--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not enough for us to perform the…" description: "\"“It is not enough for us to perform the works of virtue, exercising obedience, excepting poverty or disgrace or practicing humility or detachment in so..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e4/meister-eckhart-1044_character_it-is-not-enough-for-us-to-perform-the-w_2392784.jpg" --- # It is not enough for us to perform the works of virtue… ![“It is not enough for us to perform the works of virtue, exercising obedience, excepting poverty or disgrace or practicing humility or detachment in some other way; rather we should strive ceaselessly until we attain the essence and ground of virtue. And we can tell if we have attained this or not…” quote by Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e4/meister-eckhart-1044_character_it-is-not-enough-for-us-to-perform-the-w_2392784.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e4/meister-eckhart-1044_character_it-is-not-enough-for-us-to-perform-the-w_2392784.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e4/meister-eckhart-1044_character_it-is-not-enough-for-us-to-perform-the-w_2392784.jpg) > ““It is not enough for us to perform the works of virtue, exercising obedience, excepting poverty or disgrace or practicing humility or detachment in some other way; rather we should strive ceaselessly until we attain the essence and ground of virtue. And we can tell if we have attained this or not by asking whether we find ourselves inclined to virtue above all else and perform the works of virtue without prior preparation of the will, practicing virtue without the ulterior motive even of a great and good cause, so that the virtuous act in fact happen spontaneously on account of love of virtue and without asking ‘what for?’ Then and only then do we have the perfect possession of virtue.”” [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True virtue is spontaneous, arising from love of virtue itself, not from forced effort or external motives. **In simple terms:** Virtue should flow naturally from love, not from forced effort. Key Takeaway Seek inner love of virtue. Themes virtue spontaneity inner motivation Mood contemplative inspirational Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - meditation - ethical decision making - personal growth - teaching others Key Concepts philosophy ethics spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What inner love drives your ethical actions? - Can virtue be both disciplined and spontaneous? A Different Perspective Spontaneous virtue can be hard to achieve without discipline. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cause Virtuous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause-virtuous-5965457/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Possession Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession-virtue-2481511/) [Practicing Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practicing-virtue-4969788/) [Ulterior motive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ulterior-motive/) [Virtue Exercising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue-exercising-5965455/) [Works Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/works-virtue-5965459/) ## Related quotes > [All of us are experts at practicing virtue at a distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-hesburgh/all-of-us-are-experts-at-practicing-virtue-at-a-distance/) [Theodore Hesburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-hesburgh/) > [We do not place especial value on the possession of a virtue until we notice its total absence in our opponent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/we-do-not-place-especial-value-on-the-possession-of-a-virtue-until-we/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [We set no special value on the possession of a virtue until we percieve that it is entirely lacking in our adversary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/we-set-no-special-value-on-the-possession-of-a-virtue-until-we/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Full of love for all things in the world, practicing virtue, in order to benefit others, this man alone is happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/full-of-love-for-all-things-in-the-world-practicing-virtue-in-order/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If you can figure out what their motivation is, then you're ahead of the game. I think that's why a lot of people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-faison/if-you-can-figure-out-what-their-motivation-is-then-you-re-ahead-of/) [Donald Faison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-faison/) > [“Mr. Rivenhall said to Sophy, “If this is your doing—!” “I promise you it is not. If I thought that he had the smallest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/mr-rivenhall-said-to-sophy-if-this-is-your-doing-i-promise-you-it-is/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“Many pray for the power of God. More every year. Those prayers sound powerful, sincere, godly, and without ulterior motive. Hidden under such prayer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/many-pray-for-the-power-of-god-more-every-year-those-prayers-sound/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To love mankind for the sake of God-that has been the most nobel and far-fetched feeling yet achieved by human beings. The idea that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/to-love-mankind-for-the-sake-of-god-that-has-been-the-most-nobel-and/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Let’s get one thing straight. I kiss you because I want to fucking kiss you, because I like it and because you taste good.