--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In fact we say that an intention is good…" description: "\"In fact we say that an intention is good, that is, right in itself, but that an action does not bear any good in itself but proceeds from a good intent..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfb/peter-abelard-18595_action_in-fact-we-say-that-an-intention-is-good_2726180.jpg" --- # In fact we say that an intention is good, that is, right… ![“In fact we say that an intention is good, that is, right in itself, but that an action does not bear any good in itself but proceeds from a good intention. Whence when the same thing is done by the same man at different times, by the diversity of his intention, however, his action is now said to…” quote by Peter Abelard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfb/peter-abelard-18595_action_in-fact-we-say-that-an-intention-is-good_2726180.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfb/peter-abelard-18595_action_in-fact-we-say-that-an-intention-is-good_2726180.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfb/peter-abelard-18595_action_in-fact-we-say-that-an-intention-is-good_2726180.jpg) > “In fact we say that an intention is good, that is, right in itself, but that an action does not bear any good in itself but proceeds from a good intention. Whence when the same thing is done by the same man at different times, by the diversity of his intention, however, his action is now said to be good, now bad.” [Peter Abelard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-abelard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Good intentions do not guarantee good actions; the moral value of an act depends on the intention behind it, which can change over time. **In simple terms:** Intentions shape moral worth of actions. Key Takeaway Cultivate virtuous intentions consistently. Themes morality intentionality ethics philosophy Mood analytical serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - decision making - leadership - teaching - conflict resolution Key Concepts virtue ethics moral psychology intentionalism Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess the intention behind others' actions? - Can a good intention excuse a harmful outcome? A Different Perspective Intentions can be ambiguous, making moral judgments difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Be good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-good/) [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-times/) [Diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Good Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-intention-498900/) [Good intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-intentions/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Intention Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention-action-729406/) [Intention Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention-good-2273157/) [Intention Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention-thing-2920297/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [We call an intention good which is right in itself, but the action is good, not because it contains within it some good, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-abelard/we-call-an-intention-good-which-is-right-in-itself-but-the-action-is/) [Peter Abelard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-abelard/) > [The most important thing, to me is the intention of where things come from, like, why did you use it? What were the intentions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/griz/the-most-important-thing-to-me-is-the-intention-of-where-things-come/) [GRiZ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/griz/) > [“I'd always been willing. But I always fell short, every good intention I ever had never good enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-jackson/i-d-always-been-willing-but-i-always-fell-short-every-good-intention/) [A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) > [“Because of the a priori element in intention, good intentions are so tempting - compared with a successive unfolding in time - and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/because-of-the-a-priori-element-in-intention-good-intentions-are-so/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [A good intention clothes itself with power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-good-intention-clothes-itself-with-power/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Unless a decision has degenerated into work, it is not a decision; it is at best a good intention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/unless-a-decision-has-degenerated-into-work-it-is-not-a-decision-it/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [And I don't feel any fear in a sense, because I have every good intention in my heart. When you face up to bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-yeoh/and-i-don-t-feel-any-fear-in-a-sense-because-i-have-every-good/) [Michelle Yeoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-yeoh/) > [A good intention clothes itself with sudden power. When a god wishes to ride, any chip or pebble will bud and shoot out winged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-good-intention-clothes-itself-with-sudden-power-when-a-god-wishes/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Refined policy ever has been the parent of confusion, and ever will be so as long as the world endures. Plain good intention, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/refined-policy-ever-has-been-the-parent-of-confusion-and-ever-will-be/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Holiness is not merely a feeling, state of mind, or good intention. It involves practical separation from sin and real separation unto God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/holiness-is-not-merely-a-feeling-state-of-mind-or-good-intention-it/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [Intention without action is useless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/intention-without-action-is-useless/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [“You are not what you intend, you are what you do. Intention and action are separated by a chasm”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-sturges/you-are-not-what-you-intend-you-are-what-you-do-intention-and-action/) [Matthew Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-sturges/) > [You cannot change anything in your life with intention alone, which can become a watered-down, occasional hope that you'll get to tomorrow. Intention without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/you-cannot-change-anything-in-your-life-with-intention-alone-which/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [If we can use technology to shorten the path between intention and action, that excites me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-lopez/if-we-can-use-technology-to-shorten-the-path-between-intention-and/) [Gerry Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-lopez/) > [There is always a gap between intention and action..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/there-is-always-a-gap-between-intention-and-action/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## More by Peter Abelard > [“Assiduous and frequent questioning is indeed the first key to wisdom... for by doubting we come to inquiry; through inquiring we perceive the truth...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-abelard/assiduous-and-frequent-questioning-is-indeed-the-first-key-to-wisdom/) [Peter Abelard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-abelard/) > [By doubting we come to inquiry. 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