--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I do wrong, I may do it unwittingly…" description: "\"“If I do wrong, I may do it unwittingly, thinking I am doing something for the best; but if it turns out to be wrong, I have done it, and I must bear t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/570/madeleine-l-engle-345_confess_if-i-do-wrong-i-may-do-it-unwittingly-th_1587258.png" --- # If I do wrong, I may do it unwittingly, thinking I am… ![“If I do wrong, I may do it unwittingly, thinking I am doing something for the best; but if it turns out to be wrong, I have done it, and I must bear the responsibility. It is not somebody else’s or something else’s fault. If it is I am less than human. Like everybody else, I tend to rationalize…” quote by Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/570/madeleine-l-engle-345_confess_if-i-do-wrong-i-may-do-it-unwittingly-th_1587258.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/570/madeleine-l-engle-345_confess_if-i-do-wrong-i-may-do-it-unwittingly-th_1587258.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/570/madeleine-l-engle-345_confess_if-i-do-wrong-i-may-do-it-unwittingly-th_1587258.png) > ““If I do wrong, I may do it unwittingly, thinking I am doing something for the best; but if it turns out to be wrong, I have done it, and I must bear the responsibility. It is not somebody else’s or something else’s fault. If it is I am less than human. Like everybody else, I tend to rationalize and alibi, before I let myself admit, “Yes, I did this. I am sorry. I will do what I can to make reparation.” Our sins defeat us unless we are willing to recognize them, confess them, and become healed and whole and holy—not qualified, mind you; just holy.”” [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Taking responsibility for one's actions, admitting mistakes, and seeking forgiveness as a path to personal wholeness. **In simple terms:** Own mistakes and seek repair. Key Takeaway Accept responsibility. Themes ethics accountability growth Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crises - leadership decisions - conflict resolution - therapy sessions Key Concepts moral philosophy psychology spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What prevents honest confession? - How does forgiveness restore integrity? A Different Perspective Self‑deception can block accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confess/) [Confess Healed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confess-healed-6008314/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Reparation Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reparation-sins-630423/) [Responsibility Somebody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility-somebody-4162027/) [Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sins/) ## Related quotes > [Our hours of adoration will be special hours of reparation for sins, and intercession for the needs of the whole world, exposing the sin-sick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/our-hours-of-adoration-will-be-special-hours-of-reparation-for-sins/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [In the last analysis, the individual person is responsible for living his own life and for 'finding himself.' If he persists in shifting his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/in-the-last-analysis-the-individual-person-is-responsible-for-living-2/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Women tend to immediately take responsibility if somebody messes up with both of us saying it's our fault. Men are quite happy for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-farrell/women-tend-to-immediately-take-responsibility-if-somebody-messes-up/) [Colin Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-farrell/) > [“In the last analysis, the individual person is responsible for living his own life and for "finding himself." If he persists in shifting his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tai-sheridan/in-the-last-analysis-the-individual-person-is-responsible-for-living/) [Tai Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tai-sheridan/) > [Catholics should be proselytizing about a God who is love, who represents a hereafter where there's no hell, who wants you to lead a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/catholics-should-be-proselytizing-about-a-god-who-is-love-who/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [The more sins you confess, the more books you will sell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/the-more-sins-you-confess-the-more-books-you-will-sell/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Should we all confess our sins to one another we would all laugh at one another for our lack of originality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/should-we-all-confess-our-sins-to-one-another-we-would-all-laugh-at/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Confess your sins to the Lord and you will be forgiven; confess them to man and you will be laughed at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/confess-your-sins-to-the-lord-and-you-will-be-forgiven-confess-them/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [“Blessed is he who confess his sins, he shall be cleansed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/blessed-is-he-who-confess-his-sins-he-shall-be-cleansed/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up; then God will show mercy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverbs-27-13/you-will-never-succeed-in-life-if-you-try-to-hide-your-sins-confess/) [Proverbs 27:13](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverbs-27-13/) > [“When we realized we are wrong, we must confess sins. THEN return to seek the right ways of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/when-we-realized-we-are-wrong-we-must-confess-sins-then-return-to/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Lord, we confess our numerous faults, How great our guilt has been! Foolish and vain were all our thoughts, And all our lives were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/lord-we-confess-our-numerous-faults-how-great-our-guilt-has-been/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [“I wanted to come clean many times. I wanted to admit my jealousy, to confess my sarcasm and endless anger, to put all my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/invisible-sam/i-wanted-to-come-clean-many-times-i-wanted-to-admit-my-jealousy-to/) [Invisible Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/invisible-sam/) > [On a related subject, Signore Pazzi, I must confess to you: I'm giving serious thought to eating your wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/on-a-related-subject-signore-pazzi-i-must-confess-to-you-i-m-giving/) [Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/) > [What better can we do than prostrate fall before Him reverent, and there confess humbly our faults, and pardon beg with tears watering the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/what-better-can-we-do-than-prostrate-fall-before-him-reverent-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) ## More by Madeleine L'Engle > [“One of the hardest lessons I have to learn is how not to be judgmental about people who are judgmental. When I see how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/one-of-the-hardest-lessons-i-have-to-learn-is-how-not-to-be/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Inspiration more often comes during the work than before it, because the largest part of the job of an artist is to listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/inspiration-more-often-comes-during-the-work-than-before-it-because/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/you-have-to-write-the-book-that-wants-to-be-written-and-if-the-book/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Severe illness isolates those in close contact with it, because it inevitably narrows the focus of concern. To a certain extent this can lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/severe-illness-isolates-those-in-close-contact-with-it-because-it/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Goodness has never been a guarantee of safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/goodness-has-never-been-a-guarantee-of-safety/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“Faith is what makes life bearable, with all its tragedies and ambiguities and sudden, startling joys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/faith-is-what-makes-life-bearable-with-all-its-tragedies-and/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“Instead of rejoicing in this glorious “impossible” which gives meaning and dignity to our lives, we try to domesticate God, to make his mighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/instead-of-rejoicing-in-this-glorious-impossible-which-gives-meaning/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [I have never lived before...Until this summer, I did not know what it was to be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-have-never-lived-before-until-this-summer-i-did-not-know-what-it/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [On the other side of pain, there is still love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/on-the-other-side-of-pain-there-is-still-love/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“To love is to be vulnerable; and it is only in vulnerability and risk—not safety and security—that we overcome darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/to-love-is-to-be-vulnerable-and-it-is-only-in-vulnerability-and-risk/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“IT was the most horrible, the most repellent thing she had ever seen, far more nauseating then anything she had ever imagined with her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/it-was-the-most-horrible-the-most-repellent-thing-she-had-ever-seen/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [I feel as though I'm not breathing when I'm out of his presence. He's the oxygen in my air, the sun in my universe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-feel-as-though-i-m-not-breathing-when-i-m-out-of-his-presence-he-s/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Rather than feeling lost and unimportant and meaningless, set against galaxies which go beyond the reach of the furthest telescopes, I feel that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/rather-than-feeling-lost-and-unimportant-and-meaningless-set-against/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [My husband is my most ruthless critic... sometimes he will say, 'It's been said better before.' Of course it has. It's all been said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/my-husband-is-my-most-ruthless-critic-sometimes-he-will-say-it-s-been/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [If we aren't capable of being hurt we aren't capable of feeling joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/if-we-aren-t-capable-of-being-hurt-we-aren-t-capable-of-feeling-joy/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) [Explore all 660 Madeleine L'Engle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) ## More Confess quotes > [What better can we do than prostrate fall before Him reverent, and there confess humbly our faults, and pardon beg with tears watering the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/what-better-can-we-do-than-prostrate-fall-before-him-reverent-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [On a related subject, Signore Pazzi, I must confess to you: I'm giving serious thought to eating your wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/on-a-related-subject-signore-pazzi-i-must-confess-to-you-i-m-giving/) [Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/) > [“I wanted to come clean many times. I wanted to admit my jealousy, to confess my sarcasm and endless anger, to put all my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/invisible-sam/i-wanted-to-come-clean-many-times-i-wanted-to-admit-my-jealousy-to/) [Invisible Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/invisible-sam/) > [“Lord, we confess our numerous faults, How great our guilt has been! Foolish and vain were all our thoughts, And all our lives were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/lord-we-confess-our-numerous-faults-how-great-our-guilt-has-been/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [I want to confess as best I can, but my heart is void. The void is a mirror. I see my face and feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingmar-bergman/i-want-to-confess-as-best-i-can-but-my-heart-is-void-the-void-is-a/) [Ingmar Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingmar-bergman/) > [Tell me, if I confess my feelings to you, will you say you feel the same? Or am I going to have to cringe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/tell-me-if-i-confess-my-feelings-to-you-will-you-say-you-feel-the/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [I confess freely to you, I could never look long upon a monkey, without very mortifying reflections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/i-confess-freely-to-you-i-could-never-look-long-upon-a-monkey-without/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [“We rarely confide in those who are better than we. Most often, on the other hand, we confess to those who are like us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/we-rarely-confide-in-those-who-are-better-than-we-most-often-on-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [You dont go to hell for being gay unless you confess your sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-dont-go-to-hell-for-being-gay-unless-you-confess-your-sin/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why will no man confess his faults? Because he continues to indulge in them; a man cannot tell his dream till he wakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/why-will-no-man-confess-his-faults-because-he-continues-to-indulge-in/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [“You got what you deserved. Now be a man and confess to what most of us already know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-buck/you-got-what-you-deserved-now-be-a-man-and-confess-to-what-most-of-us/) [Stacy Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-buck/) > [Oh yes. You’ve caught me. I confess. My sole purpose in life is to gleefully, willfully, maniacally destroy all of your precious chrome babies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/oh-yes-you-ve-caught-me-i-confess-my-sole-purpose-in-life-is-to/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [“Confess your sins, worship God, and get on with your life. You can experience the mercy of God no matter what you’ve been through.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-mcgee/confess-your-sins-worship-god-and-get-on-with-your-life-you-can/) [Robert S. McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-mcgee/) > [“My name is John Creedmoor, and I would like to confess my crimes. Hope you all weren't going anywhere this week...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-gilman/my-name-is-john-creedmoor-and-i-would-like-to-confess-my-crimes-hope/) [Felix Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-gilman/) > [“The truth is, not one of is innocent. We all have sins to confess.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-w-gortner/the-truth-is-not-one-of-is-innocent-we-all-have-sins-to-confess/) [C.W. Gortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-w-gortner/) [Browse all 412 Confess quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confess/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If I do wrong, I may do it unwittingly, thinking I am doing something for the best; but if it turns out to be wrong, I have done it, and I must bear the responsibility. It is not somebody else’s or something else’s fault. If it is I am less than human. Like everybody else, I tend to rationalize and alibi, before I let myself admit, “Yes, I did this. 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