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-golland/let-s-get-one-thing-straight-i-kiss-you-because-i-want-to-fucking/) [K.M. Golland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-golland/) > [“Your love for me is transparent, no hidden agenda, no ulterior motive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/your-love-for-me-is-transparent-no-hidden-agenda-no-ulterior-motive/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [We live in an age where in politics, people can't disagree with each other without good faith being questioned, there is always an ulterior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-jones/we-live-in-an-age-where-in-politics-people-can-t-disagree-with-each/) [Owen Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-jones/) > [I would argue that search has made the world a better place. It has done so for reasons that arbitrarily could completely change that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathon-keats/i-would-argue-that-search-has-made-the-world-a-better-place-it-has/) [Jonathon Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathon-keats/) > [“We are not the end of the gospel; God is. God centers on himself, even in our salvation. Remember his words in Ezekiel: he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/we-are-not-the-end-of-the-gospel-god-is-god-centers-on-himself-even/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [“Of course, the New York Times will never run a news article on studies that find that guns save lives. Even when they write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-lott-jr/of-course-the-new-york-times-will-never-run-a-news-article-on-studies/) [John R. Lott Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-lott-jr/) > [“Here. Right here, right now bring your mind to this place and time. Invite it, even if it resists, to sit and witness what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-faulds/here-right-here-right-now-bring-your-mind-to-this-place-and-time/) [Richard Faulds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-faulds/) ## More by Meister Eckhart > [God holds each of us by a string. When we sin, we cut the string. But God ties it up again, making a knot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/god-holds-each-of-us-by-a-string-when-we-sin-we-cut-the-string-but/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [When I think of God's Kingdom, I am compelled to be silent because of its immensity, because God's Kingdom is none other than God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/when-i-think-of-god-s-kingdom-i-am-compelled-to-be-silent-because-of/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Action and becoming are one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/action-and-becoming-are-one/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Whoever wants to receive the body of our Lord does not need to scrutinize what they are feeling at the time or how great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/whoever-wants-to-receive-the-body-of-our-lord-does-not-need-to/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Nothing will be able to hinder us, if we desire and seek God alone, and take pleasure in nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/nothing-will-be-able-to-hinder-us-if-we-desire-and-seek-god-alone-and/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [ \[W\]e must come into a transformed knowing, an unknowing which comes not from ignorance but from knowledge. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/w-e-must-come-into-a-transformed-knowing-an-unknowing-which-comes-not/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [I need to be silent for awhile, worlds are forming in my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/i-need-to-be-silent-for-awhile-worlds-are-forming-in-my-heart/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [One person who has mastered life is better than a thousand persons who have mastered only the contents of books, but no one can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/one-person-who-has-mastered-life-is-better-than-a-thousand-persons/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [“But where is this true possession of God, whereby we really possess him, to be found? This real possession of God is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/but-where-is-this-true-possession-of-god-whereby-we-really-possess/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [The most powerful prayer, one well-nigh omnipotent, and the worthiest work of all is the outcome of a quiet mind. The quieter it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/the-most-powerful-prayer-one-well-nigh-omnipotent-and-the-worthiest/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [If we seek God for our own good and profit, we are not seeking God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/if-we-seek-god-for-our-own-good-and-profit-we-are-not-seeking-god/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Our bodily food is changed into us, but our spiritual food changes us into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/our-bodily-food-is-changed-into-us-but-our-spiritual-food-changes-us/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [“Concerning this desert, Jeremiah writes: ‘I will lead my beloved into the wilderness and will speak to her in her heart’ (Hosea 2:14) .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/concerning-this-desert-jeremiah-writes-i-will-lead-my-beloved-into/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [If the seal is pressed completely through the wax so that no wax remains without being impressed by the seal, then it becomes indistinguishably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/if-the-seal-is-pressed-completely-through-the-wax-so-that-no-wax/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Be ready at all times for the gifts of God, and always for new ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/be-ready-at-all-times-for-the-gifts-of-god-and-always-for-new-ones/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) [Explore all 301 Meister Eckhart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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