--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not he who begins well who is…" description: "\"It is not he who begins well who is perfect. It is he who ends well who is approved in God's sight.\" — Saint Basil" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/saint-basil-4281_approved_it-is-not-he-who-begins-well-who-is-perf_993741.png" --- # It is not he who begins well who is perfect. It is he who… ![“It is not he who begins well who is perfect. It is he who ends well who is approved in God's sight.” quote by Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/saint-basil-4281_approved_it-is-not-he-who-begins-well-who-is-perf_993741.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/saint-basil-4281_approved_it-is-not-he-who-begins-well-who-is-perf_993741.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/saint-basil-4281_approved_it-is-not-he-who-begins-well-who-is-perf_993741.png) > “It is not he who begins well who is perfect. It is he who ends well who is approved in God's sight.” [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfection is judged by how one finishes, not how one starts; the end matters more to God. **In simple terms:** Ending well matters more than starting well. Key Takeaway Focus on concluding actions. Themes faith perseverance spiritual growth humility Mood hopeful serious Type religious inspirational When to use this quote - life projects - spiritual practice - career milestones Key Concepts theology moral judgment divine approval Questions to Reflect On - What does a good ending look like for you? - How can you improve your conclusion? A Different Perspective Beginnings can be misleading about true worth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Orthodox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox/) [Orthodox christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox-christian/) ## Related quotes > [Whatsoever is good; the same is also approved of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hooker/whatsoever-is-good-the-same-is-also-approved-of-god/) [Richard Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hooker/) > [Abstinence is approved of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/abstinence-is-approved-of-god/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [... if, to me, to live is Christ (Phil. 1:21), truly my words ought to be about Christ, my every thought and deed ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/if-to-me-to-live-is-christ-phil-1-21-truly-my-words-ought-to-be-about/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [When our Lord says, 'I have not spoken of Myself' (Jn. 12:49), and again, 'As the Father said to Me, so I speak' (Jn.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/when-our-lord-says-i-have-not-spoken-of-myself-jn-12-49-and-again-as/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [“You and those you love will receive the word of God by obeying it. That will allow them to feel His love. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/you-and-those-you-love-will-receive-the-word-of-god-by-obeying-it/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [It's true the Holy Spirit alone can reproduce the character of our Lord Jesus, and we must always abide in Christ. But the Bible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/it-s-true-the-holy-spirit-alone-can-reproduce-the-character-of-our/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [“Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted† with the gospel,† so we speak, not to please people, but rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-just-as-we-have-been-approved-by-god-to-be-entrusted-with-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-chapell/on-the-contrary-we-speak-as-men-approved-by-god-to-be-entrusted-with/) [Bryan Chapell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-chapell/) > [Nothing is small or great in God's sight. Whatever He wills becomes great to us, however seemingly trifling; and if once the voice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-grou/nothing-is-small-or-great-in-god-s-sight-whatever-he-wills-becomes/) Jean Grou > [I’m a coward, I close my eyes. I don’t understand why God made sight the only sense that can be blocked off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-pike/i-m-a-coward-i-close-my-eyes-i-don-t-understand-why-god-made-sight/) [Christopher Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-pike/) > [God's Kingdom isn't divided into areas of important people and areas of little people. In God's sight, everyone's needful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-s-kingdom-isn-t-divided-into-areas-of-important-people-and-areas/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [We must remember throughout our lives that in God's sight there are no little people and no little places. Only one thing is important:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/we-must-remember-throughout-our-lives-that-in-god-s-sight-there-are/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [In God's sight we do not fall: in our own we do not stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-of-norwich/in-god-s-sight-we-do-not-fall-in-our-own-we-do-not-stand/) [Julian of Norwich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-of-norwich/) > [“And so people ask God for signs and wonders. Yet when signs are given and wonders are performed, most can't even see them! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/and-so-people-ask-god-for-signs-and-wonders-yet-when-signs-are-given/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [The Lord looks on his servants with pity and not with blame. In God's sight we do not fall; in our sight, we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-of-norwich/the-lord-looks-on-his-servants-with-pity-and-not-with-blame-in-god-s/) [Julian of Norwich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-of-norwich/) ## More by Saint Basil > [Truly unexpected tidings make both ears tingle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/truly-unexpected-tidings-make-both-ears-tingle/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [Just as we would have no need of the farmer's labor and toil if we were living amid the delights of paradise, so also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/just-as-we-would-have-no-need-of-the-farmer-s-labor-and-toil-if-we/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [Men whose sense of taste is destroyed by sickness, sometimes think honey sour. A diseased eye does not see many things which do exist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/men-whose-sense-of-taste-is-destroyed-by-sickness-sometimes-think/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [Good masters teach good doctrine, but that taught by evil masters is wholly evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/good-masters-teach-good-doctrine-but-that-taught-by-evil-masters-is/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [They who sow courtesy reap friendship, and they who plant kindness gather love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/they-who-sow-courtesy-reap-friendship-and-they-who-plant-kindness/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [It is impious to say that evil has its origin from God, because naught contrary is produced by the contrary. Life