---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The streets of hell are paved with good…"
description: "\"The streets of hell are paved with good intentions.\" — Shania Twain"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/shania-twain-2669_good-intentions_the-streets-of-hell-are-paved-with-good_2742603.png"
---

#  The streets of hell are paved with good intentions.

![“The streets of hell are paved with good intentions.” quote by Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/shania-twain-2669_good-intentions_the-streets-of-hell-are-paved-with-good_2742603.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/shania-twain-2669_good-intentions_the-streets-of-hell-are-paved-with-good_2742603.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/shania-twain-2669_good-intentions_the-streets-of-hell-are-paved-with-good_2742603.png)

> “The streets of hell are paved with good intentions.”

[Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/)

## 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 alone are insufficient; outcomes depend on actions and consequences.

**In simple terms:** Intentions need action to matter.

Key Takeaway

Act on your good intentions.

Themes

ethics intent consequence

Mood

thoughtful motivational

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- charity work
- environmental activism
- personal goals
- leadership

Key Concepts

moral philosophy human behavior social impact

Questions to Reflect On

- What actions follow your intentions?
- How can you test the impact of good deeds?

A Different Perspective

Intentions can be misguided without foresight.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Good intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-intentions/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Paved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paved/) [Paved With Good Intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paved-with-good-intentions/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/)

## Related quotes

> [“You know how they say the path to hell is paved with good intentions? Well, maybe the path to heaven is paved with bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-coburn/you-know-how-they-say-the-path-to-hell-is-paved-with-good-intentions/)

Jake Coburn

> [The road to hell is paved with good intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-road-to-hell-is-paved-with-good-intentions/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Hell is paved with good intentions, not bad ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/hell-is-paved-with-good-intentions-not-bad-ones/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

> [Yes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but everyone forgets the second half of that quote: the road to heaven is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/yes-the-road-to-hell-is-paved-with-good-intentions-but-everyone/)

[Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/)

> [Hell is paved with good intentions, not with bad ones. All men mean well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/hell-is-paved-with-good-intentions-not-with-bad-ones-all-men-mean-well/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

> [Hell is paved with good intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hell-is-paved-with-good-intentions/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Hell is paved with good intentions. Heaven is paved with Oreos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-gilbert-murdock/hell-is-paved-with-good-intentions-heaven-is-paved-with-oreos/)

[Catherine Gilbert Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-gilbert-murdock/)

> [The road to hell was paved with good intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-road-to-hell-was-paved-with-good-intentions/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The way back will be paved with blood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-m-frazier/they-say-the-road-to-hell-is-paved-with-good-intentions-the-way-back/)

[T.M. Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-m-frazier/)

> [“The steep descent into Hell is always paved with good intentions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-scardoni/the-steep-descent-into-hell-is-always-paved-with-good-intentions/)

[Bianca Scardoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-scardoni/)

> [“The road to hell is paved with good intentions. (This is not actually true. The raid to Hell is paved with frozen door-to-door salesman.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman-and-terry-pratchett/the-road-to-hell-is-paved-with-good-intentions-this-is-not-actually/)

Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

> [I don't know, but I've been told, the streets of hell are paved with gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-cooper/i-don-t-know-but-i-ve-been-told-the-streets-of-hell-are-paved-with/)

[Alice Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-cooper/)

> [The road to hell is not paved with good intentions, it is mostly paved with religions and souls trapped by indecision and tourists who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/the-road-to-hell-is-not-paved-with-good-intentions-it-is-mostly-paved/)

[Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/)

> [“The road to hell is paved with good intentions. —John Ray (1670)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/the-road-to-hell-is-paved-with-good-intentions-john-ray-1670/)

[John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/)

> [It has been more wittily than charitably said that hell is paved with good intentions; they have their place in heaven also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/it-has-been-more-wittily-than-charitably-said-that-hell-is-paved-with/)

[Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/)

## More by Shania Twain

> [There were moments when I really just thought, I don't need anything and I don't need anyone. I just want to go away and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/there-were-moments-when-i-really-just-thought-i-don-t-need-anything/)

[Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/)

> [When I cook him dinner and I burn it black, he better say hmmm, I like it like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/when-i-cook-him-dinner-and-i-burn-it-black-he-better-say-hmmm-i-like/)

[Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/)

> [I think that all people that get to a certain level of their celebrity are brands. I accept that. I don't value it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/i-think-that-all-people-that-get-to-a-certain-level-of-their/)

[Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/)

> [I want to be successful, but I don't really have what it takes to do it comfortably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/i-want-to-be-successful-but-i-don-t-really-have-what-it-takes-to-do/)

[Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/)

> [If you're not in it for love, I'm out a here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/if-you-re-not-in-it-for-love-i-m-out-a-here/)

[Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/)

> [When everything goes without a hitch, where's the challenge, the opportunity to find out what you're made of?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/when-everything-goes-without-a-hitch-where-s-the-challenge-the/)

[Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/)

> [When you don't come from struggle, gaining appreciation is a quality that's difficult to come by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/when-you-don-t-come-from-struggle-gaining-appreciation-is-a-quality/)

[Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/)

> [It's very hard to concentrate when your stomach's rumbling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/it-s-very-hard-to-concentrate-when-your-stomach-s-rumbling/)

[Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/)

> [You don't want to be outside during blackfly season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/you-don-t-want-to-be-outside-during-blackfly-season/)

[Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/)

> [Later in my life, I'm going to look back and smile and be very fulfilled. I know that if I don't give it my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/later-in-my-life-i-m-going-to-look-back-and-smile-and-be-very/)

[Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/)

> [When the world wants too much And it feels cold and out of touch It's a beautiful place When you kiss my face from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/when-the-world-wants-too-much-and-it-feels-cold-and-out-of-touch-it-s/)

[Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/)

> [Ultimately, I am responsible for how I live my life now, and what I make out of it. In fact, I am actually grateful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/ultimately-i-am-responsible-for-how-i-live-my-life-now-and-what-i/)

[Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/)

> [I want romance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/i-want-romance/)

[Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/)

> [I certainly could've gone off track many, many times in my youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/i-certainly-could-ve-gone-off-track-many-many-times-in-my-youth/)

[Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/)

> [I really admire artists that are willing to take a different approach and a different angle to their shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/i-really-admire-artists-that-are-willing-to-take-a-different-approach/)

[Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/)

[Explore all 155 Shania Twain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/)

## More Good intentions quotes

> [“When it comes to smarts, adolescents like Jesse have plenty. What they lack, however, are some of the brain-based skills that we all need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-guare/when-it-comes-to-smarts-adolescents-like-jesse-have-plenty-what-they/)

[Richard Guare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-guare/)

> [After she got hurt by someone that she cared about, she's so scared to get attached again. Do you know what kind of effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callhershorty/after-she-got-hurt-by-someone-that-she-cared-about-she-s-so-scared-to/)

CallHerShorty

> [It has been more wittily than charitably said that hell is paved with good intentions; they have their place in heaven also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/it-has-been-more-wittily-than-charitably-said-that-hell-is-paved-with/)

[Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/)

> [No one is born with good character; it's not a hereditary trait. And it isn't determined by a single noble act. Character is established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/no-one-is-born-with-good-character-it-s-not-a-hereditary-trait-and-it/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

> [“The idea is that your clients are looking for good suggestions, and they don’t mind sifting through some not-so-good ones as long as they’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-idea-is-that-your-clients-are-looking-for-good-suggestions-and/)

[Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/)

> [I have no control over my writing. I have lots of good intentions, but no control. There's a story that wants to be told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/i-have-no-control-over-my-writing-i-have-lots-of-good-intentions-but/)

[Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/)

> [Justice for some people is an evil for others. Good intentions, kindness, and hope will not necessarily make people happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gen-urobuchi/justice-for-some-people-is-an-evil-for-others-good-intentions/)

[Gen Urobuchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gen-urobuchi/)

> [“There is an important difference between openness and naïveté. Not everyone has good intentions nor means me well. I remind myself I do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/there-is-an-important-difference-between-openness-and-na-vet-not/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [“I reach out in love, my hands are guns, my good intentions are completely lethal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-reach-out-in-love-my-hands-are-guns-my-good-intentions-are/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [Start your day with good intentions and set yourself up for a good attitude. It's not what happens to you that matters but how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/start-your-day-with-good-intentions-and-set-yourself-up-for-a-good/)

[Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/)

> [“It wasn't good, he wasn't good, he did not have good intentions. I stood there, and he stood there. He breathed out the bitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/it-wasn-t-good-he-wasn-t-good-he-did-not-have-good-intentions-i-stood/)

[Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/)

> [“Map-making had never been a precise art on the Discworld. People tended to start off with good intentions and then get so carried away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/map-making-had-never-been-a-precise-art-on-the-discworld-people/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Nowhere is wisdom more necessary than in the guidance of charitable impulses. Meaning well is only half our duty; Thinking right is the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-gridley-howe/nowhere-is-wisdom-more-necessary-than-in-the-guidance-of-charitable/)

Samuel Gridley Howe

> [“Envy shrugged. 'Can no value be found in good intentions?' 'What, precisely, are you trying to justify? And to me, or yourself?' She glared,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/envy-shrugged-can-no-value-be-found-in-good-intentions-what-precisely/)

[Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/)

> [Neither smiles nor frowns, neither good intentions nor harsh words, are a substitute for strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/neither-smiles-nor-frowns-neither-good-intentions-nor-harsh-words-are/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

[Browse all 568 Good intentions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-intentions/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The streets of hell are paved with good intentions.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Shania Twain"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/the-streets-of-hell-are-paved-with-good-intentions/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Good intentions"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/the-streets-of-hell-are-paved-with-good-intentions/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/shania-twain-2669_good-intentions_the-streets-of-hell-are-paved-with-good_2742603.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/shania-twain-2669_good-intentions_the-streets-of-hell-are-paved-with-good_2742603.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/shania-twain-2669_good-intentions_the-streets-of-hell-are-paved-with-good_2742603.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The streets of hell are paved with good intentions.” — Shania Twain",
                "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": "Shania Twain",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The streets of hell are paved...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/the-streets-of-hell-are-paved-with-good-intentions/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/the-streets-of-hell-are-paved-with-good-intentions/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```