---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God's anger is kindled not because we…"
description: "\"God's anger is kindled not because we have harmed him but because we have harmed ourselves.\" — Neal A. Maxwell"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/neal-a-maxwell-925_anger_god-s-anger-is-kindled-not-because-we-ha_752230.png"
---

#  God's anger is kindled not because we have harmed him but…

![“God's anger is kindled not because we have harmed him but because we have harmed ourselves.” quote by Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/neal-a-maxwell-925_anger_god-s-anger-is-kindled-not-because-we-ha_752230.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/neal-a-maxwell-925_anger_god-s-anger-is-kindled-not-because-we-ha_752230.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/neal-a-maxwell-925_anger_god-s-anger-is-kindled-not-because-we-ha_752230.png)

> “God's anger is kindled not because we have harmed him but because we have harmed ourselves.”

[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.

We suffer the consequences of our own actions, not divine wrath, because our harm is self‑inflicted.

**In simple terms:** Our own choices hurt us more than any external punishment.

Key Takeaway

Look inward before blaming others.

Themes

responsibility self‑awareness spirituality

Mood

reflective serious

Type

moral spiritual

When to use this quote

- personal failure
- ethical decision‑making
- spiritual counseling

Key Concepts

sin consequence self‑reflection

Questions to Reflect On

- What personal habits cause you the most harm?
- How can you transform self‑damage into growth?

A Different Perspective

It ignores external injustices that can also cause pain.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Anger Kindled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger-kindled-5279737/) [God Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-anger-453696/) [Harmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmed/) [Kindled Harmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindled-harmed-5850765/)

## Related quotes

> [Anger may be kindled in the noblest breasts: but in these slow droppings of an unforgiving temper never takes the shape of consistency of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anger-may-be-kindled-in-the-noblest-breasts-but-in-these-slow/)

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

> [“God’s Anger at Sin 18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.\* 19 They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-anger-at-sin-18-but-god-shows-his-anger-from-heaven-against-all/)

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

> [“This is the immediate prospect after restoration to Palestine of the people who rebelled against the Most High, and rejected His Son, and always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-lifsey/this-is-the-immediate-prospect-after-restoration-to-palestine-of-the/)

[Dalton Lifsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-lifsey/)

> [“When a nation’s land is soaked with innocent blood, the only method of assuaging God’s anger is the shedding of the blood of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/when-a-nation-s-land-is-soaked-with-innocent-blood-the-only-method-of/)

[John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/)

> [Suffering is part of the human condition, and it comes to us all. The key is how we react to it, either turning away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/suffering-is-part-of-the-human-condition-and-it-comes-to-us-all-the/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [“God, in his wisdom, sent us his angels, to whisper our names on the wind. God, in his anger, released his devils, to pester…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-cheever/god-in-his-wisdom-sent-us-his-angels-to-whisper-our-names-on-the-wind/)

[Sam Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-cheever/)

> [Greatness brings no profit to people. God indeed, when in anger, brings greater ruin to great mens houses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/greatness-brings-no-profit-to-people-god-indeed-when-in-anger-brings/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [“And this brings us face to face with a blunder of our traditional creed, which is radical. It talks of God's love as though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-allin/and-this-brings-us-face-to-face-with-a-blunder-of-our-traditional/)

[Thomas Allin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-allin/)

> [God's love is so perfect that He lovingly requires us to obey His commandments because He knows that only through obedience to His laws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/god-s-love-is-so-perfect-that-he-lovingly-requires-us-to-obey-his/)

[Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/)

> [It is blasphemy if you pray before God while you are full of anger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/it-is-blasphemy-if-you-pray-before-god-while-you-are-full-of-anger/)

[Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/)

> [As a system of philosophy it is not like the Tower of Babel, so daring its high aim as to seek a shelter against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sedgwick/as-a-system-of-philosophy-it-is-not-like-the-tower-of-babel-so-daring/)

[Adam Sedgwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sedgwick/)

> [...but then eject them forever from this country. For, as we have heard, God's anger with them is so intense that gentle mercy will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/but-then-eject-them-forever-from-this-country-for-as-we-have-heard/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [“But after eating his one-thousandth sinner, Bob became prideful of his accomplishments, and that angered God.” “Why would that anger God?” “This was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-konrath/but-after-eating-his-one-thousandth-sinner-bob-became-prideful-of-his/)

[J.A. Konrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-konrath/)

> [We're still dancing to tunes created by men who thought that a thunderstorm was a sig of God's anger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-khoury/we-re-still-dancing-to-tunes-created-by-men-who-thought-that-a/)

[Raymond Khoury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-khoury/)

> [“God's anger is the toil and suffering of man. Man's anger is the love and worship of his enemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/god-s-anger-is-the-toil-and-suffering-of-man-man-s-anger-is-the-love/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

## 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 Anger quotes

> [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/)

[Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/)

> [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/)

[Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/)

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/)

[N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/)

> [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/)

[Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/)

> [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/)

[Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/)

> [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/)

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

> [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/)

[Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/)

> [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/)

[David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/)

> [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

[Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "God's anger is kindled not because we have harmed him but because we have harmed ourselves.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Neal A. Maxwell"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/god-s-anger-is-kindled-not-because-we-have-harmed-him-but-because-we/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Anger"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/god-s-anger-is-kindled-not-because-we-have-harmed-him-but-because-we/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/neal-a-maxwell-925_anger_god-s-anger-is-kindled-not-because-we-ha_752230.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/neal-a-maxwell-925_anger_god-s-anger-is-kindled-not-because-we-ha_752230.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/neal-a-maxwell-925_anger_god-s-anger-is-kindled-not-because-we-ha_752230.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“God's anger is kindled not because we have harmed him but because we have harmed ourselves.” — 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": "God's anger is kindled not because...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/god-s-anger-is-kindled-not-because-we-have-harmed-him-but-because-we/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/god-s-anger-is-kindled-not-because-we-have-harmed-him-but-because-we/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
