---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is nothing more foolish or…"
description: "\"There is nothing more foolish or self-defeating than for a Christian to say that he is not interested in doctrines.\" — Martyn Lloyd-Jones"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/martyn-lloyd-jones-10434_christian_there-is-nothing-more-foolish-or-self-de_1366019.jpg"
---

#  There is nothing more foolish or self-defeating than for a…

![“There is nothing more foolish or self-defeating than for a Christian to say that he is not interested in doctrines.” quote by Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/martyn-lloyd-jones-10434_christian_there-is-nothing-more-foolish-or-self-de_1366019.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/martyn-lloyd-jones-10434_christian_there-is-nothing-more-foolish-or-self-de_1366019.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/martyn-lloyd-jones-10434_christian_there-is-nothing-more-foolish-or-self-de_1366019.jpg)

> “There is nothing more foolish or self-defeating than for a Christian to say that he is not interested in doctrines.”

[Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

It warns that dismissing doctrine undermines faith and leads to self-defeat.

**In simple terms:** Ignoring doctrine weakens Christian belief.

Key Takeaway

Engage with core teachings.

Themes

faith doctrine integrity spiritual growth

Mood

serious thoughtful

Type

theological motivational

When to use this quote

- church study
- personal faith development
- teaching
- apologetics

Key Concepts

theology religious commitment

Questions to Reflect On

- Why might a Christian resist doctrinal study?
- How can doctrine be embraced without feeling constrained?

A Different Perspective

Some may view doctrine as restrictive, limiting personal spirituality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/)

## Related quotes

> [In my poems though, as you say, the comic arrived fairly late. This doubtless has something to do with growing older. A person who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hirshfield/in-my-poems-though-as-you-say-the-comic-arrived-fairly-late-this/)

[Jane Hirshfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hirshfield/)

> [The self-edited author is as foolish as the self-medicated patient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-kawasaki/the-self-edited-author-is-as-foolish-as-the-self-medicated-patient/)

[Guy Kawasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-kawasaki/)

> [“My nature is to be cheerful and my foolish self is very likely to be led astray by happy, frivolous things, things of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/my-nature-is-to-be-cheerful-and-my-foolish-self-is-very-likely-to-be/)

[L.A. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-meyer/)

> [For a Christian to say, "I will not have anything to do with the great and worthy works of artists whose lives were not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-e-gaebelein/for-a-christian-to-say-i-will-not-have-anything-to-do-with-the-great/)

[Frank E. Gaebelein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-e-gaebelein/)

> [A Christian will say... "I believe God created me in one day" Yeah, looks liked He rushed it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/a-christian-will-say-i-believe-god-created-me-in-one-day-yeah-looks/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [“So if someone asks you if you are a Christian, you should not say, “Of course!” There should be no “of course-ness” about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-j-keller/so-if-someone-asks-you-if-you-are-a-christian-you-should-not-say-of/)

[Timothy J. Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-j-keller/)

> [The Buddhist expresses it in one way, the Christian in another, but both say the same: We are all one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/the-buddhist-expresses-it-in-one-way-the-christian-in-another-but/)

[Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/)

> [If God does not exist, and if religion is an illusion that the majority of men cannot live without ... let men believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kristol/if-god-does-not-exist-and-if-religion-is-an-illusion-that-the/)

[Irving Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kristol/)

> [I'm not interested in making a diagnostic novel or a concern. I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/)

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

> [I'm just not interested in getting judged or getting people to love me. Being seen and taking my photo and having to follow this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/i-m-just-not-interested-in-getting-judged-or-getting-people-to-love/)

[Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/)

> [J.D. cleared his throat and pushed the button on the intercom. “Uh, Payton, hi. It’s J.D.” Dead silence. Then another crackle. “Sorry. Not interested.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-james/j-d-cleared-his-throat-and-pushed-the-button-on-the-intercom-uh/)

[Julie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-james/)

> [I want to know how God created this world. I am not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-want-to-know-how-god-created-this-world-i-am-not-interested-in-this/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [I was not interested in films, but I was forced to act when I was just 14 or 15 years old. Now, I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sangeetha-krish/i-was-not-interested-in-films-but-i-was-forced-to-act-when-i-was-just/)

[Sangeetha Krish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sangeetha-krish/)

