--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The confession of evil works is the first…" description: "\"The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.\" — Saint Augustine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c0/saint-augustine-328_confession_the-confession-of-evil-works-is-the-firs_769555.png" --- # The confession of evil works is the first beginning of… ![“The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.” quote by Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c0/saint-augustine-328_confession_the-confession-of-evil-works-is-the-firs_769555.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c0/saint-augustine-328_confession_the-confession-of-evil-works-is-the-firs_769555.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c0/saint-augustine-328_confession_the-confession-of-evil-works-is-the-firs_769555.png) > “The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.” [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledging one's sins is the first step toward genuine moral transformation and virtuous deeds. **In simple terms:** Admitting evil leads to good deeds. Key Takeaway Own your faults to grow. Themes morality redemption self-awareness spirituality Mood reflective solemn hopeful Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal reflection - spiritual counseling - ethical decision-making Key Concepts confession ethical growth humility Questions to Reflect On - What sins do you need to acknowledge? - How can confession become a source of strength? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism can become paralyzing if not balanced with compassion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beginning Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning-good-535116/) [Confession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confession/) [Confession Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confession-evil-5950819/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-works-2013055/) [Works Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/works-beginning-5950820/) ## Related quotes > [I think probably everybody works most on the beginning and the ending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/i-think-probably-everybody-works-most-on-the-beginning-and-the-ending/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [God Almighty would in no way permit evil in His works were He not so omnipotent and good that even out of evil He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/god-almighty-would-in-no-way-permit-evil-in-his-works-were-he-not-so/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [I love good versus evil. 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Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stephens/) > [“Good works do not make a good man, but a good man does good works; evil works do not make a wicked man, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/good-works-do-not-make-a-good-man-but-a-good-man-does-good-works-evil/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“We shall be judged according to our works – this is why we are exhorted to do good works. The Bible assuredly knows nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/we-shall-be-judged-according-to-our-works-this-is-why-we-are-exhorted/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [The evil works from a bad center both ways. 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As we have this debate on illegal immigration and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-blackburn/we-all-learned-in-kindergarten-that-the-beginning-is-a-very-good/) [Marsha Blackburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-blackburn/) > [The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending, then having the two as close together as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/the-secret-of-a-good-sermon-is-to-have-a-good-beginning-and-a-good/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) ## More by Saint Augustine > [Lust indulged became habit, and habit unresisted became necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/lust-indulged-became-habit-and-habit-unresisted-became-necessity/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [The playthings of our elders are called business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/the-playthings-of-our-elders-are-called-business/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Do what you can and pray for what you cannot yet do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/do-what-you-can-and-pray-for-what-you-cannot-yet-do/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [For I did not know that the soul needs to be enlightened by light from outside itself, so that it can participate in truth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/for-i-did-not-know-that-the-soul-needs-to-be-enlightened-by-light/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [My mother spoke of Christ to my father, by her feminine and childlike virtues, and, after having borne his violence without a murmur or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/my-mother-spoke-of-christ-to-my-father-by-her-feminine-and-childlike/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Wicked sons do not have the Holy Ghost in the same way as do beloved sons, and yet they do have Baptism. 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You give it to the poor, and God receives it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/god-has-no-need-of-your-money-but-the-poor-have-you-give-it-to-the/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Nothing conquers except truth and the victory of truth is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/nothing-conquers-except-truth-and-the-victory-of-truth-is-love/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [“O God, who is ever at work and ever at rest. May I be ever at work and ever at rest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/o-god-who-is-ever-at-work-and-ever-at-rest-may-i-be-ever-at-work-and/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Our Lord reserved to Himself certain things which He would do in due time in a manner outside the course and order of nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/our-lord-reserved-to-himself-certain-things-which-he-would-do-in-due/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/give-me-chastity-and-continence-but-not-yet/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Nothing, therefore, happens unless the Omnipotent wills it to happen. He either permits it to happen, or He brings it about Himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/nothing-therefore-happens-unless-the-omnipotent-wills-it-to-happen-he/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [The reward of patience Is patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/the-reward-of-patience-is-patience/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) [Explore all 672 Saint Augustine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) ## More Confession quotes > [If You Love Someone, Be Brave Enough To Tell Them., Otherwise Be Brave Enough To Watch Them To Be Loved By Someone Else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal-zahoor/if-you-love-someone-be-brave-enough-to-tell-them-otherwise-be-brave/) [Bilal Zahoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bilal-zahoor/) > [A love to Christ which is so cowardly and selfish that it is unwilling to proclaim by a public confession its faith in Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbott-eliot-kittredge/a-love-to-christ-which-is-so-cowardly-and-selfish-that-it-is/) [Abbott Eliot Kittredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbott-eliot-kittredge/) > [Boys say its great..boys say its fine... 9 months later boys say its not mine..!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simi-ngr/boys-say-its-great-boys-say-its-fine-9-months-later-boys-say-its-not/) [Simi Ngr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simi-ngr/) > [The characters in my novels are my own unrealized possibilities. 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I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/i-have-a-confession-to-make-121-almost-every-time-i-tune-in-to/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [A catechism is simply a tool for teaching the fundamentals of the faith. Unlike a creed or confession, a catechism uses questions and answers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/a-catechism-is-simply-a-tool-for-teaching-the-fundamentals-of-the/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“I’m beginning to get the feeling that confession is what we need in order to forgive ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-kuhn/i-m-beginning-to-get-the-feeling-that-confession-is-what-we-need-in/) [Shane Kuhn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-kuhn/) > [“We need repentance. You see, repentance is not only going to a priest and confessing. 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The only difference is, I didn't lie to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-said-i-love-you-i-said-it-too-the-only-difference-is-i-didn-t-lie/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 909 Confession quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confession/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Saint Augustine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/the-confession-of-evil-works-is-the-first-beginning-of-good-works/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Confession" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/the-confession-of-evil-works-is-the-first-beginning-of-good-works/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c0/saint-augustine-328_confession_the-confession-of-evil-works-is-the-firs_769555.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c0/saint-augustine-328_confession_the-confession-of-evil-works-is-the-firs_769555.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c0/saint-augustine-328_confession_the-confession-of-evil-works-is-the-firs_769555.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.” — Saint Augustine", "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": "Saint Augustine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The confession of evil works is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/the-confession-of-evil-works-is-the-first-beginning-of-good-works/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/the-confession-of-evil-works-is-the-first-beginning-of-good-works/#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 } } ] } ```