I don't know if I agree with the FIRST part of that progression. I don't think that thoughts have any moral weight, positive or negative. Only actions do.

Prayer, for instance, is an action, not a thought. The notion of kavanah is a notion of adding thought TO an action -- but I believe the action is still paramount. (That is, naturally, a statement on which reasonable people can disagree, both in general philosophy, and within halacha. But that's where I personally come down on it.)