--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do a great wrong in His sight, when I…" description: "\"I do a great wrong in His sight, when I beseech Him that He will hear my prayer, which as I give utterance to it, I do not hear myself. I entreat Him t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/bernard-of-clairvaux-3845_evil_i-do-a-great-wrong-in-his-sight-when-i-b_2869181.jpg" --- # I do a great wrong in His sight, when I beseech Him that… ![“I do a great wrong in His sight, when I beseech Him that He will hear my prayer, which as I give utterance to it, I do not hear myself. I entreat Him that He will think of me; but I regard neither myself nor Him. Nay, what is worse, turning over corrupt and evil thoughts in mine heart, I thrust a…” quote by Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/bernard-of-clairvaux-3845_evil_i-do-a-great-wrong-in-his-sight-when-i-b_2869181.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/bernard-of-clairvaux-3845_evil_i-do-a-great-wrong-in-his-sight-when-i-b_2869181.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/bernard-of-clairvaux-3845_evil_i-do-a-great-wrong-in-his-sight-when-i-b_2869181.jpg) > “I do a great wrong in His sight, when I beseech Him that He will hear my prayer, which as I give utterance to it, I do not hear myself. I entreat Him that He will think of me; but I regard neither myself nor Him. Nay, what is worse, turning over corrupt and evil thoughts in mine heart, I thrust a dreadful offensiveness into His presence.” [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑centered prayer neglects true humility, turning worship into a self‑serving act rather than communion with the divine. **In simple terms:** Prayer should be humble, not self‑focused. Key Takeaway Seek humility in prayer. Themes spirituality humility prayer self‑reflection faith Mood reflective somber Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal meditation - confessional writing - spiritual counseling Key Concepts self‑absorption ego inner conflict Questions to Reflect On - How can you shift focus from self to divine? - What practices foster true humility? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on personal desire can alienate divine presence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-thoughts/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [It is God's will not only to hear our prayer, but to give us the best and the richest answer which He, the almighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/it-is-god-s-will-not-only-to-hear-our-prayer-but-to-give-us-the-best/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [“Some persons, when they hear of the prayer of silence, falsely imagine that the soul remains stupid, dead, and inactive. But unquestionably, it acteth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madame-guyon/some-persons-when-they-hear-of-the-prayer-of-silence-falsely-imagine/) [Madame Guyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madame-guyon/) > [Father We Come To You Wholeheartedly And I Ask That You Hear Our Prayer And You Give Her The Heart And The Mercy To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/father-we-come-to-you-wholeheartedly-and-i-ask-that-you-hear-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hear my prayer, o Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/hear-my-prayer-o-lord-and-give-ear-unto-my-cry-hold-not-thy-peace-at/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [Hear my prayer, o Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. 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(Psalms 84:8)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/o-lord-god-of-hosts-hear-my-prayer-give-ear-o-god-of-jacob-psalms-84-8/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [TRUE love is sharing both joyous and despairing moments. It is having each other in thoughts and in heart even physically far from each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-love-is-sharing-both-joyous-and-despairing-moments-it-is-having/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Bernard of Clairvaux > [Slander is a poison which kills charity, both in the slanderer and the one who listens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/slander-is-a-poison-which-kills-charity-both-in-the-slanderer-and-the/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [If anyone makes himself his own master in the spiritual life, he makes himself scholar to a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/if-anyone-makes-himself-his-own-master-in-the-spiritual-life-he-makes/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [“To shame our sins He blushed in blood; He closed His eyes to show us God; Let all the world fall down and know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/to-shame-our-sins-he-blushed-in-blood-he-closed-his-eyes-to-show-us/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [I know by myself how incomprehensible God is, seeing I cannot comprehend the parts of my own being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/i-know-by-myself-how-incomprehensible-god-is-seeing-i-cannot/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [The tears of those repenting are the wine of angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/the-tears-of-those-repenting-are-the-wine-of-angels/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [The Christian glories in the death of a pagan, because thereby Christ himself is glorified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/the-christian-glories-in-the-death-of-a-pagan-because-thereby-christ/) [Bernard Of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [Let us then cast ourselves at the feet of this good Mother, and embracing them let us not depart until she blesses us, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/let-us-then-cast-ourselves-at-the-feet-of-this-good-mother-and/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [We are to love God for Himself, because of a twofold reason; nothing is more reasonable, nothing more profitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/we-are-to-love-god-for-himself-because-of-a-twofold-reason-nothing-is/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [Who loves me will love my dog also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/who-loves-me-will-love-my-dog-also/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [Ingratitude is the soul's enemy... Ingratitude is a burning wind that dries up the source of love, the dew of mercy, the streams of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/ingratitude-is-the-soul-s-enemy-ingratitude-is-a-burning-wind-that/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [Many appear full of mildness and sweetness as long as everything goes their own way; but the moment any contradiction or adversity arises, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/many-appear-full-of-mildness-and-sweetness-as-long-as-everything-goes/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [To serve Mary is a mark of eternal salvation to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/to-serve-mary-is-a-mark-of-eternal-salvation-to-come/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [Inordinate love for the flesh is cruelty, because under the appearance of pleasing the body, we kill the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/inordinate-love-for-the-flesh-is-cruelty-because-under-the-appearance/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [What I know of the divine sciences and Holy Scriptures, I learned in woods and fields. 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To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/i-do-conscientiously-and-sincerely-believe-that-the-order-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-done-out-of-love-always-takes-place-beyond-good-and-evil/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to \[be\] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be-evil-has-to-be-confronted-and/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [The evil which does me no harm is like the good which in no wise avails me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/the-evil-which-does-me-no-harm-is-like-the-good-which-in-no-wise/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. 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