--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Affliction teacheth a wicked person…" description: "\"Affliction teacheth a wicked person sometime to pray; prosperity never.\" — Ben Jonson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/ben-jonson-1371_affliction_affliction-teacheth-a-wicked-person-some_3047615.png" --- # Affliction teacheth a wicked person sometime to pray… ![“Affliction teacheth a wicked person sometime to pray; prosperity never.” quote by Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/ben-jonson-1371_affliction_affliction-teacheth-a-wicked-person-some_3047615.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/ben-jonson-1371_affliction_affliction-teacheth-a-wicked-person-some_3047615.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/ben-jonson-1371_affliction_affliction-teacheth-a-wicked-person-some_3047615.png) > “Affliction teacheth a wicked person sometime to pray; prosperity never.” [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A sinner learns that suffering can lead to prayer, while comfort may keep one from seeking higher help. **In simple terms:** Suffering can prompt prayer; comfort may block it. Key Takeaway Recognize hardship as a chance for spiritual reflection. Themes spirituality humility reflection Mood contemplative serene Type moral philosophical When to use this quote - personal crisis - religious contemplation - moral teaching Key Concepts sin prayer prosperity Questions to Reflect On - How does discomfort affect your spiritual practice? - Can prosperity coexist with humility? A Different Perspective Comfort can also inspire gratitude, not just neglect of prayer. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affliction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction/) [Affliction Teacheth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction-teacheth-5053813/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Pray Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray-prosperity-4595390/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) [Teacheth Wicked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacheth-wicked-5053814/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Wicked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wicked/) [Wicked person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wicked-person/) ## Related quotes > [“Prosperity is not a promise, it’s a covenant. You don’t pray to get prosperity, you give to get it. Prosperity is not measured by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mcwilton-chikwenengere/prosperity-is-not-a-promise-it-s-a-covenant-you-don-t-pray-to-get/) [McWilton Chikwenengere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mcwilton-chikwenengere/) > [I have never met any really wicked person before. I feel rather frightened. I am so afraid he will look just like every one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-have-never-met-any-really-wicked-person-before-i-feel-rather/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The law cannot make a wicked person virtuous…God’s grace alone can accomplish such a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/the-law-cannot-make-a-wicked-person-virtuous-god-s-grace-alone-can/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Judas Iscariot was not a greatly wicked person, just a common money-lover, and like most money-lovers, he did not understand Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/judas-iscariot-was-not-a-greatly-wicked-person-just-a-common-money/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Heaven would be a very hell to a wicked person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berg/heaven-would-be-a-very-hell-to-a-wicked-person/) [David Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berg/) > [ “\[The\] insistence on the absolutely indiscriminate nature of compassion within the Kingdom is the dominant perspective of almost all of Jesus' teaching. What is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-insistence-on-the-absolutely-indiscriminate-nature-of-compassion/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [A wicked person, swayed by evil motives and evil actions, is described as a demon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/a-wicked-person-swayed-by-evil-motives-and-evil-actions-is-described/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [“Indigenous people have been tracking the same 'psychic virus' for many centuries, calling it 'wetiko' in Cree (windigo in Ojibwa, wintiko in Powhatan), a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-levy/indigenous-people-have-been-tracking-the-same-psychic-virus-for-many/) [Paul Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-levy/) > [SHERIFF, n. In America the chief executive office of a country, whose most characteristic duties, in some of the Western and Southern States, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/sheriff-n-in-america-the-chief-executive-office-of-a-country-whose/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“Her friend who treated her maid badly was not a wicked person. She behaved well towards her family and she had always been kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/her-friend-who-treated-her-maid-badly-was-not-a-wicked-person-she/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“a spider and a fly i heard a spider and a fly arguing wait said the fly do not eat me i serve a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-marquis/a-spider-and-a-fly-i-heard-a-spider-and-a-fly-arguing-wait-said-the/) [Don Marquis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-marquis/) > [“Why does God not declare himself as the God of Adam? For we know that Abraham sinned even as Adam did. Why then did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/why-does-god-not-declare-himself-as-the-god-of-adam-for-we-know-that/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverbs-17-4/a-wicked-person-listens-to-deceitful-lips-a-liar-pays-attention-to-a/) [Proverbs 17:4](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverbs-17-4/) > [“Whoever started the rumor that life has to be perfect is a very wicked person, if you ask me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/whoever-started-the-rumor-that-life-has-to-be-perfect-is-a-very/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [I don't feel insecure about any of this work anymore. Maybe I don't have what I had when I was younger. I'm not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-feel-insecure-about-any-of-this-work-anymore-maybe-i-don-t/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) ## More by Ben Jonson > [Soul of the Age! The applause! delight! the wonder of our stage! My Shakespeare, rise; I will not lodge thee by Chaucer, or Spenser,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/soul-of-the-age-the-applause-delight-the-wonder-of-our-stage-my/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Ambition, like a torrent, never looks back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/ambition-like-a-torrent-never-looks-back/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Heaven prepares good men with crosses; but no ill can happen to a good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/heaven-prepares-good-men-with-crosses-but-no-ill-can-happen-to-a-good/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [The dignity of truth is lost with much protesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/the-dignity-of-truth-is-lost-with-much-protesting/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [True melancholy breeds your perfect fine wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/true-melancholy-breeds-your-perfect-fine-wit/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Leave