---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perfection consists in one thing alone…"
description: "\"Perfection consists in one thing alone, which is doing the will of God. For, according to Our Lord's words, it suffices for perfection to deny self, to..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/st-vincent-10256_acquire_perfection-consists-in-one-thing-alone-w_1544668.jpg"
---

#  Perfection consists in one thing alone, which is doing the…

![“Perfection consists in one thing alone, which is doing the will of God. For, according to Our Lord's words, it suffices for perfection to deny self, to take up the cross and to follow Him. Now who denies himself and takes up his cross and follows Christ better than he who seeks not to do his own…” quote by St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/st-vincent-10256_acquire_perfection-consists-in-one-thing-alone-w_1544668.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/st-vincent-10256_acquire_perfection-consists-in-one-thing-alone-w_1544668.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/st-vincent-10256_acquire_perfection-consists-in-one-thing-alone-w_1544668.jpg)

> “Perfection consists in one thing alone, which is doing the will of God. For, according to Our Lord's words, it suffices for perfection to deny self, to take up the cross and to follow Him. Now who denies himself and takes up his cross and follows Christ better than he who seeks not to do his own will, but always that of God? Behold, now, how little is needed to become as Saint? Nothing more than to acquire the habit of willing, on every occasion, what God wills.”

[St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

True perfection lies in surrendering personal desire and aligning every action with divine will, embracing self‑denial and the cross as the path to holiness.

**In simple terms:** Perfection is doing God’s will, not your own.

Key Takeaway

Align daily choices with divine purpose.

Themes

spirituality self‑denial holiness

Mood

contemplative serene

Type

theological inspirational

When to use this quote

- daily prayer
- ethical decisions
- service work
- personal sacrifice

Key Concepts

Divine will self‑sacrifice habit formation

Questions to Reflect On

- What does it mean to will God’s will in modern life?
- How can you balance self‑sacrifice with self‑care?

A Different Perspective

Self‑denial can be psychologically taxing and may conflict with personal boundaries.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Acquire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquire/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Crosses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crosses/) [Deny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deny/) [Doing God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-god/) [Every occasion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-occasion/) [Follows Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follows-christ-1001156/) [God Wills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-wills/) [Gods will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-will/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Needed Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed-saint-5759871/) [Occasions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasions/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Our lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-lord/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Perfection Deny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection-deny-5759872/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/)

## Related quotes

> [If you truly love God and His will, then doing what you will, will, in fact, be doing what God wills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/if-you-truly-love-god-and-his-will-then-doing-what-you-will-will-in/)

[Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/)

> [The Latter-day Saint woman who follows Christ is a true Christian in the very best sense of the word. She is a woman of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-nadauld/the-latter-day-saint-woman-who-follows-christ-is-a-true-christian-in/)

[Margaret D. Nadauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-nadauld/)

> [The man who follows Christ in solitary mourning is greater than he who praises Christ amid the congregation of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-of-nineveh/the-man-who-follows-christ-in-solitary-mourning-is-greater-than-he/)

[Isaac of Nineveh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-of-nineveh/)

> [A Latter-day Saint woman who follows Christ's example in her daily living begins to fulfill the plan of our Heavenly Father for her. By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-nadauld/a-latter-day-saint-woman-who-follows-christ-s-example-in-her-daily/)

[Margaret D. Nadauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-nadauld/)

> [“Jesus of Nazareth always comes asking disciples to follow him--not merely "accept him," not merely "believe in him," not merely "worship him," but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-camp/jesus-of-nazareth-always-comes-asking-disciples-to-follow-him-not/)

[Lee Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-camp/)

> [“But to follow Jesus is not to imitate him, for following him does not mean becoming a Jesus oneself. Nor does it mean admiration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-rgen-moltmann/but-to-follow-jesus-is-not-to-imitate-him-for-following-him-does-not/)

[Jurgen Moltmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-rgen-moltmann/)

> [“The real difference in the believer who follows Christ and has mortified his will and died after the old man in Christ, is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-real-difference-in-the-believer-who-follows-christ-and-has/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [A godly man often grows best when his worldly circumstances decay. He who follows Christ for his bag is a Judas; they who follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/a-godly-man-often-grows-best-when-his-worldly-circumstances-decay-he/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [On every occasion of uneasiness, we should retire to prayer, that we may give place to the grace and light of God and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/on-every-occasion-of-uneasiness-we-should-retire-to-prayer-that-we/)

