--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The outward work can never be small if…" description: "\"The outward work can never be small if the inward one is great, and the outward work can never be great or good if the inward is small or of little wor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/meister-eckhart-1044_ifs_the-outward-work-can-never-be-small-if-t_1144975.jpg" --- # The outward work can never be small if the inward one is… ![“The outward work can never be small if the inward one is great, and the outward work can never be great or good if the inward is small or of little worth.” quote by Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/meister-eckhart-1044_ifs_the-outward-work-can-never-be-small-if-t_1144975.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/meister-eckhart-1044_ifs_the-outward-work-can-never-be-small-if-t_1144975.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e43/meister-eckhart-1044_ifs_the-outward-work-can-never-be-small-if-t_1144975.jpg) > “The outward work can never be small if the inward one is great, and the outward work can never be great or good if the inward is small or of little worth.” [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. Great inner virtue makes external actions meaningful; without inner worth, outward deeds lack depth and value. **In simple terms:** Inner goodness gives power to outward work; without it, deeds are hollow. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner virtues to give purpose to external actions. Themes virtue inner growth action meaning spirituality Mood thoughtful inspirational calm Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - leadership - community service - personal development - creative projects Key Concepts ethics philosophy self‑development Questions to Reflect On - How can one balance inner development with practical action? - What practices nurture inner greatness? A Different Perspective Inner focus alone may not guarantee effective external results. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Inward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inward/) [Inward Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inward-great-3209126/) [Inward Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inward-small-3209127/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Outward Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outward-work-3209125/) [Small Inward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-inward-3209128/) [Work Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-small-327124/) ## Related quotes > [The outward work will never be puny if the inward work is great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/the-outward-work-will-never-be-puny-if-the-inward-work-is-great/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [I always interrupt work with other work, either in a small way or big way, so that's normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/i-always-interrupt-work-with-other-work-either-in-a-small-way-or-big/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [Reach Out WorldWide does great work. 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But going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-patricia-botin/bright-graduates-will-either-set-up-their-own-companies-or-come-and/) [Ana Patricia Botin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-patricia-botin/) ## 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? 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