Many readers are familiar with the spirit and the letter…
““Many readers are familiar with the spirit and the letter of the definition of “prayer,” as given by Ambrose Bierce in his Devil’s Dictionary. It runs like this, and is extremely easy to comprehend: Prayer: A petition that the laws of nature be suspended in favor of the petitioner; himself confessedly unworthy. Everybody can see the joke that is lodged within this entry: The man who prays is the one who thinks that god has arranged matters all wrong, but who also thinks that he can instruct god how to put them right. Half-buried in the contradiction is the distressing idea that nobody is in charge, or nobody with any moral authority. The call to prayer is self-cancelling.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Prayer is portrayed as a selfish request to suspend natural law, revealing the paradox of demanding divine intervention while claiming moral unworthiness.
In simple terms: Prayer is a selfish plea against nature, exposing a paradox.
Key Takeaway
Recognize humility over demanding control.
Themes
religion
paradox
humility
Mood
reflective
skeptical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- personal prayer
- public discourse
- spiritual counseling
Key Concepts
theology
ethical self‑reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever feel powerless yet still seek change?
- How does humility affect your expectations of higher powers?
A Different Perspective
The view assumes a theistic framework, limiting relevance to non‑theistic perspectives.