--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are merely instruments of the…" description: "\"We are merely instruments of the Almighty's will and therefore ignorant of what helps us forward and what acts as an impediment. We must thus rest sati..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/mahatma-gandhi-23_almighty_we-are-merely-instruments-of-the-almight_354285.jpg" --- # We are merely instruments of the Almighty's will and… ![“We are merely instruments of the Almighty's will and therefore ignorant of what helps us forward and what acts as an impediment. We must thus rest satisfied with the knowledge only of the means and if these are pure, we can fearlessly leave the end to take care of itself.” quote by Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/mahatma-gandhi-23_almighty_we-are-merely-instruments-of-the-almight_354285.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/mahatma-gandhi-23_almighty_we-are-merely-instruments-of-the-almight_354285.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/mahatma-gandhi-23_almighty_we-are-merely-instruments-of-the-almight_354285.jpg) > “We are merely instruments of the Almighty's will and therefore ignorant of what helps us forward and what acts as an impediment. We must thus rest satisfied with the knowledge only of the means and if these are pure, we can fearlessly leave the end to take care of itself.” [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human understanding is limited to means; trusting pure intentions lets us release control over outcomes. **In simple terms:** We only know tools, not results; trust pure means and let ends take care of themselves. Key Takeaway Focus on ethical means, release anxiety about outcomes. Themes trust ethics detachment faith Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical spiritual advisory When to use this quote - personal decision-making - leadership - spiritual practice - risk management Key Concepts instrumentalism moral philosophy theology Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate pure means from harmful outcomes? - Can trust in means replace planning for results? A Different Perspective Pure means may not guarantee good ends; outcomes can be harmful despite good intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Almighty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/almighty/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Impediments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impediments/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Metaphysics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphysics/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [It is impossible for me to reconcile myself to the idea of conversion after the style that goes on in India and elsewhere today.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/it-is-impossible-for-me-to-reconcile-myself-to-the-idea-of-conversion/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [God tries his votaries through and through but never beyond endurance. He gives them strength enough to go through the ordeal he prescribes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/god-tries-his-votaries-through-and-through-but-never-beyond-endurance/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in an clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/in-the-attitude-of-silence-the-soul-finds-the-path-in-an-clearer/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [No religion which is narrow and which cannot satisfy the test of reason, will survive the coming reconstruction of society in which the values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-religion-which-is-narrow-and-which-cannot-satisfy-the-test-of/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I believe in absolute oneness of God and therefore also of humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-believe-in-absolute-oneness-of-god-and-therefore-also-of-humanity/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Perfection is the exclusive attribute of God, and it is indescribable, untranslatable. I do believe that it is possible for human beings to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/perfection-is-the-exclusive-attribute-of-god-and-it-is-indescribable/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Of all the animal creations of God, main is the only animal who has been created in order that he may know his Maker.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/of-all-the-animal-creations-of-god-main-is-the-only-animal-who-has/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Mankind is notoriously too dense to read the signs that God sends from time to time. We require drums to be beaten into our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/mankind-is-notoriously-too-dense-to-read-the-signs-that-god-sends/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The world is touched by sacrifice. It does not then discriminate about the merits of a cause. No so God - He is all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-world-is-touched-by-sacrifice-it-does-not-then-discriminate-about/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I have found by experience that man makes his plans to be upset by God, but, at the same time, where the ultimate goal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-have-found-by-experience-that-man-makes-his-plans-to-be-upset-by/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [It is through truth & non-violence that I can have some glimpse of God. Truth & non-violence are my God. They are the obverse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/it-is-through-truth-non-violence-that-i-can-have-some-glimpse-of-god/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The spirit of non-violence necessarily leads to humility. Non-violence means reliance on God, the rock of ages. If we would seek his aid, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-spirit-of-non-violence-necessarily-leads-to-humility-non-violence/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I do not want any patronage, as I do not give any. I am a lover of my own liberty, and so I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-any-patronage-as-i-do-not-give-any-i-am-a-lover-of-my/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [What is true of the individual will be tomorrow true of the whole nation if individuals will but refuse to lose heart and hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/what-is-true-of-the-individual-will-be-tomorrow-true-of-the-whole/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Whenever I see an erring man, I say to myself I have also erred; when I see a lustful man I say to myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/whenever-i-see-an-erring-man-i-say-to-myself-i-have-also-erred-when-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More by Mahatma Gandhi > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Devotion required by the Gita is no soft-hearted effusiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/devotion-required-by-the-gita-is-no-soft-hearted-effusiveness/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [So long as we fear the outside world, we must cease to think of Swaraj.