---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man needs to be Saved from his own Wisdom…"
description: "\"Man needs to be Saved from his own Wisdom as much as from his own Righteousness, for they produce one and the same corruption. Nothing saves a man from..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/william-law-8390_corruption_man-needs-to-be-saved-from-his-own-wisdo_304854.png"
---

#  Man needs to be Saved from his own Wisdom as much as from…

![“Man needs to be Saved from his own Wisdom as much as from his own Righteousness, for they produce one and the same corruption. Nothing saves a man from his own righteousness, but that which delivers him from his own wisdom.” quote by William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/william-law-8390_corruption_man-needs-to-be-saved-from-his-own-wisdo_304854.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/william-law-8390_corruption_man-needs-to-be-saved-from-his-own-wisdo_304854.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/william-law-8390_corruption_man-needs-to-be-saved-from-his-own-wisdo_304854.png)

> “Man needs to be Saved from his own Wisdom as much as from his own Righteousness, for they produce one and the same corruption. Nothing saves a man from his own righteousness, but that which delivers him from his own wisdom.”

[William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/)

## About This Quote

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

Human wisdom and self‑righteousness both lead to moral corruption; true salvation requires humility and divine guidance.

**In simple terms:** Pride and self‑reliance corrupt; humility saves.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate humility and seek divine wisdom.

Themes

humility spirituality self‑knowledge corruption salvation

Mood

contemplative serious

Type

theological philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal ethics
- spiritual practice
- decision making
- leadership

Key Concepts

theology moral philosophy self‑awareness

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you balance humility with responsible action?
- What role does personal effort play in moral growth?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on divine reliance may neglect practical responsibility.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteousness/)

## Related quotes

> [The subject then of these chapters may be stated thus, - man's only righteousness is through the mercy of God in Christ, which being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-subject-then-of-these-chapters-may-be-stated-thus-man-s-only/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [“The Gospel is true because it deprives men of all glory, wisdom, and righteousness and turns over all honor to the Creator alone. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-gospel-is-true-because-it-deprives-men-of-all-glory-wisdom-and/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [The Spiritual disciplines are wisdom and not righteousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-spiritual-disciplines-are-wisdom-and-not-righteousness/)

[Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/)

> [“First, All the good that they have is in and through Christ; he is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. All the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/first-all-the-good-that-they-have-is-in-and-through-christ-he-is-made/)

[Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/)

> [Scholarship has the same relationship to wisdom as righteousness has to holiness: it is cold and dry, it is loveless and knows nodeep feelings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/scholarship-has-the-same-relationship-to-wisdom-as-righteousness-has/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [Charity is in the heart of man, and righteousness in the path of men. Pity the man who has lost his path and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/charity-is-in-the-heart-of-man-and-righteousness-in-the-path-of-men/)

[Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/)

> [I think, that a man never passes the verge of moral humility, till self-righteousness be dethroned, till the high and towering imaginations of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-erskine/i-think-that-a-man-never-passes-the-verge-of-moral-humility-till-self/)

Ebenezer Erskine

> [Nothing can damn a man but his own righteousness; nothing can save him but the righteousness of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/nothing-can-damn-a-man-but-his-own-righteousness-nothing-can-save-him/)

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

> [There is no way to kill a man's righteousness but by his own consent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/there-is-no-way-to-kill-a-man-s-righteousness-but-by-his-own-consent/)

[John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/)

> [“so also by the obedience of one man, righteousness having been introduced, shall cause life to fructify in those persons who in times past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/so-also-by-the-obedience-of-one-man-righteousness-having-been/)

The Church Fathers

> [We can't be saved on our own because our efforts are not enough to count us as righteous. We are saved because of God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/we-can-t-be-saved-on-our-own-because-our-efforts-are-not-enough-to/)

[Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/)

> [The same Divine Compassion that blessed Dharma; saved Gajendra; restored Kuchela; and stood by Prahlada, has come to the Earth as the Refuge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/the-same-divine-compassion-that-blessed-dharma-saved-gajendra/)

[Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/)

> [Not simply the righteousness of our Saviour, not simply the beauty of His holiness or the graces of His character, are we to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adoniram-judson-gordon/not-simply-the-righteousness-of-our-saviour-not-simply-the-beauty-of/)

[Adoniram Judson Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adoniram-judson-gordon/)

> [The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david/the-lord-is-my-shepherd-i-shall-not-want-he-maketh-me-to-lie-down-in/)

[David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david/)

> [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/)

[L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/)

## More by William Law

> [The will is that which has all power; it makes heaven and it makes hell: for there is no hell but where the will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/the-will-is-that-which-has-all-power-it-makes-heaven-and-it-makes/)

[William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/)

> [No education can be of true advantage to young women but that which trains them up in humble industry, in great plainness of living,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/no-education-can-be-of-true-advantage-to-young-women-but-that-which/)

[William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/)

> [Be intent upon the perfection of the present day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/be-intent-upon-the-perfection-of-the-present-day/)

[William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/)

> [“Would you know who is the greatest saint in the world? It is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/would-you-know-who-is-the-greatest-saint-in-the-world-it-is-not-he/)

[William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/)

> [Be intent on the perfection of the present day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/be-intent-on-the-perfection-of-the-present-day/)

[William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/)

