--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man offers himself to God. He stands…" description: "\"Man offers himself to God. He stands before Him like the canvas before the painter or the marble before the sculptor. At the same time he asks for His ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ab/alexis-carrel-9758_asks_man-offers-himself-to-god-he-stands-befo_90812.png" --- # Man offers himself to God. He stands before Him like the… ![“Man offers himself to God. He stands before Him like the canvas before the painter or the marble before the sculptor. At the same time he asks for His grace, expresses his needs and those of his brothers in suffering. Such a type of prayer demands complete renovation. The modest, the ignorant, and…” quote by Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ab/alexis-carrel-9758_asks_man-offers-himself-to-god-he-stands-befo_90812.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ab/alexis-carrel-9758_asks_man-offers-himself-to-god-he-stands-befo_90812.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ab/alexis-carrel-9758_asks_man-offers-himself-to-god-he-stands-befo_90812.png) > “Man offers himself to God. He stands before Him like the canvas before the painter or the marble before the sculptor. At the same time he asks for His grace, expresses his needs and those of his brothers in suffering. Such a type of prayer demands complete renovation. The modest, the ignorant, and the poor are more capable of this self-denial than the rich and the intellectual.” [Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) ## 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 presented as a humble offering of self, seeking divine grace while acknowledging communal suffering, implying a transformative surrender that transcends status. **In simple terms:** Prayer as self‑surrender for communal grace. Key Takeaway Humility opens spiritual renewal. Themes spirituality humility suffering renovation social equality Mood reverent hopeful reflective Type philosophical spiritual reflective When to use this quote - personal prayer - community support - seeking guidance - reflecting on privilege - contemplating suffering Key Concepts self‑offering grace renovation inequality Practical Applications - spiritual counseling - social‑justice advocacy Questions to Reflect On - How does humility affect one's capacity for prayer? - What role does communal suffering play in personal transformation? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Canvas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Denial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denial/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Modesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modesty/) [Nature of Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-beauty/) [Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painter/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Renovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/renovation/) [Sculptors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sculptors/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self denial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-denial/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [The lazy man does not, will not, cannot pray, for prayer demands energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/the-lazy-man-does-not-will-not-cannot-pray-for-prayer-demands-energy/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [When I am commanded to love, I am commanded to restore community, to resist injustice, and to meet the needs of my brothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/when-i-am-commanded-to-love-i-am-commanded-to-restore-community-to/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“I said a silent prayer. Actually, silent is probably the only type of prayer a guy should attempt when his head's in a toilet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-smith/i-said-a-silent-prayer-actually-silent-is-probably-the-only-type-of/) [Andrew Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-smith/) > [“God's favorite type of prayer is action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/god-s-favorite-type-of-prayer-is-action/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus offers more than God's personal email or private cell number - He offers us a heart transplant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hart/in-the-lord-s-prayer-jesus-offers-more-than-god-s-personal-email-or/) [Mark Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hart/) > [He who offers God a second place offers Him no place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/he-who-offers-god-a-second-place-offers-him-no-place/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [God will put up with a great many things in the human heart, but there is one thing that He will not put up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/god-will-put-up-with-a-great-many-things-in-the-human-heart-but-there/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Jesus offers himself as God's doorway into the life that is truly life. Confidence in him leads us today, as in other times, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/jesus-offers-himself-as-god-s-doorway-into-the-life-that-is-truly-2/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The two chief things are faith and love. Faith receives the good; love gives the good. Faith offers us God as our own; love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-two-chief-things-are-faith-and-love-faith-receives-the-good-love/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [But the images of men's wits and knowledges remain in books, exempted from the wrong of time, and capable of perpetual renovation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/but-the-images-of-men-s-wits-and-knowledges-remain-in-books-exempted/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Sorry my heart is closed for Renovation please be back After the damage has been repaired..