed change...Faith that it will happen someday &amp; Courage to stand against all adversity and make it happen...You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/if-you-have-hope-for-a-needed-change-faith-that-it-will-happen/)

[Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/)

> [“This is treachery, to change faith in accord with shifting fortune. The justice of my cause impelled me to withstand even adverse circumstance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulrich-von-hutten/this-is-treachery-to-change-faith-in-accord-with-shifting-fortune-the/)

[Ulrich von Hutten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulrich-von-hutten/)

> [Why worry about things you cannot change?Have faith - Let go and move on, because life isn't waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-worry-about-things-you-cannot-change-have-faith-let-go-and-move/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Conversion is not only changing the faith. Conversion is changing the heart and working over there is the grace of God. Then only comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/conversion-is-not-only-changing-the-faith-conversion-is-changing-the/)

[Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/)

> [Humility recognizes that no one can change someone else, but with faith, effort, and the help of God, we can undergo our own mighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-whitney-clayton/humility-recognizes-that-no-one-can-change-someone-else-but-with/)

[L. Whitney Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-whitney-clayton/)

> [On this New Year, may you change your direction and not dates, change your commitments and not the Calendar, change your attitude and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/on-this-new-year-may-you-change-your-direction-and-not-dates-change/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [God can change our circumstances, but sometimes He waits for us to show real desire for change as well as our faith in Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-graham-lotz/god-can-change-our-circumstances-but-sometimes-he-waits-for-us-to/)

[Anne Graham Lotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-graham-lotz/)

> [I realized that my truest passion was for helping people change through faith in a higher power. That meant, for me, belonging to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcgreevey/i-realized-that-my-truest-passion-was-for-helping-people-change/)

[James McGreevey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcgreevey/)

> [My faith in God is totally... there's nothing on this planet that can change my faith and love for God. Because I believe that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/my-faith-in-god-is-totally-there-s-nothing-on-this-planet-that-can/)

[Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/)

> [Trust in the Lord. Don't waste time resisting change. God uses it to shape us, mold us, and make us new. Change keeps life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/trust-in-the-lord-don-t-waste-time-resisting-change-god-uses-it-to/)

[Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/)

> [Continue 2be Fearless throughout your trials, keep Focusing on all the Fundamental parts of your life, Fantastic events happens when u are Fluently trying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/continue-2be-fearless-throughout-your-trials-keep-focusing-on-all-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Kevin DeYoung

> [“Worry about the future is not simply a character tic, it is the sin of unbelief, an indication that our hearts are not resting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/worry-about-the-future-is-not-simply-a-character-tic-it-is-the-sin-of/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [There is nothing gray about whether a follower of Christ should see 50 Shades of Grey. This is a black and white issue. Don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/there-is-nothing-gray-about-whether-a-follower-of-christ-should-see/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [A catechism is simply a tool for teaching the fundamentals of the faith. Unlike a creed or confession, a catechism uses questions and answers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/a-catechism-is-simply-a-tool-for-teaching-the-fundamentals-of-the/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [Live for God. Obey the Scriptures. Think of others before yourself. Be holy. Love Jesus. And as you do these things, do whatever else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/live-for-god-obey-the-scriptures-think-of-others-before-yourself-be/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [Busyness kills more Christians than bullets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/busyness-kills-more-christians-than-bullets/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [Grace is free, but it's not cheap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/grace-is-free-but-it-s-not-cheap/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [If there really is a perfect will of God we are meant to discover, in which we will find tremendous freedom and fulfillment, why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/if-there-really-is-a-perfect-will-of-god-we-are-meant-to-discover-in/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [Seek first the kingdom of God, and then trust that He will take care of our needs, even before we know what they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/seek-first-the-kingdom-of-god-and-then-trust-that-he-will-take-care/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [There is no sin so prevalent, so insidious, and so deep as the sin of fearing people more than we fear God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/there-is-no-sin-so-prevalent-so-insidious-and-so-deep-as-the-sin-of/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [“The pursuit of holiness is not a quixotic effort to do just what Jesus did. It’s the fight to live out the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/the-pursuit-of-holiness-is-not-a-quixotic-effort-to-do-just-what/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [Offendedness is just about the last shared moral currency in our country. And, I'm sorry, but it's really annoying. We don't discuss ideas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/offendedness-is-just-about-the-last-shared-moral-currency-in-our/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [The finality of Christs redemption for us is intimately tied to the finality of his revelation to us. . . . If we say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/the-finality-of-christs-redemption-for-us-is-intimately-tied-to-the/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [Everything before Jesus is preface. Everything after Jesus is appendix. Jesus is the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/everything-before-jesus-is-preface-everything-after-jesus-is-appendix/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [Sometimes feeling overwhelmed is part of what it means to be a Christian. You can't bear somebody else's burden unless you are taking something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/sometimes-feeling-overwhelmed-is-part-of-what-it-means-to-be-a/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [“Faith and good works are both necessary. But one is the root and the other the fruit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/faith-and-good-works-are-both-necessary-but-one-is-the-root-and-the/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

[Explore all 295 Kevin DeYoung quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

## More Differences quotes

> [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/)

[David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/)

> [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [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/)

> [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/)

[Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/)

> [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/)

[M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/)

> [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/)

[Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/)

> [Shortly after I turned 50, both Ted Turner and the AARP came into my life. The only difference? With AARP, there were benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/shortly-after-i-turned-50-both-ted-turner-and-the-aarp-came-into-my/)

[Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/)

> [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/)

[Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/)

> [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/)

[Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/)

> [There are those who open their hearts to others...who never think twice about giving of themselves. They are the wonderful warmhearted people who make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilda-radner/there-are-those-who-open-their-hearts-to-others-who-never-think-twice/)

[Gilda Radner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilda-radner/)

> [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/)

[Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/)

> [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-most-basic-principles-for-making-and-keeping-peace-within/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [When the President starts talking about something, it makes a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/when-the-president-starts-talking-about-something-it-makes-a/)

[Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/)

> [In a world shaped and colored more and more by politicians, the nations meet politically, and hardly any other way to settle their differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/in-a-world-shaped-and-colored-more-and-more-by-politicians-the/)

[J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/)

[Browse all 8,110 Differences quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Plain horse sense ought to tell us that anything that makes no change in the man who professes it makes no difference to God either, and it is an easily observable fact that for countless numbers of persons the change from no-faith to faith makes no actual difference in the life.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kevin DeYoung"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/plain-horse-sense-ought-to-tell-us-that-anything-that-makes-no-change/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Differences"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/plain-horse-sense-ought-to-tell-us-that-anything-that-makes-no-change/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/kevin-deyoung-1086_differences_plain-horse-sense-ought-to-tell-us-that_2163044.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/kevin-deyoung-1086_differences_plain-horse-sense-ought-to-tell-us-that_2163044.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1b/kevin-deyoung-1086_differences_plain-horse-sense-ought-to-tell-us-that_2163044.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Plain horse sense ought to tell us that anything that makes no change in the man who professes it makes no…” — Kevin DeYoung",
                "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": "Kevin DeYoung",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Plain horse sense ought to tell...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/plain-horse-sense-ought-to-tell-us-that-anything-that-makes-no-change/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/plain-horse-sense-ought-to-tell-us-that-anything-that-makes-no-change/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