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/so-long-as-we-fear-the-outside-world-we-must-cease-to-think-of-swaraj/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I do not want a kingdom, or heaven; what I want is to remove the trouble of the oppressed, the poor, and the needy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-a-kingdom-or-heaven-what-i-want-is-to-remove-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Religions are not for separating men from one another, they are meant to bind them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/religions-are-not-for-separating-men-from-one-another-they-are-meant/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I hold flesh-food to be unsuited to our species. We err in copying the lower animal world if we are superior to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-hold-flesh-food-to-be-unsuited-to-our-species-we-err-in-copying-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was only in South Africa that I got over this shyness, though I never completely overcame it. It was impossible for me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/it-was-only-in-south-africa-that-i-got-over-this-shyness-though-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Where there is life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/where-there-is-life/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [If it was wrong to seek God in a stone, how was it right to seek Him in a book called the Gita, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/if-it-was-wrong-to-seek-god-in-a-stone-how-was-it-right-to-seek-him/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The spirit of democracy cannot be established in the midst of terrorism, whether governmental or popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-spirit-of-democracy-cannot-be-established-in-the-midst-of/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Champions are made from something they have deep inside of them-a desire, a dream, a vison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/champions-are-made-from-something-they-have-deep-inside-of-them-a/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [My motto is "Unite now, today if you can; fight if you must. But in every case avoid British intervention."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/my-motto-is-unite-now-today-if-you-can-fight-if-you-must-but-in-every/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I have no disciples, being myself an aspirant after discipleship and in search of a guru.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-have-no-disciples-being-myself-an-aspirant-after-discipleship-and/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Man becomes not the lord and master of all creation but he is its servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/man-becomes-not-the-lord-and-master-of-all-creation-but-he-is-its/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) [Explore all 3,284 Mahatma Gandhi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More Almighty quotes > [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [One of the most powerful concepts, one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence, is the thought that God is with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-of-the-most-powerful-concepts-one-which-is-a-sure-cure-for-lack/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [“The LORD Almighty is our very present helper at all times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-lord-almighty-is-our-very-present-helper-at-all-times/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [What is it the Bible teaches us? - raping, cruelty, and murder. What is it the New Testament teaches us? - to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-is-it-the-bible-teaches-us-raping-cruelty-and-murder-what-is-it/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [I really appreciate leaders from around the globe who have come to share in prayer with us today. It reminds me that the Almighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-really-appreciate-leaders-from-around-the-globe-who-have-come-to/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Thi is the malady onf the humans, that they can hold on to that which is fleeting and of little consequence and call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fabry/thi-is-the-malady-onf-the-humans-that-they-can-hold-on-to-that-which/) [Chris Fabry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fabry/) > [There is nothing more appalling than the wholesale way in which unthinking people plead to the Almighty the richest and most spiritual of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-drummond/there-is-nothing-more-appalling-than-the-wholesale-way-in-which/) [William Henry Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-drummond/) > [And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salmon-p-chase/and-upon-this-act-sincerely-believed-to-be-an-act-of-justice/) [Salmon P. Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salmon-p-chase/) > [When you hear somebody justifying a war by citing the Almighty, I get a little worried, frankly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-reagan/when-you-hear-somebody-justifying-a-war-by-citing-the-almighty-i-get/) [Ron Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-reagan/) > [My journey deep into coma, outside this lowly physical realm and into the loftiest dwelling place of the almighty Creator, revealed the indescribably immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eben-alexander/my-journey-deep-into-coma-outside-this-lowly-physical-realm-and-into/) [Eben Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eben-alexander/) > [People of the Philippines: I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God our forces stand again on Philippine soil—soil consecrated in the blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/people-of-the-philippines-i-have-returned-by-the-grace-of-almighty/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [It is mind-boggling to me that the Almighty power created everything I see; the Bible says that God created the entire universe just so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/it-is-mind-boggling-to-me-that-the-almighty-power-created-everything/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [If there is anyone who loves you more than you love yourself are your mother and almighty God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/if-there-is-anyone-who-loves-you-more-than-you-love-yourself-are-your/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [I'm not denyin' the women are foolish. God Almighty made 'em to match the men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/i-m-not-denyin-the-women-are-foolish-god-almighty-made-em-to-match/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) [Browse all 723 Almighty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/almighty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are merely instruments of the Almighty's will and therefore ignorant of what helps us forward and what acts as an impediment. We must thus rest satisfied with the knowledge only of the means and if these are pure, we can fearlessly leave the end to take care of itself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mahatma Gandhi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/we-are-merely-instruments-of-the-almighty-s-will-and-therefore/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Almighty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/we-are-merely-instruments-of-the-almighty-s-will-and-therefore/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/mahatma-gandhi-23_almighty_we-are-merely-instruments-of-the-almight_354285.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/mahatma-gandhi-23_almighty_we-are-merely-instruments-of-the-almight_354285.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/mahatma-gandhi-23_almighty_we-are-merely-instruments-of-the-almight_354285.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We are merely instruments of the Almighty's will and therefore ignorant of what helps us forward and what…” — Mahatma Gandhi", "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": "Mahatma Gandhi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We are merely instruments of the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/we-are-merely-instruments-of-the-almighty-s-will-and-therefore/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/we-are-merely-instruments-of-the-almighty-s-will-and-therefore/#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 } } ] } ```