--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: we are directed not merely to abstain…" description: "\"“we are directed not merely to abstain from evil actions, but even from evil thoughts, and from idle words, and empty talk, and scurrilous language: th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19b/the-church-fathers-1438_evil-thoughts_we-are-directed-not-merely-to-abstain-fr_2946781.jpg" --- # we are directed not merely to abstain from evil actions… ![“we are directed not merely to abstain from evil actions, but even from evil thoughts, and from idle words, and empty talk, and scurrilous language: thus also the punishment of those who do not believe the Word of God, and despise His advent, and are turned away backwards, is increased; being not…” quote by The Church Fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19b/the-church-fathers-1438_evil-thoughts_we-are-directed-not-merely-to-abstain-fr_2946781.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19b/the-church-fathers-1438_evil-thoughts_we-are-directed-not-merely-to-abstain-fr_2946781.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19b/the-church-fathers-1438_evil-thoughts_we-are-directed-not-merely-to-abstain-fr_2946781.jpg) > ““we are directed not merely to abstain from evil actions, but even from evil thoughts, and from idle words, and empty talk, and scurrilous language: thus also the punishment of those who do not believe the Word of God, and despise His advent, and are turned away backwards, is increased; being not merely temporal, but rendered also eternal. For”” The Church Fathers ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One must avoid evil actions, thoughts, idle words, and harmful speech, lest punishment be both temporal and eternal. **In simple terms:** Avoid all forms of evil. Key Takeaway Cultivate pure thoughts and speech. Themes morality spirituality discipline punishment eternity Mood solemn reflective Type spiritual ethical When to use this quote - prayer - confession - ethical counseling Key Concepts theology ethics self‑control Questions to Reflect On - How do you guard your thoughts? - What role does speech play in moral life? A Different Perspective Interpretations vary across traditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evil thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-thoughts/) ## Related quotes > [According as a man acts and walks in the path of life, so he becomes. 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Wish your enemy well. Hope the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/when-your-enemy-and-his-or-her-evil-actions-come-to-mind-send-him-or/) Senoraroy > [Lord keep us all from sin. Teach us how to walk circumspectly; enable us to guard our minds against error of doctrine, our hearts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/lord-keep-us-all-from-sin-teach-us-how-to-walk-circumspectly-enable/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions but by his inactions, and in either case he is justly accountable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/a-person-may-cause-evil-to-others-not-only-by-his-actions-but-by-his/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [“Don't let the evil actions of broken people define your view of our world! Don't be terrorized into a diluted, hopeless reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/don-t-let-the-evil-actions-of-broken-people-define-your-view-of-our/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Evidently, evildoing also has a threshold magnitude. Yes, a human being hesitates and bobs back and forth between good and evil all his life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-i-solzhenitsyn/evidently-evildoing-also-has-a-threshold-magnitude-yes-a-human-being/) [Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-i-solzhenitsyn/) > [The actions of bad men produce only temporary evil, the actions of good men only temporary good ; and eventually the good and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-thomas-buckle/the-actions-of-bad-men-produce-only-temporary-evil-the-actions-of/) [Henry Thomas Buckle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-thomas-buckle/) > [Even when your body does nothing, sin can be active in your mind. When your soul inwardly repulses the evil one's attack by means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-palamas/even-when-your-body-does-nothing-sin-can-be-active-in-your-mind-when/) [Gregory Palamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-palamas/) > [“One doesn't commit evil actions in the belief that one is acting wrongly. What allows one to commit such acts is the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/una-mccormack/one-doesn-t-commit-evil-actions-in-the-belief-that-one-is-acting/) [Una McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/una-mccormack/) > [“Anger is the mother of a whole brood of evil actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/anger-is-the-mother-of-a-whole-brood-of-evil-actions/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) ## More by The Church Fathers > [ “both the Mosaic law and the grace of the new covenant, as both fitted for the times \[at which they were given\], were bestowed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/both-the-mosaic-law-and-the-grace-of-the-new-covenant-as-both-fitted/) The Church Fathers > [ “the precepts of an absolutely perfect life, since they are the same in each Testament, have pointed out \[to us\] the same God, who… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/the-precepts-of-an-absolutely-perfect-life-since-they-are-the-same-in/) The Church Fathers > [“God is not as a man.” He thus shows that all men are indeed guilty of falsehood, inasmuch as they change from one thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/god-is-not-as-a-man-he-thus-shows-that-all-men-are-indeed-guilty-of/) The Church Fathers > [ “Paul in like manner declares, “Love is the fulfilling of the law:” and \[he declares\] that when all other things have been destroyed, there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/paul-in-like-manner-declares-love-is-the-fulfilling-of-the-law-and-he/) The Church Fathers > [“as then the condemnation of sinners extended to others who approved of them, and joined in their society; so also is it the case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/as-then-the-condemnation-of-sinners-extended-to-others-who-approved/) The Church Fathers > [“His only-begotten Word, who is always present with the human race, united to and mingled with His own creation, according to the Father’s pleasure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/his-only-begotten-word-who-is-always-present-with-the-human-race/) The Church Fathers > [“For there is the one Son, who accomplished His Father’s will; and one human race also in which the mysteries of God are wrought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/for-there-is-the-one-son-who-accomplished-his-father-s-will-and-one/) The Church Fathers > [ “Mary, having a