--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our own works, even with the best…" description: "\"“Our own works, even with the best intentions, will only be temporal,”\" — Russell M. Stendal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/russell-m-stendal-28563_best-intentions_our-own-works-even-with-the-best-intenti_2758512.jpg" --- # Our own works, even with the best intentions, will only be… ![“Our own works, even with the best intentions, will only be temporal,” quote by Russell M. Stendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/russell-m-stendal-28563_best-intentions_our-own-works-even-with-the-best-intenti_2758512.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/russell-m-stendal-28563_best-intentions_our-own-works-even-with-the-best-intenti_2758512.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e8/russell-m-stendal-28563_best-intentions_our-own-works-even-with-the-best-intenti_2758512.jpg) > ““Our own works, even with the best intentions, will only be temporal,”” [Russell M. Stendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-stendal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even well‑intentioned actions are fleeting; they don’t last forever. **In simple terms:** Good deeds are temporary. Key Takeaway Focus on lasting impact. Themes impermanence intentions legacy Mood thoughtful serious Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - personal projects - community service - environmental initiatives Key Concepts temporal nature of actions ethical philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What can make good intentions endure? - How to create lasting change? A Different Perspective Actions may have lasting effects despite temporality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-intentions/) [Intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intentions/) ## Related quotes > [“Our best intentions are the most impactful when they are formed by the actual needs and desires of our community.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-docusen/our-best-intentions-are-the-most-impactful-when-they-are-formed-by/) David Docusen > [It is always with the best intentions that the worst work is done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-always-with-the-best-intentions-that-the-worst-work-is-done/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [What I learned from my husband is to assume the best intentions of the people you're engaging with. We had to do that early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/what-i-learned-from-my-husband-is-to-assume-the-best-intentions-of/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [The vast majority of our teachers, our principals and our PTAs are well informed and well meaning, but even those with the best intentions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-james/the-vast-majority-of-our-teachers-our-principals-and-our-ptas-are/) [Letitia James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-james/) > [“Even with the very best of intentions, even with the ambition of making the world a better place, when we cast judgment upon people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnostic-zetetic/even-with-the-very-best-of-intentions-even-with-the-ambition-of/) Agnostic Zetetic > [Without action, the best intentions in the world are nothing more than that: intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-belfort/without-action-the-best-intentions-in-the-world-are-nothing-more-than/) [Jordan Belfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-belfort/) > [Please tell me you will remember, no matter how much I do wrong that I had the best of intentions all along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-tritt/please-tell-me-you-will-remember-no-matter-how-much-i-do-wrong-that-i/) [Travis Tritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-tritt/) > [The intention to live as long as possible isn't one of the mind's best intentions, because quantity isn't the same as quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-intention-to-live-as-long-as-possible-isn-t-one-of-the-mind-s/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“Some of our best intentions fail because we don’t have a system of execution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/some-of-our-best-intentions-fail-because-we-don-t-have-a-system-of/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [We are not our best intentions. We are what we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-dickinson/we-are-not-our-best-intentions-we-are-what-we-do/) [Amy Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-dickinson/) > [You can have the best intentions in the world but if you do nothing, you are nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/you-can-have-the-best-intentions-in-the-world-but-if-you-do-nothing/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [“Sometimes our best intentions are not enough, but always remain genuine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-michelle-carithers/sometimes-our-best-intentions-are-not-enough-but-always-remain-genuine/) M (Michelle) Carithers > [Even if you have the best intentions, there may sometimes be a price or a cost or a pushback against what you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-russo/even-if-you-have-the-best-intentions-there-may-sometimes-be-a-price/) [Anthony Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-russo/) > [I can only think seriously of trying to live up to an ideal, to improve myself, if I am split in two pieces. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/i-can-only-think-seriously-of-trying-to-live-up-to-an-ideal-to/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [I try to be smart with my comedy. Generally, it devolves into bathroom humour. I describe my comedy as, 'I have the best intentions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-priestley/i-try-to-be-smart-with-my-comedy-generally-it-devolves-into-bathroom/) [Jason Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-priestley/) ## More by Russell M. Stendal > [“No deis lo santo a los perros, ni echéis vuestras perlas delante de los puercos; no sea que las pisoteen, y se vuelvan y…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-stendal/no-deis-lo-santo-a-los-perros-ni-ech-is-vuestras-perlas-delante-de/) [Russell M. Stendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-stendal/) > [“The word Levi runs its course throughout the Bible, and in the Old Testament, this word ends in the book of the prophet Zechariah…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-stendal/the-word-levi-runs-its-course-throughout-the-bible-and-in-the-old/) [Russell M. Stendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-stendal/) > [“But when man opens up a forced unity where he desires control, then the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-stendal/but-when-man-opens-up-a-forced-unity-where-he-desires-control-then-the/) [Russell M. Stendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-stendal/) > [“system of Leviathan dominates. Right now, Leviathan is running a great many Christian groups. Leviathan is the system of this world. It runs the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-stendal/system-of-leviathan-dominates-right-now-leviathan-is-running-a-great/) [Russell M. Stendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-stendal/) > [“He that finds his life shall lose it, and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-stendal/he-that-finds-his-life-shall-lose-it-and-he-that-loses-his-life-for/) [Russell M. Stendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-stendal/) > [“The only way for the word or the water to return to its source is by changing its state.