--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And if we obey God, we must disobey…" description: "\"And if we obey God, we must disobey ourselves, and it is in this disobeying ourselves, wherein the hardness of obeying God consists.\" — Moby" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/moby-549_disobeying_and-if-we-obey-god-we-must-disobey-ourse_1733568.png" --- # And if we obey God, we must disobey ourselves, and it is… ![“And if we obey God, we must disobey ourselves, and it is in this disobeying ourselves, wherein the hardness of obeying God consists.” quote by Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/moby-549_disobeying_and-if-we-obey-god-we-must-disobey-ourse_1733568.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/moby-549_disobeying_and-if-we-obey-god-we-must-disobey-ourse_1733568.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/moby-549_disobeying_and-if-we-obey-god-we-must-disobey-ourse_1733568.png) > “And if we obey God, we must disobey ourselves, and it is in this disobeying ourselves, wherein the hardness of obeying God consists.” [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Obeying a higher moral law requires setting aside personal desires, making self‑denial the difficult part of true obedience. **In simple terms:** Following God means denying yourself. Key Takeaway Embrace self‑discipline to align with higher values. Themes faith self‑discipline morality Mood reflective serious Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - religious practice - personal decision‑making - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts theology ethics willpower Questions to Reflect On - What personal desire must you set aside for a higher purpose? - How do you balance self‑care with moral duty? A Different Perspective Self‑denial can conflict with personal well‑being. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disobeying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disobeying/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Obeying god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obeying-god/) ## Related quotes > [“But all the things that God would have us do are hard for us to do -- remember that -- and hence, he oftener…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/but-all-the-things-that-god-would-have-us-do-are-hard-for-us-to-do/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [If it were conceivable that in obeying God one should bring about one's own damnation whilst in disobeying him one could be saved, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/if-it-were-conceivable-that-in-obeying-god-one-should-bring-about-one/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [“Time can test almost anything and un-doubtedly anyone. Sometimes when we obey God and go where we believe He is sending us, we’re not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/time-can-test-almost-anything-and-un-doubtedly-anyone-sometimes-when/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [Unless we believe the gospel, we will be driven in all we do-whether obeying or disobeying-by pride ('self-love') or fear ('of damnation'). Apart from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/unless-we-believe-the-gospel-we-will-be-driven-in-all-we-do-whether/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [When people talk of atoms obeying fixed laws, they are either ascribing some kind of intelligence and free will to atoms or they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/when-people-talk-of-atoms-obeying-fixed-laws-they-are-either/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [She is free not by disobeying the rules but by obeying them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/she-is-free-not-by-disobeying-the-rules-but-by-obeying-them/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [Obsessed people are more concerned with obeying God than doing what is expected or fulfilling the status quo. A person who is obsessed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/obsessed-people-are-more-concerned-with-obeying-god-than-doing-what/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Over and over in the Bible, it is fear that threatens to keep people from trusting and obeying God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/over-and-over-in-the-bible-it-is-fear-that-threatens-to-keep-people/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [What can you say to a man who tells you he prefers obeying God rather than men, and that as a result he's certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/what-can-you-say-to-a-man-who-tells-you-he-prefers-obeying-god-rather/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“The theme of obeying God runs from Genesis to Revelation, and it is vital to our children’s success in life. A child who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/the-theme-of-obeying-god-runs-from-genesis-to-revelation-and-it-is/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [Faithfully obeying God's commandments is essential to receiving the Holy Ghost. We are reminded of this truth each week as we listen to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/faithfully-obeying-god-s-commandments-is-essential-to-receiving-the/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) > [“If all emotions are common coin, then what is unique to the good man? To welcome with affection what is sent by fate. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-all-emotions-are-common-coin-then-what-is-unique-to-the-good-man/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Obeying God is listening to God, having an open heart to follow the path that God points out to us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/obeying-god-is-listening-to-god-having-an-open-heart-to-follow-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The slave should be resigned to his lot, in obeying his master he is obeying God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/the-slave-should-be-resigned-to-his-lot-in-obeying-his-master-he-is/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Have the moral courage to stand firm in obeying God’s will, even if you have to stand alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulisses-soares/have-the-moral-courage-to-stand-firm-in-obeying-god-s-will-even-if/) [Ulisses Soares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulisses-soares/) ## More by Moby > [If Nirvana had remained a small, underground punk rock band, Kurt Cobain would still be alive. And he'd probably be living in Seattle, getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/if-nirvana-had-remained-a-small-underground-punk-rock-band-kurt/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [A great song is a great song, whether it's on vinyl or CD or cassette or reel to reel or mp3. Then again, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/a-great-song-is-a-great-song-whether-it-s-on-vinyl-or-cd-or-cassette/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [When I dj at big venues I try to play tracks that I would want to hear if I were e'd up in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/when-i-dj-at-big-venues-i-try-to-play-tracks-that-i-would-want-to/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [The good thing about not being drop-dead gorgeous is that as time passes, I don't have much to worry about. I have friends who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/the-good-thing-about-not-being-drop-dead-gorgeous-is-that-as-time/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [When you look at the consequences of climate change, at rainforest deforestation, at antibiotic resistance, these are not necessarily political issues, but rather issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/when-you-look-at-the-consequences-of-climate-change-at-rainforest/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [What I love about making albums in the 21st century is that so few people buy albums! I can make an album without any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/what-i-love-about-making-albums-in-the-21st-century-is-that-so-few/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [Factory-farm lobbyists are so powerful and so well