> [The world? The world is not interested in us. Today, everything is possible, even the crematoria...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/the-world-the-world-is-not-interested-in-us-today-everything-is/)

[Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/)

> [At the drop of a hat, people will say there are no roles for women after 40. It's there with a bunch of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/at-the-drop-of-a-hat-people-will-say-there-are-no-roles-for-women/)

[Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/)

## More by Martyn Lloyd-Jones

> [“Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/have-you-realized-that-most-of-your-unhappiness-in-life-is-due-to-the/)

[Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/)

> [We need less travelling by jet plaes from congress to congress... but more kneeling and praying and pleading to God to have mercy on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/we-need-less-travelling-by-jet-plaes-from-congress-to-congress-but/)

[Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/)

> [“According to Scripture, the trouble with man by nature is not that he is incomplete but that he is dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/according-to-scripture-the-trouble-with-man-by-nature-is-not-that-he/)

[Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/)

> [Man was never meant to be a god, but he is forever trying to deify himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/man-was-never-meant-to-be-a-god-but-he-is-forever-trying-to-deify/)

[Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/)

> [Faith is a refusal to panic, come what may.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/faith-is-a-refusal-to-panic-come-what-may/)

[Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/)

> [The devil is so subtle that he dominates man and persuades him at the same time that he is not being dominated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/the-devil-is-so-subtle-that-he-dominates-man-and-persuades-him-at-the/)

[Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/)

> [A revival means days of heaven upon earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/a-revival-means-days-of-heaven-upon-earth/)

[Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/)

> [If you doubt your sins have been forgiven, that in itself is sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/if-you-doubt-your-sins-have-been-forgiven-that-in-itself-is-sin/)

[Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/)

> [You must be made miserable before you can know true Christian joy. Indeed the real trouble with the miserable Christian is that he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/you-must-be-made-miserable-before-you-can-know-true-christian-joy/)

[Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/)

> [Spiritual depression or unhappiness in the Christian life is very often due to our failure to realize the greatness of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/spiritual-depression-or-unhappiness-in-the-christian-life-is-very/)

[Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/)

> [The church is always to be under the Word; she must be; we must keep her there. You must not assume that because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/the-church-is-always-to-be-under-the-word-she-must-be-we-must-keep/)

[Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/)

> [You are either a Christian or you are not a Christian; you cannot be partly a Christian. You are either "dead" or "alive"; you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/you-are-either-a-christian-or-you-are-not-a-christian-you-cannot-be/)

[Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/)

> [The ultimate test of our spirituality is the measure of our amazement at the grace of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/the-ultimate-test-of-our-spirituality-is-the-measure-of-our-amazement/)

[Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/)

> [To love to preach is one thing; to love to whom you preach is quite another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/to-love-to-preach-is-one-thing-to-love-to-whom-you-preach-is-quite/)

[Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/)

> [If you look at your past and are depressed it means that you are listening to the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/if-you-look-at-your-past-and-are-depressed-it-means-that-you-are/)

[Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/)

[Explore all 65 Martyn Lloyd-Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/)

## More Christian quotes

> [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/)

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

> [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/)

[David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/)

> [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/)

[Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/)

> [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/)

[Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/)

> [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/)

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

> [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/)

[Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/)

> [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/)

[Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/)

> [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/)

[J. 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": "There is nothing more foolish or self-defeating than for a Christian to say that he is not interested in doctrines.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Martyn Lloyd-Jones"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/there-is-nothing-more-foolish-or-self-defeating-than-for-a-christian/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Christian"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/there-is-nothing-more-foolish-or-self-defeating-than-for-a-christian/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/martyn-lloyd-jones-10434_christian_there-is-nothing-more-foolish-or-self-de_1366019.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/martyn-lloyd-jones-10434_christian_there-is-nothing-more-foolish-or-self-de_1366019.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/martyn-lloyd-jones-10434_christian_there-is-nothing-more-foolish-or-self-de_1366019.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There is nothing more foolish or self-defeating than for a Christian to say that he is not interested in…” — Martyn Lloyd-Jones",
                "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": "Martyn Lloyd-Jones",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There is nothing more foolish or...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/there-is-nothing-more-foolish-or-self-defeating-than-for-a-christian/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/there-is-nothing-more-foolish-or-self-defeating-than-for-a-christian/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
