--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Surely the experience of all good men…" description: "\"Surely the experience of all good men confirms the proposition that without a due measure of private devotions the soul will grow lean.\" — William Wilb..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/william-wilberforce-8564_devotion_surely-the-experience-of-all-good-men-co_2155489.jpg" --- # Surely the experience of all good men confirms the… ![“Surely the experience of all good men confirms the proposition that without a due measure of private devotions the soul will grow lean.” quote by William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/william-wilberforce-8564_devotion_surely-the-experience-of-all-good-men-co_2155489.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/william-wilberforce-8564_devotion_surely-the-experience-of-all-good-men-co_2155489.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/william-wilberforce-8564_devotion_surely-the-experience-of-all-good-men-co_2155489.jpg) > “Surely the experience of all good men confirms the proposition that without a due measure of private devotions the soul will grow lean.” [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excessive neglect of personal devotion weakens moral character and spiritual health. **In simple terms:** Neglecting private devotion harms the soul. Key Takeaway Cultivate regular personal reflection. Themes morality spirituality discipline Mood reflective serious Type ethical spiritual When to use this quote - personal prayer - daily meditation - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts Christian ethics self‑care Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance private devotion with public duties? - What practices strengthen your inner life? A Different Perspective Spiritual growth also needs community support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Devotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotion/) [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Good men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-men/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) ## Related quotes > [I must secure more time for private devotions. I have been living far too public for me. 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Now, I mean, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/practicing-an-art-no-matter-how-well-or-badly-is-a-way-to-make-your/) [Kurt Vonnegut, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/) > [“We have to get over this notion, which many of us are taught early, that your soul is in your body. Because if your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-bucko/we-have-to-get-over-this-notion-which-many-of-us-are-taught-early/) [Adam Bucko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-bucko/) ## More by William Wilberforce > [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/) > [Let everyone regulate his conduct... by the golden rule of doing to others as in similar circumstances we would have them do to us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/let-everyone-regulate-his-conduct-by-the-golden-rule-of-doing-to/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [Surely the principles of Christianity lead to action as well as meditation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/surely-the-principles-of-christianity-lead-to-action-as-well-as/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [Some bolder spirits, indeed, might be expected to despise the cautious moderation of these timid reasoners, and to pronounce decisively, that the Bible was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/some-bolder-spirits-indeed-might-be-expected-to-despise-the-cautious/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [“God Almighty has set before me two Great Objects: the supression of the Slave Trade and the Reformation of Manners.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/god-almighty-has-set-before-me-two-great-objects-the-supression-of/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [The title of Christian is a reproach to us, if we estrange ourselves from Him after whom we are denominated. 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We all will give an accounting to God of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/life-as-we-know-it-with-all-its-ups-and-downs-will-soon-be-over-we/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [If there is no passionate love for Christ at the center of everything, we will only jingle and jangle our way across the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/if-there-is-no-passionate-love-for-christ-at-the-center-of-everything/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [Its guilt therefore in these cases, is not to be measure by its effects on the happiness of mankind; nor is it to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/its-guilt-therefore-in-these-cases-is-not-to-be-measure-by-its/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [It is the true duty of every man to promote the happiness of his fellow creatures to the utmost of his power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/it-is-the-true-duty-of-every-man-to-promote-the-happiness-of-his/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [When blessed with wealth, let them withdraw from the competition of vanity and be modest, retiring from ostentation, and not be the slaves of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/when-blessed-with-wealth-let-them-withdraw-from-the-competition-of/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [“Let him then, who would be indeed a Christian, watch over his ways and over his heart with unceasing circumspection. Let him endeavour to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/let-him-then-who-would-be-indeed-a-christian-watch-over-his-ways-and/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [Africa, your sufferings have been the theme that has arrested & engaged my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/africa-your-sufferings-have-been-the-theme-that-has-arrested-engaged/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [It must be conceded by those who admit the authority of Scripture (such only he is addressing) that from the decision of the word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/it-must-be-conceded-by-those-who-admit-the-authority-of-scripture/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) [Explore all 80 William Wilberforce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) ## More Devotion quotes > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Devotion required by the Gita is no soft-hearted effusiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/devotion-required-by-the-gita-is-no-soft-hearted-effusiveness/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [In freedom can be found many devotions: a devotion to love, a desire to believe, a willingness to be happy, a perseverance to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-freedom-can-be-found-many-devotions-a-devotion-to-love-a-desire-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can remember coming downstairs before school every day and my mom would be reading her Bible and doing her devotion and praying. Both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-fisher/i-can-remember-coming-downstairs-before-school-every-day-and-my-mom/) [Mike Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-fisher/) > [I have fallen in love with you my angel. I sought nothing of you but only to see that dazzling smile of yours once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-el-hallab/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-you-my-angel-i-sought-nothing-of-you-but/) [Mahmoud El Hallab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-el-hallab/) > [The discipline of daily devotion to God undergirds decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-louis-cole/the-discipline-of-daily-devotion-to-god-undergirds-decisions/) [Edwin Louis Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-louis-cole/) > [I’d never known it was possible to love as he did— with complete devotion yet devoid of promises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-aguirre/i-d-never-known-it-was-possible-to-love-as-he-did-with-complete/) [Ann Aguirre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-aguirre/) > [Every Holy Mass, heard with devotion, produces in our souls marvelous effects, abundant spiritual and material graces which we, ourselves, do not know...It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/every-holy-mass-heard-with-devotion-produces-in-our-souls-marvelous/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [Daily simple, sincere, and mighty prayers lift our lives to a higher spiritual altitude. In our prayers we praise God, give thanks to Him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/daily-simple-sincere-and-mighty-prayers-lift-our-lives-to-a-higher/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [True love is like religion. It is full of devotion and free of doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/true-love-is-like-religion-it-is-full-of-devotion-and-free-of-doubt/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [Never despise a drink because it is easy to make and/or uses commercial mixes. Unquestioning devotion to authenticity is, in any department of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/never-despise-a-drink-because-it-is-easy-to-make-and-or-uses/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [“It didn’t break the trance. 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They like to imagine tense conversations going on behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/the-general-public-have-a-warped-view-of-the-speed-at-which-an/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) [Browse all 1,481 Devotion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Surely the experience of all good men confirms the proposition that without a due measure of private devotions the soul will grow lean.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Wilberforce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/surely-the-experience-of-all-good-men-confirms-the-proposition-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Devotion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/surely-the-experience-of-all-good-men-confirms-the-proposition-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/william-wilberforce-8564_devotion_surely-the-experience-of-all-good-men-co_2155489.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/william-wilberforce-8564_devotion_surely-the-experience-of-all-good-men-co_2155489.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/william-wilberforce-8564_devotion_surely-the-experience-of-all-good-men-co_2155489.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Surely the experience of all good men confirms the proposition that without a due measure of private…” — William Wilberforce", "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 Wilberforce", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Surely the experience of all good...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/surely-the-experience-of-all-good-men-confirms-the-proposition-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/surely-the-experience-of-all-good-men-confirms-the-proposition-that/#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 } } ] } ```