does not generate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/it-is-impious-to-say-that-evil-has-its-origin-from-god-because-naught/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [Do not measure your loss by itself; if you do, it will seem intolerable; but if you will take all human affairs into account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/do-not-measure-your-loss-by-itself-if-you-do-it-will-seem-intolerable/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/a-tree-is-known-by-its-fruit-a-man-by-his-deeds-a-good-deed-is-never/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [\[Every disappointment or misfortune can become a blessing in disguise, for which we should be grateful. But only if the hidden blessing is anticipated,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/every-disappointment-or-misfortune-can-become-a-blessing-in-disguise/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [We should not accept in silence the benefactions of God, but return thanks for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/we-should-not-accept-in-silence-the-benefactions-of-god-but-return/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [Any one who chooses will set up for a literary critic, though he cannot tell us where he went to school, or how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/any-one-who-chooses-will-set-up-for-a-literary-critic-though-he/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [A woman who deliberately destroys a fetus is answerable for murder. And any fine distinction as to its being completely formed or unformed is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/a-woman-who-deliberately-destroys-a-fetus-is-answerable-for-murder/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [The sun penetrates crystal and makes it more dazzling. In the same way, the sanctifying Spirit indwells in souls and makes them more radiant.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/the-sun-penetrates-crystal-and-makes-it-more-dazzling-in-the-same-way/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [If everyone would take only according to his needs and would leave the surplus to the needy, no one would be rich, no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/if-everyone-would-take-only-according-to-his-needs-and-would-leave/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [We need not only read Sacred Scripture, but learn it as well and grow up in it. Realize that nothing is written in Scripture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/we-need-not-only-read-sacred-scripture-but-learn-it-as-well-and-grow/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) [Explore all 113 Saint Basil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) ## More Approved quotes > [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/) [Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/) > [Foreign journalists have to have an approved interpreter assigned them, which they have to pay for, who also acts as guide. As an Iranian,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hooman-majd/foreign-journalists-have-to-have-an-approved-interpreter-assigned/) [Hooman Majd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hooman-majd/) > [Mental pleasures never cloy; unlike those of the body, they are increased by reputation, approved by reflection, and strengthened by enjoyment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/mental-pleasures-never-cloy-unlike-those-of-the-body-they-are/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [The White House approved an exemption in Obamacare coverage for Congress and members of their staff. Members complained that the Affordable Care Act will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-white-house-approved-an-exemption-in-obamacare-coverage-for/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [When I came to explain to them the 'Nelson Touch', it was like an electric shock. Some shed tears, all approved - 'It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/when-i-came-to-explain-to-them-the-nelson-touch-it-was-like-an/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [As much as the next person, I want to be approved of, but I'm not greedy for that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/as-much-as-the-next-person-i-want-to-be-approved-of-but-i-m-not/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [The SEC got more than 100 rules to write under Dodd-Frank, the lion's share of all the agencies. And we've moved, I think, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schapiro/the-sec-got-more-than-100-rules-to-write-under-dodd-frank-the-lion-s/) [Mary Schapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schapiro/) > [In my schoolboy days I had no aversion to slavery. I was not aware there was anything wrong about it. No-one arraigned it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/in-my-schoolboy-days-i-had-no-aversion-to-slavery-i-was-not-aware/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [When I first began examining the global-warming scare, I found nothing more puzzling than the way officially approved scientists kept on being shown to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-booker/when-i-first-began-examining-the-global-warming-scare-i-found-nothing/) [Christopher Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-booker/) > [There is nothing that can bring you closer to fearlessness about everything else in the world than being a parent - because everyday fears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/there-is-nothing-that-can-bring-you-closer-to-fearlessness-about/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [I should have known something was wrong with my first wife. When I brought her home to meet my parents, they approved of her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-should-have-known-something-was-wrong-with-my-first-wife-when-i/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [You wouldn't want to live a life in which you are loved or approved by all people on Earth or even within your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/you-wouldn-t-want-to-live-a-life-in-which-you-are-loved-or-approved/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [That which concerns everyone must also be discussed and approved by everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-verhofstadt/that-which-concerns-everyone-must-also-be-discussed-and-approved-by/) [Guy Verhofstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-verhofstadt/) > [ You have not been mistaken in supposing my views and feeling to be in favor of the abolition of war. Of my dispos\[i\]tion to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/you-have-not-been-mistaken-in-supposing-my-views-and-feeling-to-be-in/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I think Martin Luther King would always keep track of collective insurgencies among poor and working people. He was concerned about the treatment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-think-martin-luther-king-would-always-keep-track-of-collective/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) Browse all 251 Approved quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not he who begins well who is perfect. 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