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About this quote

What does it mean?
If your intentions are good, the external circumstances do not matter as much.
In plain terms
Good intentions matter more than details.
What can you take from it?
Focus on good intentions over details.

Where it applies

  • moral decisions
  • judging others
  • ethical dilemmas

Putting it to work

  • check your motives
  • look past superficial errors

Questions to consider

  • What matters more: intent or outcome?
  • How do you judge actions?

Another view

Good intentions do not always prevent harm.

More from Sir Walter Raleigh

  1. The world itself is but a larger prison, out of which some are daily selected for execution.

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  2. War begets quiet, quiet idleness, idleness disorder, disorder ruin; likewise ruin order, order virtue, virtue glory and good fortune.

    Permalink to quote #34
  3. Whoso desireth to govern well and securely, it behoveth him to have a vigilant eye to the proceedings of great princes, and to consider seriously of their desi…

    Permalink to quote #33

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