--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good works do not make a good man, but a…" description: "\"Good works do not make a good man, but a good man does good works.\" — Martin Luther" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/772/martin-luther-106_christian_good-works-do-not-make-a-good-man-but-a_67469.jpg" --- # Good works do not make a good man, but a good man does… ![“Good works do not make a good man, but a good man does good works.” quote by Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/772/martin-luther-106_christian_good-works-do-not-make-a-good-man-but-a_67469.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/772/martin-luther-106_christian_good-works-do-not-make-a-good-man-but-a_67469.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/772/martin-luther-106_christian_good-works-do-not-make-a-good-man-but-a_67469.jpg) > “Good works do not make a good man, but a good man does good works.” [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral character precedes actions; virtue drives ethical deeds, not the reverse. **In simple terms:** Character drives deeds Key Takeaway Virtue precedes action Themes ethics character action virtue moral philosophy Mood thoughtful inspirational Type maxim aphor When to use this quote - leadership decisions - personal growth - community service Key Concepts integrity intentionality Practical Applications - ethical leadership training - character development programs Questions to Reflect On - How does your character shape your daily choices? - Can good deeds ever compensate for a flawed character? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Good works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-works/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [Though language forms the preacher, 'Tis good works make the man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-cook/though-language-forms-the-preacher-tis-good-works-make-the-man/) [Eliza Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-cook/) > [We ought first to know that there are no good works except those which God has commanded, even as there is no sin except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/we-ought-first-to-know-that-there-are-no-good-works-except-those/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-does-not-need-your-good-works-but-your-neighbor-does/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Good works do not make a good man, but a good man does good works; evil works do not make a wicked man, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/good-works-do-not-make-a-good-man-but-a-good-man-does-good-works-evil/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Good works do not make a man good, but a good man does good works”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-h-bainton/good-works-do-not-make-a-man-good-but-a-good-man-does-good-works/) [Roland H. Bainton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-h-bainton/) > [Positively, the best thing a man can have to do, is nothing, and next to that perhaps — good works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/positively-the-best-thing-a-man-can-have-to-do-is-nothing-and-next-to/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [There's only a certain amount of works you can make, so you have to make only the ones you really want to make. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/there-s-only-a-certain-amount-of-works-you-can-make-so-you-have-to/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [Works make not the heart good, but a good heart makes the works good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-charnock/works-make-not-the-heart-good-but-a-good-heart-makes-the-works-good/) [Stephen Charnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-charnock/) > [“If you don’t know what you are doing, your works will never make any difference.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/if-you-don-t-know-what-you-are-doing-your-works-will-never-make-any/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [“Anyone who follows others never passes them by, and anyone who does not know how to do good works on his own cannot make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo-buonarroti/anyone-who-follows-others-never-passes-them-by-and-anyone-who-does/) [Michelangelo Buonarroti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo-buonarroti/) > [I want to be necessary and do good works. I ain't here to waste nobody's time, because I don't want you to waste mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/i-want-to-be-necessary-and-do-good-works-i-ain-t-here-to-waste-nobody/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [If you could work your way to heaven, you would said look what I did, I got myself here by my good works. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/if-you-could-work-your-way-to-heaven-you-would-said-look-what-i-did-i/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > ["Otherwise grace is no more grace," since it is bestowed on us, not because we have done good works, but that we may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/otherwise-grace-is-no-more-grace-since-it-is-bestowed-on-us-not/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [The main thing between you and God is not so much your sins; it's your damnable good works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gerstner/the-main-thing-between-you-and-god-is-not-so-much-your-sins-it-s-your/) [John Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gerstner/) > [This world needs more than good works. It needs good news. Good works come out of the good news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/this-world-needs-more-than-good-works-it-needs-good-news-good-works/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) ## More by Martin Luther > [“It was easy for you to say these things, since you either knew you were not writing to Luther, but for the general public,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-was-easy-for-you-to-say-these-things-since-you-either-knew-you/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [In a delightful garden, sowing, planting or digging are not hardship but are done with a zeal and a certain pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/in-a-delightful-garden-sowing-planting-or-digging-are-not-hardship/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [If you could understand a single grain of wheat you would die of wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/if-you-could-understand-a-single-grain-of-wheat-you-would-die-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“God made man out of nothing, and as long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-made-man-out-of-nothing-and-as-long-as-we-are-nothing-he-can-make/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“But the truth will win out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/but-the-truth-will-win-out/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [God wants us to pray, and he wants to hear our prayers-not because we are worthy, but because he is merciful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-wants-us-to-pray-and-he-wants-to-hear-our-prayers-not-because-we/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Our office...subjects us to great burdens and labors, dangers and temptations, with little reward or gratitude from the world. But Christ himself will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/our-office-subjects-us-to-great-burdens-and-labors-dangers-and/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Our faith in Christ does not free us from works but from false opinions concerning works, that is, from the foolish presumption that justification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/our-faith-in-christ-does-not-free-us-from-works-but-from-false/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The works of the righteous would be mortal sins if they would not be feared as mortal sins by the righteous themselves out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-works-of-the-righteous-would-be-mortal-sins-if-they-would-not-be/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Do not suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused. Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/do-not-suppose-that-abuses-are-eliminated-by-destroying-the-object/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Romans 3:28”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/for-we-maintain-that-a-man-is-justified-by-faith-apart-from-observing/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [There are only two days on my calendar... today and the day of judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/there-are-only-two-days-on-my-calendar-today-and-the-day-of-judgment/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [ Antichrist is the pope and the Turk \[Muslim\] together. A beast full of life must have a body and soul. The spirit or soul… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/antichrist-is-the-pope-and-the-turk-muslim-together-a-beast-full-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [It is not the imitation that makes sons; it is sonship that makes imitators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-is-not-the-imitation-that-makes-sons-it-is-sonship-that-makes/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) [Explore all 1,292 Martin Luther quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## More Christian quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. 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I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) [Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Good works do not make a good man, but a good man does good works.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/good-works-do-not-make-a-good-man-but-a-good-man-does-good-works/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/good-works-do-not-make-a-good-man-but-a-good-man-does-good-works/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/772/martin-luther-106_christian_good-works-do-not-make-a-good-man-but-a_67469.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/772/martin-luther-106_christian_good-works-do-not-make-a-good-man-but-a_67469.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/772/martin-luther-106_christian_good-works-do-not-make-a-good-man-but-a_67469.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Good works do not make a good man, but a good man does good works.” — Martin Luther", "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": "Martin Luther", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Good works do not make a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/good-works-do-not-make-a-good-man-but-a-good-man-does-good-works/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/good-works-do-not-make-a-good-man-but-a-good-man-does-good-works/#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 } } ] } ```