---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I often thought my constitution would…"
description: "\"I often thought my constitution would never endure the work I had to do, (but) the Lord said to me: 'Daughter, obedience gives strength.'\" — Teresa of ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/teresa-of-vila-1246_constitution_i-often-thought-my-constitution-would-ne_254580.jpg"
---

#  I often thought my constitution would never endure the…

![“I often thought my constitution would never endure the work I had to do, (but) the Lord said to me: 'Daughter, obedience gives strength.'” quote by Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/teresa-of-vila-1246_constitution_i-often-thought-my-constitution-would-ne_254580.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/teresa-of-vila-1246_constitution_i-often-thought-my-constitution-would-ne_254580.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/teresa-of-vila-1246_constitution_i-often-thought-my-constitution-would-ne_254580.jpg)

> “I often thought my constitution would never endure the work I had to do, (but) the Lord said to me: 'Daughter, obedience gives strength.'”

[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.

Obedience to divine guidance strengthens inner resolve, enabling endurance of demanding tasks.

**In simple terms:** Obedience builds inner strength.

Key Takeaway

Follow higher guidance for resilience.

Themes

faith obedience strength resilience

Mood

contemplative hopeful

Type

spiritual motivational

When to use this quote

- daily chores
- spiritual practice
- challenges

Key Concepts

spiritual discipline inner fortitude

Questions to Reflect On

- How does obedience empower you?
- When is questioning better?

A Different Perspective

Obedience can suppress personal agency.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daughter/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience/)

## Related quotes

> [“I am bold to Say that neither you nor I, will live to See the Course which 'the Wonders of the Times' will take.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-am-bold-to-say-that-neither-you-nor-i-will-live-to-see-the-course/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [Is that which was deemed to be of so fundamental a nature as to be written into the Constitution to endure for all times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-frankfurter/is-that-which-was-deemed-to-be-of-so-fundamental-a-nature-as-to-be/)

[Felix Frankfurter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-frankfurter/)

> [Obedience alone gives the right to command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/obedience-alone-gives-the-right-to-command/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Radical obedience always gives priority to what God has said over what He hasn't said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/radical-obedience-always-gives-priority-to-what-god-has-said-over/)

[Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/)

> [Mediation gives you knowledge about God. Obedience gives you knowledge of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rogers/mediation-gives-you-knowledge-about-god-obedience-gives-you-knowledge/)

[Adrian Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rogers/)

> [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/)

> [No enduring improvement can occur without righteous exercise of agency. Do not attempt to override agency. The Lord himself would not do that. Forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-scott/no-enduring-improvement-can-occur-without-righteous-exercise-of/)

[Richard G. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-scott/)

> [Character is in turn the enduring source of virtue. It stands by itself and excites admiration in others. It is not obedience to authority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/character-is-in-turn-the-enduring-source-of-virtue-it-stands-by/)

[E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/)

> [I still have a video of my father, which I watch before every game I play for Brazil. It gives me strength, makes me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronaldinho/i-still-have-a-video-of-my-father-which-i-watch-before-every-game-i/)

[Ronaldinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronaldinho/)

> [We tend to think being hard on ourselves will make us strong. But it is cherishing ourselves that gives us strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/we-tend-to-think-being-hard-on-ourselves-will-make-us-strong-but-it/)

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

> [Just knowing you are out there somewhere, gives me the strength to carry on with my life...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal/just-knowing-you-are-out-there-somewhere-gives-me-the-strength-to/)

[Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal/)

> [It is my weakness that gives me all my strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/therese-of-lisieux/it-is-my-weakness-that-gives-me-all-my-strength/)

[Therese of Lisieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/therese-of-lisieux/)

> [What gives you strength at any circumstance is your understanding of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/what-gives-you-strength-at-any-circumstance-is-your-understanding-of/)

[Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/)

> [“Those who don’t know will have to find out by experience that “a quiet conscience gives you strength!” Yours,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/those-who-don-t-know-will-have-to-find-out-by-experience-that-a-quiet/)

[Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/)

> [Some people amazed me because Im strong woman,asking me why,and how I do that,, My always answered\_ I believe God who always there for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariane-corbito/some-people-amazed-me-because-im-strong-woman-asking-me-why-and-how-i/)

[Mariane Corbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariane-corbito/)

## 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/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/half-instructed-confessors-have-done-my-soul-great-harm-for-i-could/)

[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/)

[Explore all 267 Teresa of Avila quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

## More Constitution quotes

> [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/)

[Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/)

> [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/)

[Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/)

> [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [While not widely reported, our victories in Iraq are plentiful. National elections, a democratic parliament and the drafting of a constitution are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/while-not-widely-reported-our-victories-in-iraq-are-plentiful/)

[Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/)

> [In a recent decision of the Supreme Court, not made, however, by the full court, and concurred in by only four justices, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bates-clark/in-a-recent-decision-of-the-supreme-court-not-made-however-by-the/)

[John Bates Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bates-clark/)

> [The judiciary must not take on the coloration of whatever may be popular at the moment. We are guardian of rights, and we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-bird/the-judiciary-must-not-take-on-the-coloration-of-whatever-may-be/)

[Rose Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-bird/)

> [There is not a revolution that succe Women are suffering because they are being excluded. The high military council excluded women from the committee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/there-is-not-a-revolution-that-succe-women-are-suffering-because-they/)

[Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/)

> [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [“The Court has a special responsibility to ensure that the Constitution works in practice. While education, including the transmission of our civic values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/the-court-has-a-special-responsibility-to-ensure-that-the/)

[Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/)

> [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/)

Joe Pitts

> [Nothing from man's hands, nor law, nor constitution, can be final. Truth alone is final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/nothing-from-man-s-hands-nor-law-nor-constitution-can-be-final-truth/)

[Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/)

> [“I am apprehensive, Sir, that in the warmth of my feelings, I may have uttered expressions, which were too vehement. If such has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/i-am-apprehensive-sir-that-in-the-warmth-of-my-feelings-i-may-have/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [Conservative political opinion in America cleaves to the tradition of the judge as passive interpreter, believing that his absolute loyalty to authoritative law is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/conservative-political-opinion-in-america-cleaves-to-the-tradition-of/)

[Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/)

[Browse all 4,507 Constitution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I often thought my constitution would never endure the work I had to do, (but) the Lord said to me: 'Daughter, obedience gives strength.'",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Teresa of Avila"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/i-often-thought-my-constitution-would-never-endure-the-work-i-had-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Constitution"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/i-often-thought-my-constitution-would-never-endure-the-work-i-had-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/teresa-of-vila-1246_constitution_i-often-thought-my-constitution-would-ne_254580.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/teresa-of-vila-1246_constitution_i-often-thought-my-constitution-would-ne_254580.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/teresa-of-vila-1246_constitution_i-often-thought-my-constitution-would-ne_254580.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I often thought my constitution would never endure the work I had to do, (but) the Lord said to me…” — Teresa of Avila",
                "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": "Teresa of Avila",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I often thought my constitution would...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/i-often-thought-my-constitution-would-never-endure-the-work-i-had-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/i-often-thought-my-constitution-would-never-endure-the-work-i-had-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