a kiss but in the cup, and I'll not look for wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/leave-a-kiss-but-in-the-cup-and-i-ll-not-look-for-wine/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [All discourses but my own afflict me; they seem harsh, impertinent, and irksome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/all-discourses-but-my-own-afflict-me-they-seem-harsh-impertinent-and/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [“drink to the cause, and pure vapours”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/drink-to-the-cause-and-pure-vapours/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Spread yourself upon his bosom publicly, whose heart you would eat in private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/spread-yourself-upon-his-bosom-publicly-whose-heart-you-would-eat-in/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [That old bald cheater, Time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/that-old-bald-cheater-time/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Rich apparel has strange virtues; it makes him that hath it without means esteemed for an excellent wit; he that enjoys it with means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/rich-apparel-has-strange-virtues-it-makes-him-that-hath-it-without/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Each petty hand Can steer a ship becalm'd; but he that will Govern and carry her to her ends, must know His tides, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/each-petty-hand-can-steer-a-ship-becalm-d-but-he-that-will-govern-and/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [The way to rise is to obey and please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/the-way-to-rise-is-to-obey-and-please/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [The covetous man never has money. The prodigal will have none shortly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/the-covetous-man-never-has-money-the-prodigal-will-have-none-shortly/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Fortune, that favors fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/fortune-that-favors-fools/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) [Explore all 249 Ben Jonson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) ## More Affliction quotes > [I don't feel insecure about any of this work anymore. Maybe I don't have what I had when I was younger. I'm not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-feel-insecure-about-any-of-this-work-anymore-maybe-i-don-t/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [Every man will have his own criterion in forming his judgment of others. I depend very much on the effect of affliction. I consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/every-man-will-have-his-own-criterion-in-forming-his-judgment-of/) [Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There is nothing in afflictions which ought to disturb our joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/there-is-nothing-in-afflictions-which-ought-to-disturb-our-joy/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Come, then, affliction, if my Father wills, and be my frowning friend. A friend that frowns is better than a smiling enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/come-then-affliction-if-my-father-wills-and-be-my-frowning-friend-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Henceforth, I'll bear Affliction till it do cry out itself, 'Enough, enough, and die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/henceforth-i-ll-bear-affliction-till-it-do-cry-out-itself-enough/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [New materials are one of the great afflictions of contemporary art. Some artists confuse new materials with new ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-lewitt/new-materials-are-one-of-the-great-afflictions-of-contemporary-art/) [Sol LeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-lewitt/) > [Aimee Parkison offers a distinct new voice to contemporary fiction. Her seductive stories explore childhood as a realm of sorrows, and reveal the afflictions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-anshaw/aimee-parkison-offers-a-distinct-new-voice-to-contemporary-fiction/) [Carol Anshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-anshaw/) > [May I strike my heart's keys clearly, and may none fail because of slack, uncertain, or fraying strings. May the tears that stream down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/may-i-strike-my-heart-s-keys-clearly-and-may-none-fail-because-of/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [We are infinitely more than our limitations and afflictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/we-are-infinitely-more-than-our-limitations-and-afflictions/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [God measures out affliction to our need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/god-measures-out-affliction-to-our-need/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Afflictions make the heart more deep, more experimental, more knowing and profound, and so, more able to hold, to contain, and beat more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/afflictions-make-the-heart-more-deep-more-experimental-more-knowing/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Religion prescribes to every miserable man the means of bettering his condition; nay, it shows him that the bearing of his afflictions as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/religion-prescribes-to-every-miserable-man-the-means-of-bettering-his/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Short-term amnesia is not the worst affliction if you have an Irish flair for the sauce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/short-term-amnesia-is-not-the-worst-affliction-if-you-have-an-irish/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Revolution will free society of its afflictions, while science will free the individual of his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/revolution-will-free-society-of-its-afflictions-while-science-will/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) [Browse all 598 Affliction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Affliction teacheth a wicked person sometime to pray; prosperity never.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Jonson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/affliction-teacheth-a-wicked-person-sometime-to-pray-prosperity-never/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affliction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/affliction-teacheth-a-wicked-person-sometime-to-pray-prosperity-never/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/ben-jonson-1371_affliction_affliction-teacheth-a-wicked-person-some_3047615.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/ben-jonson-1371_affliction_affliction-teacheth-a-wicked-person-some_3047615.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/ben-jonson-1371_affliction_affliction-teacheth-a-wicked-person-some_3047615.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Affliction teacheth a wicked person sometime to pray; prosperity never.” — Ben Jonson", "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": "Ben Jonson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Affliction teacheth a wicked person sometime...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/affliction-teacheth-a-wicked-person-sometime-to-pray-prosperity-never/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/affliction-teacheth-a-wicked-person-sometime-to-pray-prosperity-never/#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 } } ] } ```