[John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/)

> [Men are less hesitant about harming someone who makes himself loved than one who makes himself feared because love is held together by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-are-less-hesitant-about-harming-someone-who-makes-himself-loved/)

[Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/)

> [I respect the truth too much to drag it out on every occasion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/i-respect-the-truth-too-much-to-drag-it-out-on-every-occasion/)

[Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/)

> [The Latin American has no tribe to fall back on, as the African does, no reliable judiciary to defend his rights as the European…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-simon/the-latin-american-has-no-tribe-to-fall-back-on-as-the-african-does/)

[Ted Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-simon/)

> [Use Starbucks mints for every occasion—they're the strongest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/use-starbucks-mints-for-every-occasion-they-re-the-strongest/)

[Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/)

> [Ronald Reagan has a story for every occasion. Bill Clinton has an excuse for every occasion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-barnes/ronald-reagan-has-a-story-for-every-occasion-bill-clinton-has-an/)

[Fred Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-barnes/)

> [You must study to be frank with the world: frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/you-must-study-to-be-frank-with-the-world-frankness-is-the-child-of/)

[Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/)

## More by St. Vincent

> [My dad used to love Steely Dan, the Stones, Jethro Tull and all that. There was always Steely Dan going in my dad's car,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/my-dad-used-to-love-steely-dan-the-stones-jethro-tull-and-all-that/)

[St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/)

> [I'm supportive of women, absolutely, and it's so gratifying to have girls come up and say, 'I'm really inspired by your guitar playing.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/i-m-supportive-of-women-absolutely-and-it-s-so-gratifying-to-have/)

[St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/)

> [It is absolutely necessary, both for our advancement and the salvation of others, to follow always and in all things the beautiful light of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/it-is-absolutely-necessary-both-for-our-advancement-and-the-salvation/)

[St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/)

> [We ought to deal kindly with all, and to manifest those qualities which spring naturally from a heart tender and full of Christian charity;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/we-ought-to-deal-kindly-with-all-and-to-manifest-those-qualities/)

[St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/)

> [I just love playing guitar, so that's what I'm going to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/i-just-love-playing-guitar-so-that-s-what-i-m-going-to-do/)

[St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/)

> [A song has a life of its own. It's an autonomous thing, separate from your own experience, almost. And the mere repetition of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/a-song-has-a-life-of-its-own-it-s-an-autonomous-thing-separate-from/)

[St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/)

> [Let us love God my brothers, let us love God. But let it be with the strength of our arms and the sweat of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/let-us-love-god-my-brothers-let-us-love-god-but-let-it-be-with-the/)

[St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/)

> [To be honest, because there's loud music in my ears probably three hours a day, between sound check and the show, I listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/to-be-honest-because-there-s-loud-music-in-my-ears-probably-three/)

[St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/)

> [It's not enough to do good. It must be done well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/it-s-not-enough-to-do-good-it-must-be-done-well/)

[St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/)

> [The first step to be taken by one who wishes to follow Christ is, according to Our Lord’s own words, that of renouncing himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/the-first-step-to-be-taken-by-one-who-wishes-to-follow-christ-is/)

[St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/)

> [Musically, I have more things in common with tons of bands that have no female members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/musically-i-have-more-things-in-common-with-tons-of-bands-that-have/)

[St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/)

> [I think human beings have a really broad spectrum of traits, and I almost feel implicated when we say, 'Men are like this, women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/i-think-human-beings-have-a-really-broad-spectrum-of-traits-and-i/)

[St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/)

> [I love Robert Fripp. You know what I really appreciate about Robert Fripp? He always dresses appropriately for the occasion. When he's on stage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/i-love-robert-fripp-you-know-what-i-really-appreciate-about-robert/)

[St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/)

> [Guitar is just something I can do. So much of it now is muscle memory, just instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/guitar-is-just-something-i-can-do-so-much-of-it-now-is-muscle-memory/)

[St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/)

> [I only listen to my own music when I'm playing an hour-and-half set each night. I don't put it on recreationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/i-only-listen-to-my-own-music-when-i-m-playing-an-hour-and-half-set/)

