Contemplate Quote by Bernard of Clairvaux
“The more I contemplate God, the more God looks on me. The more I pray to him, the more he thinks of me too.”
About This Quote
Source Sermon or letter, 12th‑century monastic writing
Contemplating the divine deepens mutual awareness between believer and God
In simple terms: Thinking of God more makes Him think of you
Key Takeaway
Prayer builds a reciprocal relationship with the divine
Themes
faith
prayer
divine
relationship
Mood
contemplative
hopeful
Type
spiritual
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal devotion
- spiritual practice
- religious study
Key Concepts
theology
spiritual intimacy
mutual awareness
Questions to Reflect On
- How does reciprocal prayer affect your faith?
- Can divine awareness be felt without explicit contemplation?
A Different Perspective
The view assumes God’s personal attention, which may not align with all doctrines
![“[The lion] began to contemplate me with a kind of quiet premeditation, like that of a slow-witted man fondling an unaccustomed thought.” quote by Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ad2/beryl-markham-6709_contemplate_the-lion-began-to-contemplate-me-with-a_193009.jpg)
![“[When nature appears complicated:] The moment we contemplate it as it is, and attain a position from which we can take a commanding view, though but of a small part of its plan, we never fail to recognize that sublime simplicity on which the mind rests satisfied that it has attained the truth.” quote by John Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c0b/john-herschel-18983_complicated_when-nature-appears-complicated-the-mome_203650.jpg)
