--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Actions - not thoughts or intentions…" description: "\"“Actions - not thoughts or intentions - were the way to judge others.”\" — Nicholas Sparks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/nicholas-sparks-93_actions_actions-not-thoughts-or-intentions-were_2957562.jpg" --- # Actions - not thoughts or intentions - were the way to… ![“Actions - not thoughts or intentions - were the way to judge others.” quote by Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/nicholas-sparks-93_actions_actions-not-thoughts-or-intentions-were_2957562.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/nicholas-sparks-93_actions_actions-not-thoughts-or-intentions-were_2957562.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/nicholas-sparks-93_actions_actions-not-thoughts-or-intentions-were_2957562.jpg) > ““Actions - not thoughts or intentions - were the way to judge others.”” [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Judgment should be based on actions, not thoughts or intentions. **In simple terms:** Judge by deeds, not intentions. Key Takeaway Focus on observable behavior. Themes ethics behavior judgment Mood pragmatic thoughtful Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - performance reviews - legal decisions - personal relationships Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess someone's character? - When are intentions relevant? A Different Perspective Intentions can be meaningful despite lack of action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actions/) [Actions Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actions-thoughts-468858/) [Character-quote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-quote/) [Intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intentions/) [Intentions Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intentions-way-4487733/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Thoughts Intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-intentions-614309/) ## Related quotes > [“Il n'est si homme de bien, qu'il mette à l'examen des loix toutes ses actions et pensées, qui ne soit pendable dix fois en…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/il-n-est-si-homme-de-bien-qu-il-mette-l-examen-des-loix-toutes-ses/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“Thoughts, intentions or feelings cannot comprehend God but they can see and acknowledge the works of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikechukwu-joseph/thoughts-intentions-or-feelings-cannot-comprehend-god-but-they-can/) [Ikechukwu Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikechukwu-joseph/) > [“Your words, thoughts, intentions and actions today are your best hope, comfort, building blocks and insurance for tomorrow. But it is now alone that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasheed-ogunlaru/your-words-thoughts-intentions-and-actions-today-are-your-best-hope/) [Rasheed Ogunlaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasheed-ogunlaru/) > [Language surely does affect our thoughts, rather than just labeling them for the sake of labeling them. Most obviously, language is the conduit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/language-surely-does-affect-our-thoughts-rather-than-just-labeling/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Our wills are simply not of our own making. Thoughts and intentions emerge from background causes of which we are unaware and over which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/our-wills-are-simply-not-of-our-own-making-thoughts-and-intentions/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [ Where \[a\]can you trust your own thoughts and your own intentions? Everywhere, hopefully, but it isn't always that easy. Sometimes, you have to help… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/where-a-can-you-trust-your-own-thoughts-and-your-own-intentions/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [“Your ideas, thoughts and intentions are the seeds of creation, and your attention is the powerful tool that drives energy toward the object or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/your-ideas-thoughts-and-intentions-are-the-seeds-of-creation-and-your/) [Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/) > [When you are so ashamed of your actions, thoughts, or intentions, you lie rather than accepting yourself for who you really are—or, in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/when-you-are-so-ashamed-of-your-actions-thoughts-or-intentions-you/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [“Good intentions aren't enough, you must take right actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/good-intentions-aren-t-enough-you-must-take-right-actions/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [We tend to judge others by their behavior, and ourselves by our intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-tend-to-judge-others-by-their-behavior-and-ourselves-by-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Intellectuals are in a position to expose the lies of governments, to analyze actions according to their causes and motives and often hidden intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/intellectuals-are-in-a-position-to-expose-the-lies-of-governments-to/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Truth can only be found in a person's record of actions, not their list of intentions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/truth-can-only-be-found-in-a-person-s-record-of-actions-not-their/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Words reveal your beliefs and intentions. Actions reveal your character. When they are in alignment, they reveal your greatest life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/words-reveal-your-beliefs-and-intentions-actions-reveal-your/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [The truth is, we live in deeds, not days; in actions and thoughts and feelings, not heartbeats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/the-truth-is-we-live-in-deeds-not-days-in-actions-and-thoughts-and/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [There is another component that makes us who we are. It is a fantasy comprising all of our actions and thoughts. Its called an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-papian/there-is-another-component-that-makes-us-who-we-are-it-is-a-fantasy/) [Ruben Papian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-papian/) ## More by Nicholas Sparks > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“Nothing is ever lost nor can be lost; the body aged, sluggish,cold… the embers left from earlier fires shall dully flame again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/nothing-is-ever-lost-nor-can-be-lost-the-body-aged-sluggish-cold-the/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I'm sure you think that I don't understand what you're going through, but I do. It's just that sometimes, our future is dictated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-m-sure-you-think-that-i-don-t-understand-what-you-re-going-through/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“You weren't out there that long, were you? I can't bear to think that no one found you right away." Noah shook his head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-weren-t-out-there-that-long-were-you-i-can-t-bear-to-think-that/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“And in your smile, I will live forever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/and-in-your-smile-i-will-live-forever/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [When we first met, I didn't want to get involved with anyone. I didn't have the time or energy, and I wasn't sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/when-we-first-met-i-didn-t-want-to-get-involved-with-anyone-i-didn-t/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“There is something terrible in the moments after waking up, when the subconscious knows that something terrible has happened but before all the memories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-is-something-terrible-in-the-moments-after-waking-up-when-the/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [There is nothing like love. You should try it.” Thibault shrugged. “Maybe one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-is-nothing-like-love-you-should-try-it-thibault-shrugged-maybe/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“more time she’d spent with him, the more convinced she became that he was by far the sexiest guy she’d ever met. Who else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/more-time-she-d-spent-with-him-the-more-convinced-she-became-that-he/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Dear John, tell me everything. Write it all down, that way, we’ll be with each other all the time, even if we’re not with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/dear-john-tell-me-everything-write-it-all-down-that-way-we-ll-be-with/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [You were spying on us?" "It was kind of hard not to. You were right there by the workshop with Will. it looked like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-were-spying-on-us-it-was-kind-of-hard-not-to-you-were-right-there/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [There are lots of real men out there - men who could fall in love with you at the drop of a hat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-are-lots-of-real-men-out-there-men-who-could-fall-in-love-with/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [...nothing wonderful lasted forever. Joy was as fleeting as a shooting star that crossed the evening sky, ready to blink out at any moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/nothing-wonderful-lasted-forever-joy-was-as-fleeting-as-a-shooting/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [He put his arms around her. “Well, in my defense, then, whatever I did seemed to work, didn't it?” She sighed. “I suppose.” “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/he-put-his-arms-around-her-well-in-my-defense-then-whatever-i-did/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I don't know. I really don't. While I was in the living room, I kept asking myself what I really wanted in life." She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-don-t-know-i-really-don-t-while-i-was-in-the-living-room-i-kept/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) [Explore all 1,309 Nicholas Sparks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) ## More Actions quotes > [“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/) > [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/) [Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/) > [A lot of my work involves instilling objects with the power of touch - a transference of soul, spirit, energy through actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-colen/a-lot-of-my-work-involves-instilling-objects-with-the-power-of-touch/) [Dan Colen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-colen/) > [“Stop Blaming Others For Your Own Actions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-g-roldan/stop-blaming-others-for-your-own-actions/) [Alexis G. Roldan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-g-roldan/) > [True love is proven through the actions of your true love!! Not through the act of saying it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-love-is-proven-through-the-actions-of-your-true-love-not-through/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [As we get more transparent with data sets about infrastructure and systems management, I have a feeling we'll see big changes in how we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/as-we-get-more-transparent-with-data-sets-about-infrastructure-and/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) > [“When you are pushed to the wall, you will act and do things you have never done before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/when-you-are-pushed-to-the-wall-you-will-act-and-do-things-you-have/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“The definition of a professional is one who does a job well even when they don't like it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-sheinwald/the-definition-of-a-professional-is-one-who-does-a-job-well-even-when/) [Alan Sheinwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-sheinwald/) > [“FLIES IN DISGUISE Tell me, Have you Really seen Flies in a child's eyes Or heard their hungry cries In the middle Of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/flies-in-disguise-tell-me-have-you-really-seen-flies-in-a-child-s/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“We are the result of our mere actions. What we do, we become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santosh-kalwar/we-are-the-result-of-our-mere-actions-what-we-do-we-become/) [Santosh Kalwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santosh-kalwar/) > [I would rather have my actions speak for me on the pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzo-insigne/i-would-rather-have-my-actions-speak-for-me-on-the-pitch/) [Lorenzo Insigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzo-insigne/) > [If you want to know someone's mind, listen to their words. If you want to know their heart, watch their actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-to-know-someone-s-mind-listen-to-their-words-if-you-want/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Twitter didn't make up the hashtag. Twitter didn't make up the retweet. It's our users. And people started using them so much that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-jacobs-stanton/twitter-didn-t-make-up-the-hashtag-twitter-didn-t-make-up-the-retweet/) [Katie Jacobs Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-jacobs-stanton/) > [I personally claim no special insight into Satan's methods, but I have at times been able to identify his influence and his actions in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/i-personally-claim-no-special-insight-into-satan-s-methods-but-i-have/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) [Browse all 1,287 Actions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Actions - not thoughts or intentions - were the way to judge others.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nicholas Sparks" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/actions-not-thoughts-or-intentions-were-the-way-to-judge-others/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/actions-not-thoughts-or-intentions-were-the-way-to-judge-others/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/nicholas-sparks-93_actions_actions-not-thoughts-or-intentions-were_2957562.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/nicholas-sparks-93_actions_actions-not-thoughts-or-intentions-were_2957562.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/nicholas-sparks-93_actions_actions-not-thoughts-or-intentions-were_2957562.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Actions - not thoughts or intentions - were the way to judge others.” — Nicholas Sparks", "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": "Nicholas Sparks", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Actions - not thoughts or intentions...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/actions-not-thoughts-or-intentions-were-the-way-to-judge-others/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/actions-not-thoughts-or-intentions-were-the-way-to-judge-others/#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 } } ] } ```