---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even the good can become careless without…"
description: "\"Even the good can become careless without the Lord's being there to chasten.\" — Neal A. Maxwell"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/neal-a-maxwell-925_being-there_even-the-good-can-become-careless-withou_2169319.png"
---

#  Even the good can become careless without the Lord's being…

![“Even the good can become careless without the Lord's being there to chasten.” quote by Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/neal-a-maxwell-925_being-there_even-the-good-can-become-careless-withou_2169319.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/neal-a-maxwell-925_being-there_even-the-good-can-become-careless-withou_2169319.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/neal-a-maxwell-925_being-there_even-the-good-can-become-careless-withou_2169319.png)

> “Even the good can become careless without the Lord's being there to chasten.”

[Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

## About This Quote

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

Without divine guidance, even virtuous people can become negligent, needing correction.

**In simple terms:** Even good people need God's correction.

Key Takeaway

Seek continual spiritual accountability.

Themes

morality humility spirituality

Mood

reflective serious

Type

moral inspirational

When to use this quote

- leadership
- personal growth
- ethical decision making

Key Concepts

ethical vigilance divine correction

Questions to Reflect On

- What practices keep you aligned with your values?
- How do you respond to correction?

A Different Perspective

Reliance on external correction may undermine personal responsibility.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/)

## Related quotes

> [My marriage to Chasten has made me a better man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-buttigieg/my-marriage-to-chasten-has-made-me-a-better-man/)

[Pete Buttigieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-buttigieg/)

> [The acceptance of the reality that we are in the Lord's loving hands is only a recognition that we have never really been anywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-acceptance-of-the-reality-that-we-are-in-the-lord-s-loving-hands/)

[Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

> [the greater part of the suffering in the world is caused not by wicked intents and hard hearts, but by the careless desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marah-ellis-ryan/the-greater-part-of-the-suffering-in-the-world-is-caused-not-by/)

[Marah Ellis Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marah-ellis-ryan/)

> [Take good care of the things you have. Careless people spend more for a given standard of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-crook-de-camp/take-good-care-of-the-things-you-have-careless-people-spend-more-for/)

[Catherine Crook de Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-crook-de-camp/)

> [You don't have to give way to careless speech or complaining. You don't have to let your feelings get in the way of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/you-don-t-have-to-give-way-to-careless-speech-or-complaining-you-don/)

[Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/)

> [Galvanized people can do careless things. It is in the extreme and emotion-laden moments that distance and coolness are most required. I am tempted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/galvanized-people-can-do-careless-things-it-is-in-the-extreme-and/)

[George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/)

> [Phaedra shook her head. “If your people mean no offense, they should not speak their thoughts out loud in front of their children, Tesadora.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/phaedra-shook-her-head-if-your-people-mean-no-offense-they-should-not/)

[Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/)

> [The paradox of courage is that a man must be a little careless of his life even in order to keep it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-paradox-of-courage-is-that-a-man-must-be-a-little-careless-of-his/)

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

> [Being carefree, you can fit in anywhere. If you’re not carefree you keep on bumping up against things. Your life becomes so narrow, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsoknyi-rinpoche/being-carefree-you-can-fit-in-anywhere-if-you-re-not-carefree-you/)

[Tsoknyi Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsoknyi-rinpoche/)

> [“The rich eat life, the poor eat death; so what is the problem they ask?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/the-rich-eat-life-the-poor-eat-death-so-what-is-the-problem-they-ask/)

[Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/)

> [Sunday morning, before we go to hear the Word of God preached...let us not rush into God’s presence careless, reckless, and unprepared, as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/sunday-morning-before-we-go-to-hear-the-word-of-god-preached-let-us/)

[J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/)

> [“They are not brave, the days when we are twenty-one. They are full of little cowardices, little fears without foundation, and one is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/they-are-not-brave-the-days-when-we-are-twenty-one-they-are-full-of/)

[Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/)

> [And hast thou sworn on every slight pretence, Till perjuries are common as bad pence, While thousands, careless of the damning sin, Kiss the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/and-hast-thou-sworn-on-every-slight-pretence-till-perjuries-are/)

[William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

> [It is the habit of mankind to entrust to careless hope what they long for, and to use sovereign reason to thrust aside what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/it-is-the-habit-of-mankind-to-entrust-to-careless-hope-what-they-long/)

[Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/)

> [We Americans tend to be a prodigal lot. We are as careless with our personal resources as we are with the resources of nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-crook-de-camp/we-americans-tend-to-be-a-prodigal-lot-we-are-as-careless-with-our/)

[Catherine Crook de Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-crook-de-camp/)

## More by Neal A. Maxwell

> [Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/clearly-when-we-baptize-our-eyes-should-gaze-beyond-the-baptismal/)

[Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

> [We should not assume; however, that just because something is unexplainable by us, it is unexplainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/we-should-not-assume-however-that-just-because-something-is/)

[Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

> [Naive optimism and pervasive pessimism are both to be avoided, therefore. It's not an easy balance to maintain, to be asked to work away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-are-both-to-be-avoided/)

[Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

> [Occasionally some individuals let the seeming ordinariness of life dampen their spirits. Though actually coping and growning, others lack the quiet, inner-soul satisfaction that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/occasionally-some-individuals-let-the-seeming-ordinariness-of-life/)

[Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

> [The acceptance of the reality that we are in the Lord's loving hands is only a recognition that we have never really been anywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-acceptance-of-the-reality-that-we-are-in-the-lord-s-loving-hands/)

[Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

> [We can't dwell upon another's ingratitude without using up our time and talents unprofitably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/we-can-t-dwell-upon-another-s-ingratitude-without-using-up-our-time/)

[Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

> [The winds of tribulation, which blow out some men's candles of commitment, only fan the fires of faith of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-winds-of-tribulation-which-blow-out-some-men-s-candles-of/)

[Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

> [Power is most safe with those who are not in love with it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/power-is-most-safe-with-those-who-are-not-in-love-with-it/)

[Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

> [Ultimate hope constitutes the anchor of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/ultimate-hope-constitutes-the-anchor-of-the-soul/)

[Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

> [Frequently, we busily search for group service projects, which are surely needed and commendable, when quiet, personal service is also urgently needed. Sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/frequently-we-busily-search-for-group-service-projects-which-are/)

[Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

> [The cumulative weight of all mortal sins--past, present, and future--pressed upon that perfect, sinless, and sensitive Soul! All our infirmities and sicknesses were somehow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-cumulative-weight-of-all-mortal-sins-past-present-and-future/)

[Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

> [“When we feel so alone, we cannot presume to teach him who, at the apogee of his agony, trod “the winepress alone” anything about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/when-we-feel-so-alone-we-cannot-presume-to-teach-him-who-at-the/)

[Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

> [How myopic it is to view His ministry as all crucifixion and no resurrection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/how-myopic-it-is-to-view-his-ministry-as-all-crucifixion-and-no/)

[Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

> [Patience stoutly resists pulling up the daisies to see how the roots are doing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/patience-stoutly-resists-pulling-up-the-daisies-to-see-how-the-roots/)

[Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

> [Our little pebble of poor performance helps to start, or to sustain, an avalanche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/our-little-pebble-of-poor-performance-helps-to-start-or-to-sustain-an/)

[Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

[Explore all 328 Neal A. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

## More Being there quotes

> [A friend gives hope when your life is low, a friend is place wen you have no place to go, a friend is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-friend-gives-hope-when-your-life-is-low-a-friend-is-place-wen-you/)

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

> [Dear God, thanks for being there when no one else was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myah/dear-god-thanks-for-being-there-when-no-one-else-was/)

[Myah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myah/)

> [Hillary Clinton was in rural America during the Iowa caucuses, but I think the nature of a campaign makes it more difficult once you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/hillary-clinton-was-in-rural-america-during-the-iowa-caucuses-but-i/)

[Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/)

> [So long as the priest, that professional negator, slanderer and poisoner of life, is regarded as a superior type of human being, there cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/so-long-as-the-priest-that-professional-negator-slanderer-and/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [Love your mom no matter what you go through and no matter how much you argue because in the end,she'll always be there for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/my-favorite-qoutes/love-your-mom-no-matter-what-you-go-through-and-no-matter-how-much/)

My Favorite Qoutes

> [I don't mind being there for you. I just mind being the one you run to just because everyone else is busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-mind-being-there-for-you-i-just-mind-being-the-one-you-run-to/)

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

> [Being there for people but no one being there for you when you need them seems to be the story of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-there-for-people-but-no-one-being-there-for-you-when-you-need/)

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

> [Being there is what matters, not all the stress and issues that arise along the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-there-is-what-matters-not-all-the-stress-and-issues-that-arise/)

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

> [Once you're imagining being the main character, and you're having the conversations and actually being there, the magic in fiction writing takes over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hobbs/once-you-re-imagining-being-the-main-character-and-you-re-having-the/)

[Will Hobbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hobbs/)

> [There's a fine line between being there for someone &amp; kissing their ass looking stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-a-fine-line-between-being-there-for-someone-kissing-their-ass/)

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

> [No matter the distance,i'll always be there for you and you will for me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-the-distance-i-ll-always-be-there-for-you-and-you-will-for/)

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

> [Pushing me away so I can give her space. Dealing with a heart I didn't break. I'll be there for you, I will care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pushing-me-away-so-i-can-give-her-space-dealing-with-a-heart-i-didn-t/)

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

> [In general, I always make it my mission to focus on the one person in the audience who seems to be absolutely miserable about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davy-rothbart/in-general-i-always-make-it-my-mission-to-focus-on-the-one-person-in/)

[Davy Rothbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davy-rothbart/)

> [The problem that we have is the President himself- a President who prides himself on his own weakness and incompetence and whose love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/femi-fani-kayode/the-problem-that-we-have-is-the-president-himself-a-president-who/)

Femi Fani-Kayode

> [There is no greater feeling than being with someone who wants you as much as you want them, to love and to be loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/there-is-no-greater-feeling-than-being-with-someone-who-wants-you-as/)

[Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/)

Browse all 633 Being there quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Even the good can become careless without the Lord's being there to chasten.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Neal A. Maxwell"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/even-the-good-can-become-careless-without-the-lord-s-being-there-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Being there"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/even-the-good-can-become-careless-without-the-lord-s-being-there-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/neal-a-maxwell-925_being-there_even-the-good-can-become-careless-withou_2169319.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/neal-a-maxwell-925_being-there_even-the-good-can-become-careless-withou_2169319.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/neal-a-maxwell-925_being-there_even-the-good-can-become-careless-withou_2169319.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Even the good can become careless without the Lord's being there to chasten.” — Neal A. Maxwell",
                "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": "Neal A. Maxwell",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Even the good can become careless...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/even-the-good-can-become-careless-without-the-lord-s-being-there-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/even-the-good-can-become-careless-without-the-lord-s-being-there-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