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-stendal/the-only-way-for-the-word-or-the-water-to-return-to-its-source-is-by/) [Russell M. Stendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-stendal/) > [“The Holy Spirit will lead and guide each individual and show them how to invest their time and resources in a manner that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-stendal/the-holy-spirit-will-lead-and-guide-each-individual-and-show-them-how/) [Russell M. Stendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-stendal/) > [“Paul describes not being thankful to God as being a first step into apostasy (Romans 1:21-32). 8”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-stendal/paul-describes-not-being-thankful-to-god-as-being-a-first-step-into/) [Russell M. Stendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-stendal/) > [“The Lord can lead us into many circumstances where it is extremely important to do exactly as he says. We are not to just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-stendal/the-lord-can-lead-us-into-many-circumstances-where-it-is-extremely/) [Russell M. Stendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-stendal/) > [“He may have to bring us to the sad realization that everything we have done apart from him is vanity,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-stendal/he-may-have-to-bring-us-to-the-sad-realization-that-everything-we/) [Russell M. Stendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-stendal/) > [“No me elegisteis vosotros a mí, mas yo os elegí a vosotros; y os he puesto para que vayáis y llevéis fruto, y vuestro…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-stendal/no-me-elegisteis-vosotros-a-m-mas-yo-os-eleg-a-vosotros-y-os-he/) [Russell M. Stendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-stendal/) > [“If we consider our own reasoning to be absolutely right and the center of our focus is upon ourselves, we will feel oppressed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-stendal/if-we-consider-our-own-reasoning-to-be-absolutely-right-and-the/) [Russell M. Stendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-stendal/) > [“14 Tú, pues, no ores por este pueblo, ni levantes por ellos clamor ni oración; porque yo no oiré el día que clamaren a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-stendal/14-t-pues-no-ores-por-este-pueblo-ni-levantes-por-ellos-clamor-ni/) [Russell M. Stendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-stendal/) > [“Prosperity is the greatest test that God’s people will ever face. It is extremely important that we learn from Solomon’s experience. Let”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-stendal/prosperity-is-the-greatest-test-that-god-s-people-will-ever-face-it/) [Russell M. Stendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-stendal/) > [“The word breath is the same as the word spirit in Hebrew.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-stendal/the-word-breath-is-the-same-as-the-word-spirit-in-hebrew/) [Russell M. Stendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-stendal/) [Explore all 16 Russell M. Stendal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-stendal/) ## More Best intentions quotes > [Where the sky begins, the horizon ends, despite the best intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/where-the-sky-begins-the-horizon-ends-despite-the-best-intentions/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [“Our best intentions are the most impactful when they are formed by the actual needs and desires of our community.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-docusen/our-best-intentions-are-the-most-impactful-when-they-are-formed-by/) David Docusen > [Time and distance have a way of playing tricks with your best intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kiedis/time-and-distance-have-a-way-of-playing-tricks-with-your-best/) [Anthony Kiedis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kiedis/) > [I can only think seriously of trying to live up to an ideal, to improve myself, if I am split in two pieces. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/i-can-only-think-seriously-of-trying-to-live-up-to-an-ideal-to/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [Even with the best intentions, growing apart might just be an inevitable part of growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/even-with-the-best-intentions-growing-apart-might-just-be-an/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [“The greatest harm can result from the best intentions - Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/the-greatest-harm-can-result-from-the-best-intentions-zeddicus-zu-l/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [In terms of how the music developed, it was my normal process, which I would say is really a hybrid process of sketching on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-richter/in-terms-of-how-the-music-developed-it-was-my-normal-process-which-i/) [Max Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-richter/) > [Even if you have the best intentions, there may sometimes be a price or a cost or a pushback against what you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-russo/even-if-you-have-the-best-intentions-there-may-sometimes-be-a-price/) [Anthony Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-russo/) > [“Only a foolish soul would love the stars. As beautiful as they are, they will burn you. Regardless of your best intentions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendal-rob/only-a-foolish-soul-would-love-the-stars-as-beautiful-as-they-are/) [Kendal Rob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendal-rob/) > [“Sometimes our best intentions are not enough, but always remain genuine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-michelle-carithers/sometimes-our-best-intentions-are-not-enough-but-always-remain-genuine/) M (Michelle) Carithers > [“So I found myself asking the question: what is the opposite of a mistake? And I realised there wasn’t a word, in fact, precisely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-boyd/so-i-found-myself-asking-the-question-what-is-the-opposite-of-a/) [William Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-boyd/) > [“I'm still of the same mind. For many years I've been ashamed, mortally ashamed, of having been, even with the best intentions, even at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-m-still-of-the-same-mind-for-many-years-i-ve-been-ashamed-mortally/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“...I feel like a traitor, a phony, a fake. But I am a hypocrite with the best intentions, and I need kissing desperately.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-j-ginger/i-feel-like-a-traitor-a-phony-a-fake-but-i-am-a-hypocrite-with-the/) Coco J. Ginger > [“Maybe you will never be able to forgive me, but I wanted you to know I had the best intentions-and I still love you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/maybe-you-will-never-be-able-to-forgive-me-but-i-wanted-you-to-know-i/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [“The maxim, by which we commonly conduct ourselves in our reasonings, is, that the objects, of which we have no experience, resemble those, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-maxim-by-which-we-commonly-conduct-ourselves-in-our-reasonings-is/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) [Browse all 158 Best intentions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-intentions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Our own works, even with the best intentions, will only be temporal,”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell M. 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