--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He is Thy best servant who looks not so…" description: "\"“He is Thy best servant who looks not so much to hear that from Whee which himself willeth, as rather to will that, which from Thee he heareth.”\" — St...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/st-augustine-bishop-of-hippo-9_confessions_he-is-thy-best-servant-who-looks-not-so_2304244.jpg" --- # He is Thy best servant who looks not so much to hear that… ![“He is Thy best servant who looks not so much to hear that from Whee which himself willeth, as rather to will that, which from Thee he heareth.” quote by St. Augustine Bishop of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/st-augustine-bishop-of-hippo-9_confessions_he-is-thy-best-servant-who-looks-not-so_2304244.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/st-augustine-bishop-of-hippo-9_confessions_he-is-thy-best-servant-who-looks-not-so_2304244.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/st-augustine-bishop-of-hippo-9_confessions_he-is-thy-best-servant-who-looks-not-so_2304244.jpg) > ““He is Thy best servant who looks not so much to hear that from Whee which himself willeth, as rather to will that, which from Thee he heareth.”” St. Augustine Bishop of Hippo ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A servant should seek to fulfill divine will rather than personal desire, aligning actions with God's purpose. **In simple terms:** Seek God's will, not personal gain. Key Takeaway Prioritize divine purpose over self‑interest. Themes faith service humility spirituality Mood reflective serious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - spiritual practice - ethical leadership Key Concepts theology freewill obedience Questions to Reflect On - How do you discern divine will? - What personal desires conflict with service? A Different Perspective Human desires can cloud divine alignment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confessions/) [Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/) ## Related quotes > [“He is Thy best servant who looks not so much to hear that from Thee which himself willeth, as rather to will that, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-augustine-bishop-of-hippo/he-is-thy-best-servant-who-looks-not-so-much-to-hear-that-from-thee/) St. Augustine Bishop of Hippo > [Thou didst thy best, that is success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/thou-didst-thy-best-that-is-success/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Time be thine, And thy best graces spend it at thy will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-be-thine-and-thy-best-graces-spend-it-at-thy-will/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The noblest service comes from nameless hands; and the best servant does his work unseen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/the-noblest-service-comes-from-nameless-hands-and-the-best-servant/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [The best servant does his work unseen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-servant-does-his-work-unseen/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone wanted to be the best. Best student. Best servant. Best Christian. They got caught up in it, pressing and pushing until they forgot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/everyone-wanted-to-be-the-best-best-student-best-servant-best/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [Your best servant is the person who does not attend so much to hearing what he himself wants as to willing what he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-best-servant-is-the-person-who-does-not-attend-so-much-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Who is that?” Alec asked, puzzled by the man’s silence. “That’s Rhiri. He’s deaf, mute, and absolutely loyal. Best servant I ever found.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/who-is-that-alec-asked-puzzled-by-the-man-s-silence-that-s-rhiri-he-s/) [Lynn Flewelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-flewelling/) > [“It's not the right word, Eva," he pressed on stubbornly, his lips at my ear. "That's why I haven't said it. It's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/it-s-not-the-right-word-eva-he-pressed-on-stubbornly-his-lips-at-my/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [I have heard thousands of confessions, but never one of covetousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-xavier/i-have-heard-thousands-of-confessions-but-never-one-of-covetousness/) [Francis Xavier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-xavier/) > [Always our wars have been our confessions of weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-rukeyser/always-our-wars-have-been-our-confessions-of-weakness/) [Muriel Rukeyser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-rukeyser/) > [“..wer am meisten genießt, betet am meisten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-b-chner/wer-am-meisten-genie-t-betet-am-meisten/) [Georg Büchner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-b-chner/) > [“When it comes to the crunch, coming out is the greatest of all confessions. Nothing is more difficult to acknowledge. When we become ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witi-ihimaera/when-it-comes-to-the-crunch-coming-out-is-the-greatest-of-all/) [Witi Ihimaera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witi-ihimaera/) > [I have no interest in writing confessions, in deliberately baring myself to my readers. I prefer to remain behind a screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-begley/i-have-no-interest-in-writing-confessions-in-deliberately-baring/) [Louis Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-begley/) > [“Some disquieting confessions must be made in printing at last the play of Peter Pan; among them this, that I have no recollection of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-barrie/some-disquieting-confessions-must-be-made-in-printing-at-last-the/) [J.M. Barrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-barrie/) ## More by St. Augustine Bishop of Hippo > [“He is Thy best servant who looks not so much to hear that from Thee which himself willeth, as rather to will that, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-augustine-bishop-of-hippo/he-is-thy-best-servant-who-looks-not-so-much-to-hear-that-from-thee/) St. Augustine Bishop of Hippo Explore all 2 St. Augustine Bishop of Hippo quotes ## More Confessions quotes > [“Some disquieting confessions must be made in printing at last the play of Peter Pan; among them this, that I have no recollection of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-barrie/some-disquieting-confessions-must-be-made-in-printing-at-last-the/) [J.M. Barrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-barrie/) > [I have no interest in writing confessions, in deliberately baring myself to my readers. I prefer to remain behind a screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-begley/i-have-no-interest-in-writing-confessions-in-deliberately-baring/) [Louis Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-begley/) > [“When it comes to the crunch, coming out is the greatest of all confessions. Nothing is more difficult to acknowledge. When we become ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witi-ihimaera/when-it-comes-to-the-crunch-coming-out-is-the-greatest-of-all/) [Witi Ihimaera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witi-ihimaera/) > [“..wer am meisten genießt, betet am meisten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-b-chner/wer-am-meisten-genie-t-betet-am-meisten/) [Georg Büchner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-b-chner/) > [Always our wars have been our confessions of weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-rukeyser/always-our-wars-have-been-our-confessions-of-weakness/) [Muriel Rukeyser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-rukeyser/) > [I have heard thousands of confessions, but never one of covetousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-xavier/i-have-heard-thousands-of-confessions-but-never-one-of-covetousness/) [Francis Xavier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-xavier/) > [“It's not the right word, Eva," he pressed on stubbornly, his lips at my ear. "That's why I haven't said it. It's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/it-s-not-the-right-word-eva-he-pressed-on-stubbornly-his-lips-at-my/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [“He’s a steamroller in my life and I like to be laid out flat. I like his hands on my chest, pushing me down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-a-lord/he-s-a-steamroller-in-my-life-and-i-like-to-be-laid-out-flat-i-like/) Laura A. Lord > [“Fantastic,” I said without an ounce of enthusiasm. “I’m just one more embarrassing confession away from taking over the world.” --Spencer Nye”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-letts/fantastic-i-said-without-an-ounce-of-enthusiasm-i-m-just-one-more/) Jason Letts > [Tulse Luper, who without too many confessions, in a sense, is a fictive version of me. I have to say he has far more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/tulse-luper-who-without-too-many-confessions-in-a-sense-is-a-fictive/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) > [You're just a recent caught up sprung confessional ex. \*DONE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-just-a-recent-caught-up-sprung-confessional-ex-done/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Uncalled for excuses are practical confessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-simmons/uncalled-for-excuses-are-practical-confessions/) [Charles Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-simmons/) > [“...and I decide to stop inwardly composing the feminist world court's prosecutorial summation to the jury.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-viera-rigler/and-i-decide-to-stop-inwardly-composing-the-feminist-world-court-s/) [Laurie Viera Rigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-viera-rigler/) > [I love Usher's 'Confessions.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/i-love-usher-s-confessions/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [“You okay?” she asks. “I think so. You?” “Yeah.” The courthouse looks like it’s burning under the morning sun. The flame-orange shimmer of hot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-martinez/you-okay-she-asks-i-think-so-you-yeah-the-courthouse-looks-like-it-s/) [Jessica Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-martinez/) [Browse all 99 Confessions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confessions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He is Thy best servant who looks not so much to hear that from Whee which himself willeth, as rather to will that, which from Thee he heareth.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "St. Augustine Bishop of Hippo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-augustine-bishop-of-hippo/he-is-thy-best-servant-who-looks-not-so-much-to-hear-that-from-whee/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Confessions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-augustine-bishop-of-hippo/he-is-thy-best-servant-who-looks-not-so-much-to-hear-that-from-whee/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/st-augustine-bishop-of-hippo-9_confessions_he-is-thy-best-servant-who-looks-not-so_2304244.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/st-augustine-bishop-of-hippo-9_confessions_he-is-thy-best-servant-who-looks-not-so_2304244.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/st-augustine-bishop-of-hippo-9_confessions_he-is-thy-best-servant-who-looks-not-so_2304244.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He is Thy best servant who looks not so much to hear that from Whee which himself willeth, as rather to will…” — St. Augustine Bishop of Hippo", "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": "St. Augustine Bishop of Hippo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-augustine-bishop-of-hippo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“He is Thy best servant who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-augustine-bishop-of-hippo/he-is-thy-best-servant-who-looks-not-so-much-to-hear-that-from-whee/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-augustine-bishop-of-hippo/he-is-thy-best-servant-who-looks-not-so-much-to-hear-that-from-whee/#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 } } ] } ```