man betrothed \[to her\], and being nevertheless a virgin, by yielding obedience, become the cause of salvation, both to herself and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/mary-having-a-man-betrothed-to-her-and-being-nevertheless-a-virgin-by/) The Church Fathers > [“understanding of Christ, which Paul terms the wisdom of God hidden in a mystery, which “the natural man receiveth not,” the doctrine of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/understanding-of-christ-which-paul-terms-the-wisdom-of-god-hidden-in/) The Church Fathers > [“If, therefore, in the present time also, God, knowing the number of those who will not believe, since He foreknows all things, has given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/if-therefore-in-the-present-time-also-god-knowing-the-number-of-those/) The Church Fathers > [“The sea,” he says, “gave up the dead which it had in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead that they contained;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/the-sea-he-says-gave-up-the-dead-which-it-had-in-it-and-death-and/) The Church Fathers > [“Christ Himself, therefore, together with the Father, is the God of the living, who spake to Moses, and who was also manifested to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/christ-himself-therefore-together-with-the-father-is-the-god-of-the/) The Church Fathers > [“Those pastors are to be heard to whom the apostles committed the Churches, possessing one and the same doctrine of salvation; the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/those-pastors-are-to-be-heard-to-whom-the-apostles-committed-the/) The Church Fathers > [“the friendship of God imparts immortality to those who embrace it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/the-friendship-of-god-imparts-immortality-to-those-who-embrace-it/) The Church Fathers > [“Put away from you all wicked desire, and clothe yourself with good and chaste desire; for clothed with this desire you will hate wicked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/put-away-from-you-all-wicked-desire-and-clothe-yourself-with-good-and/) The Church Fathers Explore all 241 The Church Fathers quotes ## More Evil thoughts quotes > [The world's oldest wisdom: each evil thought infuses the mind, sooner or later, with an unholy fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/the-world-s-oldest-wisdom-each-evil-thought-infuses-the-mind-sooner/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [“Any refusal to recognize reality, for any reason whatever, has disastrous consequences. There are no evil thoughts except one: the refusal to think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/any-refusal-to-recognize-reality-for-any-reason-whatever-has/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Evil thought is a dangerous pet. It is safer to play with it from behind the iron bars of circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/evil-thought-is-a-dangerous-pet-it-is-safer-to-play-with-it-from/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [To be free from evil thoughts is God's best gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/to-be-free-from-evil-thoughts-is-god-s-best-gift/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [When I am assailed with heavy tribulations, I rush out among my pigs rather than remain alone by myself. The human heart is like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/when-i-am-assailed-with-heavy-tribulations-i-rush-out-among-my-pigs/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [One reason why so many people are unhappy, not knowing why, is that they have burdened their minds with resentments. These evil thoughts pile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-matthew-adams/one-reason-why-so-many-people-are-unhappy-not-knowing-why-is-that/) [George Matthew Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-matthew-adams/) > [“Envy: Instead of focusing on your own goals, your goal becomes throwing off the rails other people’s goals and at the end of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/envy-instead-of-focusing-on-your-own-goals-your-goal-becomes-throwing/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“Evil people must spread their evil everywhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/evil-people-must-spread-their-evil-everywhere/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [Music is one of the fairest and most glorious gifts of God, to which Satan is a bitter enemy; for it removes from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/music-is-one-of-the-fairest-and-most-glorious-gifts-of-god-to-which/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“For the next hour and a half he tried all the magic he could think of. He cast spells of remembering, spells of finding,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/for-the-next-hour-and-a-half-he-tried-all-the-magic-he-could-think-of/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [“If you fail to sow good thoughts in your mind, the weeds of evil thoughts will take root there and eventually they will take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/awdhesh-singh/if-you-fail-to-sow-good-thoughts-in-your-mind-the-weeds-of-evil/) [Awdhesh Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/awdhesh-singh/) > [“Dear Pat, You came upon me carving some kind of little figure out of wood and you said, ‘Why don’t you make something for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/dear-pat-you-came-upon-me-carving-some-kind-of-little-figure-out-of/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“By swallowing evil word unsaid noone has ever yet harmed his stomach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/by-swallowing-evil-word-unsaid-noone-has-ever-yet-harmed-his-stomach/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [You must learn that if you are a Christian, you will without a doubt experience all kinds of opposition and evil inclinations in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/you-must-learn-that-if-you-are-a-christian-you-will-without-a-doubt/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Every temptation that is resisted, every evil thought that is curbed, every desire that is subdued, every bitter word that is withheld, every noble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sivananda/every-temptation-that-is-resisted-every-evil-thought-that-is-curbed/) [Sivananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sivananda/) [Browse all 107 Evil thoughts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-thoughts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“we are directed not merely to abstain from evil actions, but even from evil thoughts, and from idle words, and empty talk, and scurrilous language: thus also the punishment of those who do not believe the Word of God, and despise His advent, and are turned away backwards, is increased; being not merely temporal, but rendered also eternal. 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