funded and they do everything in their power to hide the truth about farming. They keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/factory-farm-lobbyists-are-so-powerful-and-so-well-funded-and-they-do/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [What makes me feel old is having no hair on the top of my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/what-makes-me-feel-old-is-having-no-hair-on-the-top-of-my-head/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [Up until I started working with him, I had thought that music was a nice thing that I enjoyed and liked making, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/up-until-i-started-working-with-him-i-had-thought-that-music-was-a/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [I'm obsessed with politics, and I talk about it any chance I can get. I have strong opinions about how the world should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/i-m-obsessed-with-politics-and-i-talk-about-it-any-chance-i-can-get-i/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [As I wake its kaleidoscopic mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/as-i-wake-its-kaleidoscopic-mind/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [Even love is goin' 'round. You can't ignore what is goin' 'round](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/even-love-is-goin-round-you-can-t-ignore-what-is-goin-round/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [“I had an epiphany a few years ago when I was out at a celebrity party and it suddenly dawned on me that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/i-had-an-epiphany-a-few-years-ago-when-i-was-out-at-a-celebrity-party/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [I see 'Ahab's Wife' as offering an alternative vision to](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/i-see-ahab-s-wife-as-offering-an-alternative-vision-to/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [I think that, for a lot of us, the closer we get to showing people who we really are, that's where we feel the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/i-think-that-for-a-lot-of-us-the-closer-we-get-to-showing-people-who/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) [Explore all 483 Moby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) ## More Disobeying quotes > [By pretending that convention is Nature, that disobeying a personal prohibition is a medical illness, they establish themselves as agents of social control and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-szasz/by-pretending-that-convention-is-nature-that-disobeying-a-personal/) [Thomas Szasz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-szasz/) > [“By disobeying immoral orders, that individual preserves the institution's highest rank - dignity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/by-disobeying-immoral-orders-that-individual-preserves-the/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [How far must a Christian go in order to be saved? Only to the Cross. But if I am disobeying God in my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-redpath/how-far-must-a-christian-go-in-order-to-be-saved-only-to-the-cross/) [Alan Redpath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-redpath/) > [When people talk of atoms obeying fixed laws, they are either ascribing some kind of intelligence and free will to atoms or they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/when-people-talk-of-atoms-obeying-fixed-laws-they-are-either/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [If I lived in a Communist country today where certain principles dear to the Christian faith are suppressed, I believe I would openly advocate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/if-i-lived-in-a-communist-country-today-where-certain-principles-dear/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [She is free not by disobeying the rules but by obeying them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/she-is-free-not-by-disobeying-the-rules-but-by-obeying-them/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [If in the sight of God you cannot say you are sure that you have a special call to stay at home, why are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/if-in-the-sight-of-god-you-cannot-say-you-are-sure-that-you-have-a/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [Reason commands us far more imperiously than a master; for in disobeying the one we are unfortunate, and in disobeying the other we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/reason-commands-us-far-more-imperiously-than-a-master-for-in/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [I think we all sin by needlessly disobeying the apostolic injunction to "rejoice" as much as by anything else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-think-we-all-sin-by-needlessly-disobeying-the-apostolic-injunction/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Do not fancy, as too many do, that thou canst praise God by singing hymns to Him in church once a week, and disobeying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/do-not-fancy-as-too-many-do-that-thou-canst-praise-god-by-singing/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [If I tell you that I would be disobeying the god and on that account it is impossible for me to keep quiet, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-i-tell-you-that-i-would-be-disobeying-the-god-and-on-that-account/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was “legal” and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was “illegal.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-should-never-forget-that-everything-adolf-hitler-did-in-germany/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Unless we believe the gospel, we will be driven in all we do-whether obeying or disobeying-by pride ('self-love') or fear ('of damnation'). Apart from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/unless-we-believe-the-gospel-we-will-be-driven-in-all-we-do-whether/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“But he asked himself now if he would not be disobeying God. And does not God permit love, since He surrounds it with such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/but-he-asked-himself-now-if-he-would-not-be-disobeying-god-and-does/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [“The Italians don’t like laws: in fact, they like disobeying them: it’s their game, like the Russians’ game is chess … ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-bastianich/the-italians-don-t-like-laws-in-fact-they-like-disobeying-them-it-s/) Joseph Bastianich [Browse all 29 Disobeying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disobeying/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "And if we obey God, we must disobey ourselves, and it is in this disobeying ourselves, wherein the hardness of obeying God consists.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Moby" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/and-if-we-obey-god-we-must-disobey-ourselves-and-it-is-in-this/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Disobeying" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/and-if-we-obey-god-we-must-disobey-ourselves-and-it-is-in-this/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/moby-549_disobeying_and-if-we-obey-god-we-must-disobey-ourse_1733568.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/moby-549_disobeying_and-if-we-obey-god-we-must-disobey-ourse_1733568.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/moby-549_disobeying_and-if-we-obey-god-we-must-disobey-ourse_1733568.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And if we obey God, we must disobey ourselves, and it is in this disobeying ourselves, wherein the hardness…” — Moby", "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": "Moby", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "And if we obey God, we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/and-if-we-obey-god-we-must-disobey-ourselves-and-it-is-in-this/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/and-if-we-obey-god-we-must-disobey-ourselves-and-it-is-in-this/#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 } } ] } ```