--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do not scrutinize so closely whether you…" description: "\"Do not scrutinize so closely whether you are doing much or little, ill or well, so long as what you do is not sinful and that you are heartily seeking ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc9/saint-francis-de-sales-2108_calm_do-not-scrutinize-so-closely-whether-you_1678146.jpg" --- # Do not scrutinize so closely whether you are doing much or… ![“Do not scrutinize so closely whether you are doing much or little, ill or well, so long as what you do is not sinful and that you are heartily seeking to do everything for God. Try as far as you can to do everything well, but when it is done, do not think about it. Try, rather, to think of what is…” quote by Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc9/saint-francis-de-sales-2108_calm_do-not-scrutinize-so-closely-whether-you_1678146.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc9/saint-francis-de-sales-2108_calm_do-not-scrutinize-so-closely-whether-you_1678146.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc9/saint-francis-de-sales-2108_calm_do-not-scrutinize-so-closely-whether-you_1678146.jpg) > “Do not scrutinize so closely whether you are doing much or little, ill or well, so long as what you do is not sinful and that you are heartily seeking to do everything for God. Try as far as you can to do everything well, but when it is done, do not think about it. Try, rather, to think of what is to be done next. Go on simply in the Lord's way, and do not torment yourself. We ought to hate our faults, but with a quiet, calm hatred; not pettishly and anxiously.” [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus on sincere, wholehearted effort in serving God without obsessing over perfection; keep moving forward with humility. **In simple terms:** Do good earnestly, then let go of pride. Key Takeaway Serve fully, then release attachment. Themes faith humility service Mood reflective calm Type spiritual practical When to use this quote - daily prayer - volunteer work - personal growth - overcoming perfectionism Key Concepts spiritual discipline intentionality Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance diligence with rest? - What does “quiet hatred” of faults look like? A Different Perspective Neglecting self‑care can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) [Discipleship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipleship/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Seeking god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeking-god/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Torment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torment/) ## Related quotes > [Is it not manifest that our academic institutions should have a wider scope; that they should not be timid and keep the ruts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/is-it-not-manifest-that-our-academic-institutions-should-have-a-wider/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Perhaps, if science is clever enough to see, it will realize that religion may not be too far off with its concrete imagery; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lanza/perhaps-if-science-is-clever-enough-to-see-it-will-realize-that/) [Robert Lanza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lanza/) > [Everything beyond getting together felt like a bonus and made everyone feel really relaxed. It's not like people don't scrutinize their own decisions or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pontus-winnberg/everything-beyond-getting-together-felt-like-a-bonus-and-made/) Pontus Winnberg > [Several months ago, out of the blue, a company named "Cingular" started sending me bills. I had never heard of Cingular, and I honestly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/several-months-ago-out-of-the-blue-a-company-named-cingular-started/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [There should be a separate line to scrutinize anybody with the name Abdul or Ahmed or Mohammed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gallagher/there-should-be-a-separate-line-to-scrutinize-anybody-with-the-name/) [Mike Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gallagher/) > ["Do you love me?"; "Are you my friend?". The One who scrutinizes hearts (cf. Rom 8:27), makes himself a beggar of love and questions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/do-you-love-me-are-you-my-friend-the-one-who-scrutinizes-hearts-cf/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Virtue will catch as well as vice by contact; and the public stock of honest manly principle will daily accumulate. We are not too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/virtue-will-catch-as-well-as-vice-by-contact-and-the-public-stock-of/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [We cannot treat people with a right to asylum the same way as people from a safe country. They need to be sent back.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-gentiloni/we-cannot-treat-people-with-a-right-to-asylum-the-same-way-as-people/) [Paolo Gentiloni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-gentiloni/) > [If the media is just a cheerleader for an authoritarian populist, who isn't that popular, then we're in a sorry state. The media has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-the-media-is-just-a-cheerleader-for-an-authoritarian-populist-who/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [Revolution is engendered by an indignation with tyranny, yet is itself pregnant with tyranny… An attempt to scrutinize men's thoughts and punish their opinions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/revolution-is-engendered-by-an-indignation-with-tyranny-yet-is-itself/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [The quality of light by which we scrutinize our lives has direct bearing upon the product which we live, and upon the changes which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/the-quality-of-light-by-which-we-scrutinize-our-lives-has-direct-2/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [The closer we scrutinize what God has made, the more perfect it appears!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/the-closer-we-scrutinize-what-god-has-made-the-more-perfect-it-appears/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“When somebody tells us something that would be disturbing or inconvenient for us to believe, we reflexively scrutinize that”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kreider/when-somebody-tells-us-something-that-would-be-disturbing-or/) [Tim Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kreider/) > [The quality of light by which we scrutinize our lives has direct bearing upon the product which we live, and upon the changes which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/the-quality-of-light-by-which-we-scrutinize-our-lives-has-direct/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [You just work really hard and scrutinize. What is it called in politics? "Opposition research"? You want to do the detective work on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ponsoldt/you-just-work-really-hard-and-scrutinize-what-is-it-called-in/) [James Ponsoldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ponsoldt/) ## More by Saint Francis de Sales > [Flowers often grow more beautifully on dung-hills than in gardens that look beautifully kept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/flowers-often-grow-more-beautifully-on-dung-hills-than-in-gardens/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [Friendship requires great communication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/friendship-requires-great-communication/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [The thoughts of those moved by natural human love are almost completely fastened on the beloved, their hearts are filled with passion for it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/the-thoughts-of-those-moved-by-natural-human-love-are-almost/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [It matters little how one begins, provided that he be resolved to go on well, and to end well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/it-matters-little-how-one-begins-provided-that-he-be-resolved-to-go/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [Those who love to be feared fear to be loved, and they themselves are more afraid than anyone, for whereas other men fear only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/those-who-love-to-be-feared-fear-to-be-loved-and-they-themselves-are/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [Go to your confessor; open your heart to him; display to him all the recesses of your soul; take the advice that he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/go-to-your-confessor-open-your-heart-to-him-display-to-him-all-the/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [It is better to remain silent than to speak the truth ill-humoredly, and spoil an excellent dish by covering it with bad sauce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/it-is-better-to-remain-silent-than-to-speak-the-truth-ill-humoredly/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [Friendships begun in this world will be taken up again, never to be broken off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/friendships-begun-in-this-world-will-be-taken-up-again-never-to-be/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [And when children begin to use their reason, fathers and mothers should take great pains to fill their hearts with the fear of God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/and-when-children-begin-to-use-their-reason-fathers-and-mothers/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [Pride dies 20 minutes after death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/pride-dies-20-minutes-after-death/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [To be pleased at correction and reproofs shows that one loves the virtues which are contrary to those faults for which he is corrected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/to-be-pleased-at-correction-and-reproofs-shows-that-one-loves-the/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [If you would fall into any extreme, let it be on the side of gentleness. The human mind is so constructed that it resists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/if-you-would-fall-into-any-extreme-let-it-be-on-the-side-of/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [One single act done with aridity of spirit is worth more than many done with feelings of devotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/one-single-act-done-with-aridity-of-spirit-is-worth-more-than-many/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [All of us can attain to Christian virtue and holiness, no matter in what condition of life we live and no matter what our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/all-of-us-can-attain-to-christian-virtue-and-holiness-no-matter-in/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [We must visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament a hundred thousand times a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/we-must-visit-jesus-in-the-blessed-sacrament-a-hundred-thousand-times/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) [Explore all 185 Saint Francis de Sales quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) ## More Calm quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“After the storm, reigns the calm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simdi-onuora/after-the-storm-reigns-the-calm/) Simdi Onuora > [So mightiest powers buy deepest calms are fed, And sleep, how oft, in things that gentlest be!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-procter/so-mightiest-powers-buy-deepest-calms-are-fed-and-sleep-how-oft-in/) [Bryan Procter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-procter/) > [KEEP CALM and HAVE A SUGAR CUBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/keep-calm-and-have-a-sugar-cube/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [To practice Aikido fully you must calm the spirit and go back to the origin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/to-practice-aikido-fully-you-must-calm-the-spirit-and-go-back-to-the/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) > [The goal of the operation is to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages, only then will Israel be calm for the next 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ben-ari/the-goal-of-the-operation-is-to-send-gaza-back-to-the-middle-ages/) Michael Ben-Ari > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [When I was a child I truly loved: Unthinking love as calm and deep As the North Sea. But I have lived, And now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/when-i-was-a-child-i-truly-loved-unthinking-love-as-calm-and-deep-as/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [~Keep Calm and Swagger On~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/keep-calm-and-swagger-on/) Im Nothing > [Ride your horse calm, forward and then make him straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-zettl/ride-your-horse-calm-forward-and-then-make-him-straight/) [Walter Zettl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-zettl/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are using it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-from-facing-your/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) [Browse all 3,074 Calm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Do not scrutinize so closely whether you are doing much or little, ill or well, so long as what you do is not sinful and that you are heartily seeking to do everything for God. Try as far as you can to do everything well, but when it is done, do not think about it. Try, rather, to think of what is to be done next. Go on simply in the Lord's way, and do not torment yourself. We ought to hate our faults, but with a quiet, calm hatred; not pettishly and anxiously.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Saint Francis de Sales" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/do-not-scrutinize-so-closely-whether-you-are-doing-much-or-little-ill/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Calm" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/do-not-scrutinize-so-closely-whether-you-are-doing-much-or-little-ill/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc9/saint-francis-de-sales-2108_calm_do-not-scrutinize-so-closely-whether-you_1678146.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc9/saint-francis-de-sales-2108_calm_do-not-scrutinize-so-closely-whether-you_1678146.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc9/saint-francis-de-sales-2108_calm_do-not-scrutinize-so-closely-whether-you_1678146.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Do not scrutinize so closely whether you are doing much or little, ill or well, so long as what you do is…” — Saint Francis de Sales", "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 Francis de Sales", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Do not scrutinize so closely whether...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/do-not-scrutinize-so-closely-whether-you-are-doing-much-or-little-ill/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/do-not-scrutinize-so-closely-whether-you-are-doing-much-or-little-ill/#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 } } ] } ```