--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good intentions are useless until they…" description: "\"Good intentions are useless until they are expressed in appropriate action!\" — Napoleon Hill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a68/napoleon-hill-201_action_good-intentions-are-useless-until-they-a_1979435.jpg" --- # Good intentions are useless until they are expressed in… ![“Good intentions are useless until they are expressed in appropriate action!” quote by Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a68/napoleon-hill-201_action_good-intentions-are-useless-until-they-a_1979435.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a68/napoleon-hill-201_action_good-intentions-are-useless-until-they-a_1979435.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a68/napoleon-hill-201_action_good-intentions-are-useless-until-they-a_1979435.jpg) > “Good intentions are useless until they are expressed in appropriate action!” [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ideas must be turned into concrete, suitable actions to have any impact. **In simple terms:** Ideas need action to matter. Key Takeaway Act on good intentions. Themes motivation action productivity Mood determined pragmatic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - personal projects - community service - business initiatives Key Concepts Goal setting implementation Questions to Reflect On - What actions align with your intentions? - How do you ensure actions are appropriate? A Different Perspective Action alone isn’t enough without relevance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Appropriate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appropriate/) [Appropriate Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appropriate-action-1335665/) [Good intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-intentions/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intentions/) [Intentions Useless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intentions-useless-3371187/) [Useless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/useless/) [Useless Expressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/useless-expressed-3371188/) ## Related quotes > [“Good intentions are useless in the absence of common sense. —JAMI, BAHARISTAN”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gurcharan-das/good-intentions-are-useless-in-the-absence-of-common-sense-jami/) [Gurcharan Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gurcharan-das/) > [Then, if action is possible or necessary, you take action or rather right action happens through you. Right action is action that is appropriate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/then-if-action-is-possible-or-necessary-you-take-action-or-rather/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [We had a single find of BSE in this country. And we believe that what we're doing is appropriate action taken in an abundance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-veneman/we-had-a-single-find-of-bse-in-this-country-and-we-believe-that-what/) [Ann Veneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-veneman/) > [We maintain the right to defend ourselves, and we won't hesitate to take the appropriate action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/we-maintain-the-right-to-defend-ourselves-and-we-won-t-hesitate-to/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [Appropriate action means to advance your own goals, without unintentional harm to anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-brust/appropriate-action-means-to-advance-your-own-goals-without/) [Steven Brust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-brust/) > [“Emotion has its place, but it must not interfere with taking the appropriate action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-oakey-baker/emotion-has-its-place-but-it-must-not-interfere-with-taking-the/) [Susan Oakey-Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-oakey-baker/) > [“If you understand the system you can design appropriate action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/if-you-understand-the-system-you-can-design-appropriate-action/) [Edward De Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [If we see you smoking we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/if-we-see-you-smoking-we-will-assume-you-are-on-fire-and-take/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Do not only think about it, but feel about it, also, before taking appropriate action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/do-not-only-think-about-it-but-feel-about-it-also-before-taking/) [T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/) > [Dashed hopes and good intentions. Good, better, best, bested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/dashed-hopes-and-good-intentions-good-better-best-bested/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [“If God had good intentions, he would have rewarded the sex.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/if-god-had-good-intentions-he-would-have-rewarded-the-sex/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Good intentions aren't good enough!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush-2/good-intentions-aren-t-good-enough/) [George W Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush-2/) > [“It’s not the things you do with love and good intentions that you end up regretting. It’s the things you don’t do that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/it-s-not-the-things-you-do-with-love-and-good-intentions-that-you-end/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we are capable of so much more. For that, good intentions are not enough. We must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/as-sons-and-daughters-of-our-heavenly-father-we-are-capable-of-so/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [Good intentions do not guarantee good results. Somehow Andrew Keates turns works of merit into evenings of entertainment. Don't call him a dramaturge, call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gambaccini/good-intentions-do-not-guarantee-good-results-somehow-andrew-keates/) [Paul Gambaccini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gambaccini/) ## More by Napoleon Hill > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The mind requires regular use to remain strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-mind-requires-regular-use-to-remain-strong/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The vast majority of people are born, grow up, struggle and go through life in misery and failure, not realizing that it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-vast-majority-of-people-are-born-grow-up-struggle-and-go-through/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [No accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person's enemies say about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/no-accurate-thinker-will-judge-another-person-by-that-which-the-other/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“To all these I wish to convey the thought that all achievement, no matter what may be its nature, or its purpose, must begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/to-all-these-i-wish-to-convey-the-thought-that-all-achievement-no/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“Tell the world what you intend to do, but first show it.” This”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/tell-the-world-what-you-intend-to-do-but-first-show-it-this/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Handicaps can be converted into stepping stones on which one may climb toward some worthy goal, unless they are accepted as obstacles, and used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/handicaps-can-be-converted-into-stepping-stones-on-which-one-may/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [You become what you think about](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/you-become-what-you-think-about/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Every man's own character is written so all who will may read it, in the expression of his eyes, the tone of his voice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/every-man-s-own-character-is-written-so-all-who-will-may-read-it-in/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Life is a mirror of your consistent thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/life-is-a-mirror-of-your-consistent-thoughts/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Success requires no explanations. Failure permits no alibis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/success-requires-no-explanations-failure-permits-no-alibis/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The habit of taking the line of least resistance makes all rivers and some men crooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-habit-of-taking-the-line-of-least-resistance-makes-all-rivers-and/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“There are no limitations to the mind except those that we acknowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/there-are-no-limitations-to-the-mind-except-those-that-we-acknowledge/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) [Explore all 928 Napoleon Hill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Good intentions are useless until they are expressed in appropriate action!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Napoleon Hill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/good-intentions-are-useless-until-they-are-expressed-in-appropriate/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/good-intentions-are-useless-until-they-are-expressed-in-appropriate/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a68/napoleon-hill-201_action_good-intentions-are-useless-until-they-a_1979435.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a68/napoleon-hill-201_action_good-intentions-are-useless-until-they-a_1979435.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a68/napoleon-hill-201_action_good-intentions-are-useless-until-they-a_1979435.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Good intentions are useless until they are expressed in appropriate action!” — Napoleon Hill", "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": "Napoleon Hill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Good intentions are useless until they...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/good-intentions-are-useless-until-they-are-expressed-in-appropriate/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/good-intentions-are-useless-until-they-are-expressed-in-appropriate/#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 } } ] } ```