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keren-zhims/sorry-my-heart-is-closed-for-renovation-please-be-back-after-the/) [Keren Zhims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keren-zhims/) > [One life is but a single act. One body - a garment. One century - a day. One task - an experience. One triumph…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-luiz-moreira/one-life-is-but-a-single-act-one-body-a-garment-one-century-a-day-one/) [Andre Luiz Moreira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-luiz-moreira/) > [I tell people marriage is a compromise, and so are renovations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candice-olson/i-tell-people-marriage-is-a-compromise-and-so-are-renovations/) [Candice Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candice-olson/) > [I've always been interested in DIY and home renovation - even from my first student flat. I've always left places better than when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-mclean/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-diy-and-home-renovation-even-from-my/) [Andrea McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-mclean/) > [By the disposition of a stupendous wisdom, moulding together the great mysterious incorporation of the human race, the whole, at one time, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/by-the-disposition-of-a-stupendous-wisdom-moulding-together-the-great/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) ## More by Alexis Carrel > [One must train oneself, by small and frequent efforts, to dominate one's feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-carrel/one-must-train-oneself-by-small-and-frequent-efforts-to-dominate-one/) [Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) > [Science has to be understood in its broadest sense, as a method for apprehending all observable reality, and not merely as an instrument for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-carrel/science-has-to-be-understood-in-its-broadest-sense-as-a-method-for/) [Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) > [As to virtue . . . it is an act of the will, a habit which increases the quantity, intensity and quality of life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-carrel/as-to-virtue-it-is-an-act-of-the-will-a-habit-which-increases-the/) [Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) > [All of us, at certain moments of our lives, need to take advice and to receive help from other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-carrel/all-of-us-at-certain-moments-of-our-lives-need-to-take-advice-and-to/) [Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) > [Logic never attracts men to the point of carrying them away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-carrel/logic-never-attracts-men-to-the-point-of-carrying-them-away/) [Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) > [“Happiness depends on one being exactly fitted to the nature of one's work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-carrel/happiness-depends-on-one-being-exactly-fitted-to-the-nature-of-one-s/) [Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) > [The Asiatics and the Africans, such as the Russians, the Arabs, the Hindus, are increasing with marked rapidity. Never have the European races been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-carrel/the-asiatics-and-the-africans-such-as-the-russians-the-arabs-the/) [Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) > [Religion brings to man an inner strength, spiritual light, and ineffable peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-carrel/religion-brings-to-man-an-inner-strength-spiritual-light-and/) [Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) > [Prayer, like radium, is a luminous and self-generating form of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-carrel/prayer-like-radium-is-a-luminous-and-self-generating-form-of-energy/) [Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) > [The difficulty of finding organs suitable for transplantation on man must be met.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-carrel/the-difficulty-of-finding-organs-suitable-for-transplantation-on-man/) [Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) > [...in recognition of his work on vascular suture and the transplantation of blood-vessels and organs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-carrel/in-recognition-of-his-work-on-vascular-suture-and-the-transplantation/) [Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) > [To what extent is any given man morally responsible for any given act? We do not know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-carrel/to-what-extent-is-any-given-man-morally-responsible-for-any-given-act/) [Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) > [ The best way of increasing the \[average\] intelligence of scientists would be to reduce their number. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-carrel/the-best-way-of-increasing-the-average-intelligence-of-scientists/) [Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) > [Intuition comes very close to clairvoyance; it appears to be the extrasensory perception of reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-carrel/intuition-comes-very-close-to-clairvoyance-it-appears-to-be-the/) [Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) > [Only in prayer do we achieve that complete and harmonious assembly of body, mind, and spirit which gives the frail human reed its unshakable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-carrel/only-in-prayer-do-we-achieve-that-complete-and-harmonious-assembly-of/) [Alexis Carrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) [Explore all 69 Alexis Carrel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-carrel/) ## More Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. 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It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Man offers himself to God. He stands before Him like the canvas before the painter or the marble before the sculptor. At the same time he asks for His grace, expresses his needs and those of his brothers in suffering. Such a type of prayer demands complete renovation. 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