--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Half-instructed confessors have done my…" description: "\"Half-instructed confessors have done my soul great harm; for I could not always have such learned ones as I would have desired. They certainly did not ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/teresa-of-vila-1246_deceiving_half-instructed-confessors-have-done-my_39894.jpg" --- # Half-instructed confessors have done my soul great harm… ![“Half-instructed confessors have done my soul great harm; for I could not always have such learned ones as I would have desired. They certainly did not wish to deceive me, but the fact was that they knew no better. Of something which was a venial sin, they said it was no sin, and out of a very…” quote by Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/teresa-of-vila-1246_deceiving_half-instructed-confessors-have-done-my_39894.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/teresa-of-vila-1246_deceiving_half-instructed-confessors-have-done-my_39894.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/teresa-of-vila-1246_deceiving_half-instructed-confessors-have-done-my_39894.jpg) > “Half-instructed confessors have done my soul great harm; for I could not always have such learned ones as I would have desired. They certainly did not wish to deceive me, but the fact was that they knew no better. Of something which was a venial sin, they said it was no sin, and out of a very grave mortal sin they made a venial sin. This has done me such harm, that my speaking here of so great an evil, as a warning to others, will be readily understood.” [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author laments that poorly trained confessors misclassify sins, causing spiritual damage and misleading believers. **In simple terms:** Misguided guidance harms faith. Key Takeaway Authority must be properly educated. Themes spiritual guidance authority misinterpretation ethical responsibility religious education Mood concerned cautious reflective Type advice warning personal testimony When to use this quote - seeking confession - religious instruction - personal moral doubt - community warning Key Concepts confession sin classification clerical competence spiritual harm Practical Applications - improving clergy training - establishing clearer doctrinal guidelines Questions to Reflect On - How can religious institutions ensure accurate teaching? - What safeguards protect believers from misguidance? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Mortal sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortal-sin/) [Mortals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Warning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warning/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [Brothers and sisters, white people will come in to chastise us. But since we are no longer forsaken, and are the people of God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/brothers-and-sisters-white-people-will-come-in-to-chastise-us-but/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [“W. S. Plumer said, “We never see sin aright until we see it as against God...All sin is against God in this sense: that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/w-s-plumer-said-we-never-see-sin-aright-until-we-see-it-as-against/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [“He was like some prophet of old, scourging the sins of the people. He leaped about in a frenzy of inspiration till I feared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/he-was-like-some-prophet-of-old-scourging-the-sins-of-the-people-he/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [Keep this in mind, for it is very important advice, so do not neglect it until you find you have such a fixed determination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/keep-this-in-mind-for-it-is-very-important-advice-so-do-not-neglect/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [After the thing went off, after it was a sure thing that America could wipe out a city with just one bomb, a scientist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/after-the-thing-went-off-after-it-was-a-sure-thing-that-america-could/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [In conclusion it may be said that sin may be defined as lack of conformity to the moral law of God, either in act,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-berkhof/in-conclusion-it-may-be-said-that-sin-may-be-defined-as-lack-of/) [Louis Berkhof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-berkhof/) > [I once heard a spiritual man say that he was not so much astonished at the things done by a soul in mortal sin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/i-once-heard-a-spiritual-man-say-that-he-was-not-so-much-astonished/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [It is the goodly outside that sin puts on which tempteth to destruction. It has been said that sin is like the bee, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/it-is-the-goodly-outside-that-sin-puts-on-which-tempteth-to/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Maybe if we said that sin causes cancer, people would take it more seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hart/maybe-if-we-said-that-sin-causes-cancer-people-would-take-it-more/) [Mark Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hart/) > [Woe to those who die in mortal sin!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/woe-to-those-who-die-in-mortal-sin/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [The cumulative weight of all mortal sins--past, present, and future--pressed upon that perfect, sinless, and sensitive Soul! All our infirmities and sicknesses were somehow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-cumulative-weight-of-all-mortal-sins-past-present-and-future/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [He would be guilty of mortal sin, because he exposes himself to the danger of grievously offending God. Hence, before he acts he must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-liguori/he-would-be-guilty-of-mortal-sin-because-he-exposes-himself-to-the/) [Alphonsus Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonsus-liguori/) > [The works of the righteous would be mortal sins if they would not be feared as mortal sins by the righteous themselves out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-works-of-the-righteous-would-be-mortal-sins-if-they-would-not-be/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [This I say, because God showed me somewhat of his truth, in order that I might know what man is without him; that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-of-genoa/this-i-say-because-god-showed-me-somewhat-of-his-truth-in-order-that/) [Catherine of Genoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-of-genoa/) > [“The Church has always regarded the admin istration of a Sacrament in the state of mortal sin as a sacrilege, and insists on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pohle/the-church-has-always-regarded-the-admin-istration-of-a-sacrament-in/) [Joseph Pohle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pohle/) ## More by Teresa of Avila > [“Of the good things they do many will pass unnoticed, or will even not be considered good at all; but they need not fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/of-the-good-things-they-do-many-will-pass-unnoticed-or-will-even-not/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [I made you, dear, and all I make is perfect. Please come close, for I desire you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/i-made-you-dear-and-all-i-make-is-perfect-please-come-close-for-i/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [How often I failed in my duty to God, because I was not leaning on the strong pillar of prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/how-often-i-failed-in-my-duty-to-god-because-i-was-not-leaning-on-the/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Truth suffers, but never dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/truth-suffers-but-never-dies/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [“you will never lack so much of the water of comfort that your thirst will be intolerable;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/you-will-never-lack-so-much-of-the-water-of-comfort-that-your-thirst/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/whoever-has-god-lacks-nothing-god-alone-suffices/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Do you know when people really become spiritual? It is when they become the slaves of God and are branded with His sign, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/do-you-know-when-people-really-become-spiritual-it-is-when-they/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [How friendly we should all be with one another if nobody were interested in money and honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/how-friendly-we-should-all-be-with-one-another-if-nobody-were/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [“an unrestrained infatuation with ecstasy and other extraordinary phenomena developed. These experiences were thought of as something to be obtained at all costs. Among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/an-unrestrained-infatuation-with-ecstasy-and-other-extraordinary/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [“The Lord has no body now on earth but yours, no hands now but yours, no feet now but yours. Yours are the eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/the-lord-has-no-body-now-on-earth-but-yours-no-hands-now-but-yours-no/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Our greatest gain is to lose the wealth that is of such brief duration and, by comparison with eternal things, of such little worth;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/our-greatest-gain-is-to-lose-the-wealth-that-is-of-such-brief/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [God has no hands or feet or voice except ours and through these He works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/god-has-no-hands-or-feet-or-voice-except-ours-and-through-these-he/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [His Majesty knows best what is suitable for us. There's no need for us to be advising Him about what He should give us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/his-majesty-knows-best-what-is-suitable-for-us-there-s-no-need-for-us/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [There is no affliction, trial, or labor difficult to endure, when we consider the torments and sufferings which Our Lord Jesus Christ endured for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/there-is-no-affliction-trial-or-labor-difficult-to-endure-when-we/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [“It is quite important to withdraw from all unnecessary cares and business, as far as compatible with the duties of one’s state of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/it-is-quite-important-to-withdraw-from-all-unnecessary-cares-and/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) [Explore all 267 Teresa of Avila quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) ## More Deceiving quotes > [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [We deceive ourselves when giving respect to the person for whom we have surrendered ourselves, when we respectively expect them to be as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/we-deceive-ourselves-when-giving-respect-to-the-person-for-whom-we/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Who’s to say that it takes something like a drug to mess with your perception of reality? How did Hitler deceive a nation? How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/who-s-to-say-that-it-takes-something-like-a-drug-to-mess-with-your/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [“She knows she's deceiving herself about that, but she prefers to deceive herself. She desperately needs to believe such pure joy is still possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/she-knows-she-s-deceiving-herself-about-that-but-she-prefers-to/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-intention-of-never-deceiving-often-exposes-us-to-deception/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It is unhappily true that much insincere Literature and Art, executed solely with a view to effect, does succeed by deceiving the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/it-is-unhappily-true-that-much-insincere-literature-and-art-executed/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [Amusement that is excessive and followed only for its own sake, allures and deceives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/amusement-that-is-excessive-and-followed-only-for-its-own-sake/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“Looks sure can be deceiving: not every ‘ugly’ person is a ‘bad’ person (or is guilty of whatever it is that they are accused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/looks-sure-can-be-deceiving-not-every-ugly-person-is-a-bad-person-or/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“The man was no stranger to deception, and yet his heart was pounding wildly now. He took another deep, throbbing breath. You've been deceiving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/the-man-was-no-stranger-to-deception-and-yet-his-heart-was-pounding/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [Nothing is so easy as to deceive oneself; for what we wish, we readily believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demosthenes/nothing-is-so-easy-as-to-deceive-oneself-for-what-we-wish-we-readily/) [Demosthenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demosthenes/) > [No, it's not that they're bad. It's that they're obliged to pretend they're good. They've been brought up to deceive and be cunning, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/no-it-s-not-that-they-re-bad-it-s-that-they-re-obliged-to-pretend/) [Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/) > [You should have taken me with you," I whisper to him. Then I lean my head against his and begin to cry. In my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/you-should-have-taken-me-with-you-i-whisper-to-him-then-i-lean-my/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [I smile but it doesn't mean that I'm okay and happy. Remember, looks can be deceiving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-smile-but-it-doesn-t-mean-that-i-m-okay-and-happy-remember-looks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Cunning grows in deceit at seeing itself discovered, and tries to deceive with truth itselft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cunning-grows-in-deceit-at-seeing-itself-discovered-and-tries-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We may live without poetry, music and art; We may live without conscience, and live without heart; We may live without friends; we may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-may-live-without-poetry-music-and-art-we-may-live-without/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 704 Deceiving quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Half-instructed confessors have done my soul great harm; for I could not always have such learned ones as I would have desired. 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