--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be good, we must do good; and by doing…" description: "\"To be good, we must do good; and by doing good we take a sure means of being good, as the use and exercise of the muscles increase their power.\" — Tryo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fc/tryon-edwards-4992_doing-good_to-be-good-we-must-do-good-and-by-doing_1052004.png" --- # To be good, we must do good; and by doing good we take a… ![“To be good, we must do good; and by doing good we take a sure means of being good, as the use and exercise of the muscles increase their power.” quote by Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fc/tryon-edwards-4992_doing-good_to-be-good-we-must-do-good-and-by-doing_1052004.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fc/tryon-edwards-4992_doing-good_to-be-good-we-must-do-good-and-by-doing_1052004.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fc/tryon-edwards-4992_doing-good_to-be-good-we-must-do-good-and-by-doing_1052004.png) > “To be good, we must do good; and by doing good we take a sure means of being good, as the use and exercise of the muscles increase their power.” [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Doing good strengthens moral character like exercising muscles builds physical strength. **In simple terms:** Good deeds build moral muscle. Key Takeaway Practice kindness to develop virtue. Themes morality self-improvement exercise Mood inspirational practical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - daily kindness - community service Key Concepts muscle metaphor ethical development Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure deeds are sincere? - What habits reinforce moral strength? A Different Perspective Good deeds may be superficial without intention. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-good/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Good Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-doing/) [Good Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-good/) [Increase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increase/) [Means Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-good/) [Muscles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muscles/) [Muscles Increase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muscles-increase-2522597/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) ## Related quotes > [I work out one-and-a-half hours a day, five times a week to strengthen my muscles and increase tone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananya-birla/i-work-out-one-and-a-half-hours-a-day-five-times-a-week-to-strengthen/) [Ananya Birla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananya-birla/) > [Democracy means not "I am as good as you are" but "You are as good as I am.".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-parker/democracy-means-not-i-am-as-good-as-you-are-but-you-are-as-good-as-i/) [Theodore Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-parker/) > [Don't ever say you're not good enough because if he can't see how good you are, it only means he's the one that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike/don-t-ever-say-you-re-not-good-enough-because-if-he-can-t-see-how/) [Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike/) > [If you're really good at doing what you do, good things will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-ambrose/if-you-re-really-good-at-doing-what-you-do-good-things-will-come/) [Dean Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-ambrose/) > [What I actually do put much more weight on, in all honesty, is not being critically acclaimed - it's being respected by my OGs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/what-i-actually-do-put-much-more-weight-on-in-all-honesty-is-not/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) > [I found me a place where I can do good without doing any harm, and I can see I'm doing good, and them I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-found-me-a-place-where-i-can-do-good-without-doing-any-harm-and-i/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [The best way to get something good out of what you're doing is to put something good into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasheed-ogunlaru/the-best-way-to-get-something-good-out-of-what-you-re-doing-is-to-put/) [Rasheed Ogunlaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasheed-ogunlaru/) > [Do good, by doing good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scooter-braun/do-good-by-doing-good/) [Scooter Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scooter-braun/) > [By doing good we become good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/by-doing-good-we-become-good/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [“You are responsible for doing what good you can with what you have, and any good is better than none.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/you-are-responsible-for-doing-what-good-you-can-with-what-you-have/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I believe in doing good for good's sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/i-believe-in-doing-good-for-good-s-sake/) [John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/) > [Screwing business as usual fundamentally recognises that doing good is good for business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/screwing-business-as-usual-fundamentally-recognises-that-doing-good/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Do good and be a good person because that’s just what the Lord expects. There just ain’t nothing special about being and doing good.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-galasetti/do-good-and-be-a-good-person-because-that-s-just-what-the-lord/) [Andrew Galasetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-galasetti/) > [It means thanks, it means admiration, it means good-bye to someone you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-means-thanks-it-means-admiration-it-means-good-bye-to-someone-you/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Design means being good, not just looking good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-mok/design-means-being-good-not-just-looking-good/) [Clement Mok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-mok/) ## More by Tryon Edwards > [Science has sometimes been said to be opposed to faith, and inconsistent with it. But all science, in fact, rests on a basis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/science-has-sometimes-been-said-to-be-opposed-to-faith-and/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Credulity is belief in slight evidence, with no evidence, or against evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/credulity-is-belief-in-slight-evidence-with-no-evidence-or-against/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Mystery is another name for our ignorance; if we were omniscient, all would be perfectly plain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/mystery-is-another-name-for-our-ignorance-if-we-were-omniscient-all/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Every parting is a form of death, as every reunion is a type of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/every-parting-is-a-form-of-death-as-every-reunion-is-a-type-of-heaven/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Anxiety is the poison of human life; the parent of many sins and of more miseries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/anxiety-is-the-poison-of-human-life-the-parent-of-many-sins-and-of/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [The first step to improvement, whether mental, moral, or religious, is to know ourselves - our weakness, errors, deficiencies, and sins, that, by divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/the-first-step-to-improvement-whether-mental-moral-or-religious-is-to/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [The leaves do not change color from the blighting touch of the frost, but from the process of natural decay. They fall when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/the-leaves-do-not-change-color-from-the-blighting-touch-of-the-frost/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Indolence is the dry rot of even a good mind and a good character; the practical uselessness of both. It is the waste of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/indolence-is-the-dry-rot-of-even-a-good-mind-and-a-good-character-the/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [To rule one's anger is well; to prevent it is still better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/to-rule-one-s-anger-is-well-to-prevent-it-is-still-better/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Mystery is but another name for ignorance; if we were omniscient, all would be perfectly plain!