[St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/)

[Explore all 67 St. Vincent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/)

## More Acquire quotes

> [Most people seek after what they do not possess and are enslaved by the very things they want to acquire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-sadat/most-people-seek-after-what-they-do-not-possess-and-are-enslaved-by/)

[Anwar Sadat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-sadat/)

> [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [Humility is an elusive virtue. The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/)

[Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/)

> [Acquire worldly wisdom and adjust your behavior accordingly. If your new behavior gives you a little temporary unpopularity with your peer group then to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/acquire-worldly-wisdom-and-adjust-your-behavior-accordingly-if-your/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [This was Shakespeare's form ; Who walk'd in every path of human life, Felt every passion ; and to all mankind Doth now, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-akenside/this-was-shakespeare-s-form-who-walk-d-in-every-path-of-human-life/)

[Mark Akenside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-akenside/)

> [Wasn't Saddam destroyed? Wasn't Gaddafi liquidated? Didn't Milosevic go to the Hague? All true. But Stalin survived. Kim Jong-un isn't doing too badly, either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fisk/wasn-t-saddam-destroyed-wasn-t-gaddafi-liquidated-didn-t-milosevic-go/)

[Robert Fisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fisk/)

> [The best way for women to acquire knowledge is from conversation with a father, a brother, or a friend, in the way of family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-letitia-barbauld/the-best-way-for-women-to-acquire-knowledge-is-from-conversation-with/)

[Anna Letitia Barbauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-letitia-barbauld/)

> [Have you ever wanted something so badly that you would do anything, believe anything in order to acquire it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/have-you-ever-wanted-something-so-badly-that-you-would-do-anything/)

[Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/)

> [Ballet is pure and demands that you serve something larger than yourself, whether it be beauty or art, or a combination of both. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-martins/ballet-is-pure-and-demands-that-you-serve-something-larger-than/)

[Peter Martins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-martins/)

> [You can't know it all. No matter how smart you are, no matter how comprehensive your education, no matter how wide ranging your experience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-can-t-know-it-all-no-matter-how-smart-you-are-no-matter-how/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [A better distribution of incomes would increase that efficiency by diverting a great fund of wealth from the useless to the useful members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-better-distribution-of-incomes-would-increase-that-efficiency-by/)

[Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/)

> [I know well, Monsieur, how much you have to endure in your present duty, and I ask Our Lord to strengthen you in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/i-know-well-monsieur-how-much-you-have-to-endure-in-your-present-duty/)

[Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/)

> [The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. Thus they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-enemy-s-spies-who-have-come-to-spy-on-us-must-be-sought-out/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [In the late 1950s a major topic under discussion was whether Canada should acquire nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/in-the-late-1950s-a-major-topic-under-discussion-was-whether-canada/)

[John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/)

> [Shamanism is a path of knowledge, not of faith, and that knowledge cannot come from me or anyone else in this reality. To acquire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-harner/shamanism-is-a-path-of-knowledge-not-of-faith-and-that-knowledge/)

[Michael Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-harner/)

[Browse all 1,020 Acquire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquire/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Perfection consists in one thing alone, which is doing the will of God. For, according to Our Lord's words, it suffices for perfection to deny self, to take up the cross and to follow Him. Now who denies himself and takes up his cross and follows Christ better than he who seeks not to do his own will, but always that of God? Behold, now, how little is needed to become as Saint? Nothing more than to acquire the habit of willing, on every occasion, what God wills.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "St. Vincent"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/perfection-consists-in-one-thing-alone-which-is-doing-the-will-of-god/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Acquire"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/perfection-consists-in-one-thing-alone-which-is-doing-the-will-of-god/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/st-vincent-10256_acquire_perfection-consists-in-one-thing-alone-w_1544668.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/st-vincent-10256_acquire_perfection-consists-in-one-thing-alone-w_1544668.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/st-vincent-10256_acquire_perfection-consists-in-one-thing-alone-w_1544668.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Perfection consists in one thing alone, which is doing the will of God. For, according to Our Lord's words…” — St. Vincent",
                "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. Vincent",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Perfection consists in one thing alone,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/perfection-consists-in-one-thing-alone-which-is-doing-the-will-of-god/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/perfection-consists-in-one-thing-alone-which-is-doing-the-will-of-god/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