> [Hell is nothing else but nature departed or excluded from the beam of divine light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/hell-is-nothing-else-but-nature-departed-or-excluded-from-the-beam-of/)

[William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/)

> [If you attempt to talk with a dying man about sports or business, he is no longer interested. He now sees other things as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/if-you-attempt-to-talk-with-a-dying-man-about-sports-or-business-he/)

[William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/)

> [What could begin to deny self, if there were not something in man different from self?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/what-could-begin-to-deny-self-if-there-were-not-something-in-man/)

[William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/)

> [From morning to night keep Jesus in thy heart, long for nothing, desire nothing, hope for nothing but to have all that is within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/from-morning-to-night-keep-jesus-in-thy-heart-long-for-nothing-desire/)

[William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/)

> [The Prophet had made dishonorable proposals to my wife... under cover of his asserted 'Revelation.'... Smith told his wife Jane the Lord had commanded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/the-prophet-had-made-dishonorable-proposals-to-my-wife-under-cover-of/)

[William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/)

> [This is the state of all creatures, whether men or angels; as they make not themselves, so they enjoy nothing from themselves; if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/this-is-the-state-of-all-creatures-whether-men-or-angels-as-they-make/)

[William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/)

> [You have no questions to ask of any body, no new way that you need inquire after; no oracle that you need to consult;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/you-have-no-questions-to-ask-of-any-body-no-new-way-that-you-need/)

[William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/)

> [If someone is leaving you behind, and you are becoming jealous and embittered, keep praying that he may have success in the very matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/if-someone-is-leaving-you-behind-and-you-are-becoming-jealous-and/)

[William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/)

> [The greatest saint in the world is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives alms, or is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/the-greatest-saint-in-the-world-is-not-he-who-prays-most-or-fasts/)

[William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/)

> [“Receive every day as a resurrection from death, as a new enjoyment of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/receive-every-day-as-a-resurrection-from-death-as-a-new-enjoyment-of-2/)

[William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/)

[Explore all 81 William Law quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/)

## More Corruption quotes

> [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/)

[Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/)

> [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/)

[Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/)

> [In the lead up to the Iraq war and its later conduct, I saw at a minimum, true dereliction, negligence and irresponsibility, at worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-zinni/in-the-lead-up-to-the-iraq-war-and-its-later-conduct-i-saw-at-a/)

[Anthony Zinni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-zinni/)

> [“Don't let cycles of violent crimes, uncontrollable, rising cases of bloody impunity, evil puppets in a crippled judiciary, marionettes in a corrupted legislative system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica-hopes/don-t-let-cycles-of-violent-crimes-uncontrollable-rising-cases-of/)

[Angelica Hopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelica-hopes/)

> [What greater weakness can there be than not to know what is the source of one's being, of one's life, of one's senses, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/what-greater-weakness-can-there-be-than-not-to-know-what-is-the/)

[Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/)

> [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/)

[Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/)

> [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/)

[Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/)

> [As you fight corruption, it fights back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yemi-osinbajo/as-you-fight-corruption-it-fights-back/)

[Yemi Osinbajo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yemi-osinbajo/)

> [Selfishness is one of the principal fruits of the corruption of human nature; and it is obvious that selfishness disposes us to over-rate our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/selfishness-is-one-of-the-principal-fruits-of-the-corruption-of-human/)

[William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/)

> [ Corruption could lead to the collapse of the Party \[Communist Party of China\] and the downfall of the state \[People's Republic of China\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xi-jinping/corruption-could-lead-to-the-collapse-of-the-party-communist-party-of/)

[Xi Jinping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xi-jinping/)

> [“Oh where is the noble face of modesty, or the strength of virtue, now that blasphemy is in power and men have put justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/oh-where-is-the-noble-face-of-modesty-or-the-strength-of-virtue-now/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [The victory of Hamas is not only based on the corruption of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has a vision and a program, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/the-victory-of-hamas-is-not-only-based-on-the-corruption-of-the/)

[Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/)

> [It looked incredibly credible!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-horlick/it-looked-incredibly-credible/)

Nicola Horlick

> [All power corrupts but some must govern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/all-power-corrupts-but-some-must-govern/)

[John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

[Browse all 2,253 Corruption quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Man needs to be Saved from his own Wisdom as much as from his own Righteousness, for they produce one and the same corruption. Nothing saves a man from his own righteousness, but that which delivers him from his own wisdom.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Law"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/man-needs-to-be-saved-from-his-own-wisdom-as-much-as-from-his-own/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Corruption"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/man-needs-to-be-saved-from-his-own-wisdom-as-much-as-from-his-own/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/william-law-8390_corruption_man-needs-to-be-saved-from-his-own-wisdo_304854.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/william-law-8390_corruption_man-needs-to-be-saved-from-his-own-wisdo_304854.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/william-law-8390_corruption_man-needs-to-be-saved-from-his-own-wisdo_304854.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Man needs to be Saved from his own Wisdom as much as from his own Righteousness, for they produce one and…” — William Law",
                "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": "William Law",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Man needs to be Saved from...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/man-needs-to-be-saved-from-his-own-wisdom-as-much-as-from-his-own/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/man-needs-to-be-saved-from-his-own-wisdom-as-much-as-from-his-own/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