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/mystery-is-but-another-name-for-ignorance-if-we-were-omniscient-all/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [To rejoice in another prosperity, is to give content to your own lot: to mitigate another grief, is to alleviate or dispel your own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/to-rejoice-in-another-prosperity-is-to-give-content-to-your-own-lot/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Hell is truth seen too late - duty neglected in its season](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/hell-is-truth-seen-too-late-duty-neglected-in-its-season/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [No true civilization can be expected permanently to continue which is not based on the great principles of Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/no-true-civilization-can-be-expected-permanently-to-continue-which-is/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [My books are my tools, and the greater their variety and perfection the greater the help to my literary work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/my-books-are-my-tools-and-the-greater-their-variety-and-perfection/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Anxiety is the rust of life, destroying its brightness and weakening its power. A childlike and abiding trust in Providence is its best preventive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/anxiety-is-the-rust-of-life-destroying-its-brightness-and-weakening/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) [Explore all 104 Tryon Edwards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) ## More Doing good quotes > [There's nothing like getting feedback that's positive and supportive. That's what I'm all about. I'm really just genuinely doing good music. I'm not looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-villarreal/there-s-nothing-like-getting-feedback-that-s-positive-and-supportive/) [Tiffany Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-villarreal/) > [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/) > [When things are going bad that does not mean God has stopped doing good It's mean He is shifting things around you to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christianquotes/when-things-are-going-bad-that-does-not-mean-god-has-stopped-doing/) [ChristianQuotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christianquotes/) > [“doing good required taking risks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/doing-good-required-taking-risks/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [NGOs have a complicated space in neoliberal politics. They are supposed to mop up the anger. Even when they are doing good work, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/ngos-have-a-complicated-space-in-neoliberal-politics-they-are/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“Rich and famous and doing good," mused Schlichtmann. "Rich isn't so difficult. Famous isn't so difficult. Rich and famous together aren't so difficult. Rich,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-harr/rich-and-famous-and-doing-good-mused-schlichtmann-rich-isn-t-so/) [Jonathan Harr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-harr/) > [There is only one way of not hating those who do us wrong, and that is by doing them good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/there-is-only-one-way-of-not-hating-those-who-do-us-wrong-and-that-is/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [“What is an artist? For every thousand people there's nine hundred doing the work, ninety doing well, nine doing good, and one lucky bastard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/what-is-an-artist-for-every-thousand-people-there-s-nine-hundred/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Being a good person is appreciable. But doing good things in life is what shows others who really you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-a-good-person-is-appreciable-but-doing-good-things-in-life-is/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [As long as any one has the means of doing good to his neighbours, and does not do so, he shall be reckoned a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/as-long-as-any-one-has-the-means-of-doing-good-to-his-neighbours-and/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [My mum supported me after she saw I was doing good in weightlifting, I was able to get a scholarship, I was able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hidilyn-diaz/my-mum-supported-me-after-she-saw-i-was-doing-good-in-weightlifting-i/) [Hidilyn Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hidilyn-diaz/) > [We've always tried to convey these strong messages of strength and power and doing good in the world and, at the same time, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-halford/we-ve-always-tried-to-convey-these-strong-messages-of-strength-and/) [Rob Halford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-halford/) > [The pulpit only "teaches" to be honest; the market-place "trains" to overreaching and fraud; and teaching has not a tithe of the efficiency of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/the-pulpit-only-teaches-to-be-honest-the-market-place-trains-to/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [We are not to preach the doing of good things; good deeds are not to be preached, they are to be performed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-not-to-preach-the-doing-of-good-things-good-deeds-are-not-to/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Even if everyone elseIs not doing good,I alone will.Even if everyone elseis doing wrong,I alone will not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/even-if-everyone-elseis-not-doing-good-i-alone-will-even-if-everyone/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) [Browse all 783 Doing good quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-good/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To be good, we must do good; and by doing good we take a sure means of being good, as the use and exercise of the muscles increase their power.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tryon Edwards" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/to-be-good-we-must-do-good-and-by-doing-good-we-take-a-sure-means-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doing good" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/to-be-good-we-must-do-good-and-by-doing-good-we-take-a-sure-means-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fc/tryon-edwards-4992_doing-good_to-be-good-we-must-do-good-and-by-doing_1052004.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fc/tryon-edwards-4992_doing-good_to-be-good-we-must-do-good-and-by-doing_1052004.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fc/tryon-edwards-4992_doing-good_to-be-good-we-must-do-good-and-by-doing_1052004.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To be good, we must do good; and by doing good we take a sure means of being good, as the use and exercise…” — Tryon Edwards", "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": "Tryon Edwards", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To be good, we must do...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/to-be-good-we-must-do-good-and-by-doing-good-we-take-a-sure-means-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/to-be-good-we-must-do-good-and-by-doing-good-we-take-a-sure-means-of/#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 } } ] } ```