--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can tell much by what we have already…" description: "\"We can tell much by what we have already willing discarded along the pathway of discipleship. It is the only pathway where littering is permissible, ev..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/neal-a-maxwell-925_behinds_we-can-tell-much-by-what-we-have-already_2353200.jpg" --- # We can tell much by what we have already willing discarded… ![“We can tell much by what we have already willing discarded along the pathway of discipleship. It is the only pathway where littering is permissible, even encouraged. In the early stages, the debris left behind includes the grosser sins of commission. Later debris differs; things begin to be…” quote by Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/neal-a-maxwell-925_behinds_we-can-tell-much-by-what-we-have-already_2353200.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/neal-a-maxwell-925_behinds_we-can-tell-much-by-what-we-have-already_2353200.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/neal-a-maxwell-925_behinds_we-can-tell-much-by-what-we-have-already_2353200.jpg) > “We can tell much by what we have already willing discarded along the pathway of discipleship. It is the only pathway where littering is permissible, even encouraged. In the early stages, the debris left behind includes the grosser sins of commission. Later debris differs; things begin to be discarded which have caused the misuse or underuse of our time and talent.” [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. Spiritual growth involves discarding past sins and misused talents, allowing transformation through intentional letting go. **In simple terms:** Let go of old wrongs and wasted gifts to grow. Key Takeaway Identify and release what hinders your spiritual path. Themes spirituality growth purification Mood reflective hopeful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - personal retreat - confession - volunteer work - skill development Key Concepts sacrifice self‑assessment Questions to Reflect On - What habits are you ready to release? - How does letting go open new possibilities? A Different Perspective Discarding can be painful and may cause regret. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Debris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debris/) [Discarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discarded/) [Discarded Caused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discarded-caused-5735727/) [Discarded Pathway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discarded-pathway-5735726/) [Discipleship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipleship/) [Discipleship Pathway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipleship-pathway-5735728/) [Left behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-behind/) [Littering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littering/) [Misuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misuse/) [Pathway Discipleship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pathway-discipleship-3154788/) [Pathway Littering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pathway-littering-5735725/) [Pathways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pathways/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) ## Related quotes > [Love is the beginning, the middle, and the end of the pathway of discipleship. It comforts, counsels, cures, and consoles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/love-is-the-beginning-the-middle-and-the-end-of-the-pathway-of-2/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [Love is the beginning, the middle, and the end of the pathway of discipleship. It comforts, counsels, cures, and consoles. It leads us through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/love-is-the-beginning-the-middle-and-the-end-of-the-pathway-of/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [To fill a world with ... religions of the Abrahamic kind, is like littering the streets with loaded guns. Do not be surprised if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/to-fill-a-world-with-religions-of-the-abrahamic-kind-is-like/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [I find littering very annoying. It's a minor but also a major thing: a society that litters is one that also has so little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/i-find-littering-very-annoying-it-s-a-minor-but-also-a-major-thing-a/) [Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/) > [I'm not littering, I'm donating to the Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-littering-i-m-donating-to-the-earth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You still working this late?” “If I was, I’d have to arrest you for littering,” he joked, pointing toward the still-smoking evidence on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-elyon/you-still-working-this-late-if-i-was-i-d-have-to-arrest-you-for/) [Kristin Elyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-elyon/) > [I reprimand people, even those working with me, for littering the roads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amisha-patel/i-reprimand-people-even-those-working-with-me-for-littering-the-roads/) [Amisha Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amisha-patel/) > [The act of littering annoys me more than anything, particularly drivers who throw stuff out of the car window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-allen/the-act-of-littering-annoys-me-more-than-anything-particularly/) [Keith Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-allen/) > [When your mom dropped you off at the school, she got a ticket for littering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curly/when-your-mom-dropped-you-off-at-the-school-she-got-a-ticket-for/) [Curly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curly/) > [I'm placing you under arrest for murder, conspiracy to commit murder and, I don't know, possibly littering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-m-placing-you-under-arrest-for-murder-conspiracy-to-commit-murder/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [It's called loitering, which is like littering with human beings as the trash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/it-s-called-loitering-which-is-like-littering-with-human-beings-as/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [I hate homework. I hate it more now than I did when I was the one lugging textbooks and binders back and forth from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-waldman/i-hate-homework-i-hate-it-more-now-than-i-did-when-i-was-the-one/) [Ayelet Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-waldman/) > [Ready comprehension is often a knee-jerk response and the most dangerous form of understanding. It blinks an opaque screen over your ability to learn.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/ready-comprehension-is-often-a-knee-jerk-response-and-the-most/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“I once saw her throw a Juicy Fruit wrapper on the ground in Central Park. She doesn’t even feel guilty about littering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/i-once-saw-her-throw-a-juicy-fruit-wrapper-on-the-ground-in-central/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [Environmental damage such as graffiti, fly-posting and general littering is a menace that is becoming all too prevalent, not just in inner cities but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-beckett/environmental-damage-such-as-graffiti-fly-posting-and-general/) [Margaret Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-beckett/) ## 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 Behinds quotes > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/) [Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/) [Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/) > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) [Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We can tell much by what we have already willing discarded along the pathway of discipleship. It is the only pathway where littering is permissible, even encouraged. In the early stages, the debris left behind includes the grosser sins of commission. Later debris differs; things begin to be discarded which have caused the misuse or underuse of our time and talent.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neal A. 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