--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well look, I mean, I think that prayer…" description: "\"Well look, I mean, I think that prayer and holy water, and things like that are all fine. They don't do any good, but they don't necessarily do any har..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/christopher-hitchens-117_dessert_well-look-i-mean-i-think-that-prayer-and_230646.jpg" --- # Well look, I mean, I think that prayer and holy water, and… ![“Well look, I mean, I think that prayer and holy water, and things like that are all fine. They don't do any good, but they don't necessarily do any harm. It's touching to be thought of in that way. It makes up for those who tell me that I've got my just desserts.” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/christopher-hitchens-117_dessert_well-look-i-mean-i-think-that-prayer-and_230646.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/christopher-hitchens-117_dessert_well-look-i-mean-i-think-that-prayer-and_230646.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/christopher-hitchens-117_dessert_well-look-i-mean-i-think-that-prayer-and_230646.jpg) > “Well look, I mean, I think that prayer and holy water, and things like that are all fine. They don't do any good, but they don't necessarily do any harm. It's touching to be thought of in that way. It makes up for those who tell me that I've got my just desserts.” [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prayer and holy water may be comforting rituals, but they lack tangible effect; they are neutral symbols rather than solutions. **In simple terms:** Rituals feel good but don’t solve problems. Key Takeaway Recognize comfort without expecting results. Themes faith rituals skepticism comfort meaning Mood reflective skeptical Type philosophical critical. When to use this quote - personal coping - counseling - community gatherings - stress relief Key Concepts symbolism psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - Do you rely on rituals for comfort? - How might you replace them with effective actions? A Different Perspective They can reinforce false expectations or discourage proactive action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Holy water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-water/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Touching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touching/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [When men are just desserts - that is, when a man is an enhancement to the already complete and satisfying life of a woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-friedman/when-men-are-just-desserts-that-is-when-a-man-is-an-enhancement-to/) [Sonia Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-friedman/) > [What the Church needs to-day is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-the-church-needs-to-day-is-not-more-machinery-or-better-not-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Prayer is not what is done by us, but rather what is done by the Holy Spirit in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/prayer-is-not-what-is-done-by-us-but-rather-what-is-done-by-the-holy/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [When you say a prayer, He (The Holy Spirit) is in every word of it, and like a Holy Fire, penetrates each word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/when-you-say-a-prayer-he-the-holy-spirit-is-in-every-word-of-it-and/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [When the only thing you look forward to in life is lunch, you know you have had your just desserts, and it is time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hopkins/when-the-only-thing-you-look-forward-to-in-life-is-lunch-you-know-you/) [Katie Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hopkins/) > [“There's a fine line between deserving and just desserts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/there-s-a-fine-line-between-deserving-and-just-desserts/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [Welcome to the Karma Cafe where just desserts are being served.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-s/welcome-to-the-karma-cafe-where-just-desserts-are-being-served/) [Laura S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-s/) > [Stressed is just desserts if you can reverse it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stressed-is-just-desserts-if-you-can-reverse-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [O my Savior...teach me to pray; implant in me all the dispositions needful for the prayer of the Holy Spirit…Of what use is my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-grou/o-my-savior-teach-me-to-pray-implant-in-me-all-the-dispositions/) Jean Grou > [Prayer and a holy life are one. They mutually act and react. Neither can survive alone. The absence of the one is the absence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/prayer-and-a-holy-life-are-one-they-mutually-act-and-react-neither/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [“After all, a love of art is a fine thing for a young boy, but art is long—and life can be pretty damned long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-price/after-all-a-love-of-art-is-a-fine-thing-for-a-young-boy-but-art-is/) [Vincent Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-price/) > [“in prayer. The Holy Spirit teaches, inspires, and illumines God’s Word to us. He mediates the Word of God and assists us in responding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/in-prayer-the-holy-spirit-teaches-inspires-and-illumines-god-s-word/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [Everything you say or allow into your eyes or ears becomes data that is stored in your heart. That data is later replayed during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/everything-you-say-or-allow-into-your-eyes-or-ears-becomes-data-that/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [Some people think prayer stops bullets or rockets or land mines. It doesn't. That's magic, that's not God. Sometimes, you're just in the wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/some-people-think-prayer-stops-bullets-or-rockets-or-land-mines-it/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [“Think of prayer as a fundamental exercise we use to build core spiritual strength. Like exercise for our bodies, it has to be consistent—every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-h-pearce/think-of-prayer-as-a-fundamental-exercise-we-use-to-build-core/) [Virginia H. Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-h-pearce/) ## More by Christopher Hitchens > [“The spirit of our accurate and exact philosophy is outraged by conclusions that contradict each other so glaringly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-spirit-of-our-accurate-and-exact-philosophy-is-outraged-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Many governments employ torture but this was the first time that the element of Saturnalia and pornography in the process had been made so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/many-governments-employ-torture-but-this-was-the-first-time-that-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ It's \[Los Angeles\] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense-and-delusion-and-egomania/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [To be against rationalization is not the same as to be opposed to reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/to-be-against-rationalization-is-not-the-same-as-to-be-opposed-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ \[Religion\] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integrity-the-core-of-our-self/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“In the very recent past, we have seen the Church of Rome befouled by its complicity with the unpardonable sin of child rape, or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/in-the-very-recent-past-we-have-seen-the-church-of-rome-befouled-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's surprising to me how many of my friends send Christmas cards, or holiday cards, including my atheist and secular friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-surprising-to-me-how-many-of-my-friends-send-christmas-cards-or/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Suppose there were groups of secularists at hospitals who went round the terminally ill and urged them to adopt atheism: 'Don't be a mug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/suppose-there-were-groups-of-secularists-at-hospitals-who-went-round/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [There are, after all, atheists who say they wish the fable were true but are unable to suspend the requisite disbelief, or who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/there-are-after-all-atheists-who-say-they-wish-the-fable-were-true/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“It isn’t so long since a test of Anglican orthodoxy was applied to anyone seeking to study or teach at Oxford and Cambridge universities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-isn-t-so-long-since-a-test-of-anglican-orthodoxy-was-applied-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Gullibility and credulity are considered undesireable qualities in every department of human life - except religion ... Why are we praised by godly men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/gullibility-and-credulity-are-considered-undesireable-qualities-in/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's much worse to see a woman drunk than a man: I don't know quite why this is true but it just is. 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May you wake up... and start dancing while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/may-you-eat-an-unfamiliar-dessert-in-a-strange-land-at-least-once/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [It's a floor cleaner and a dessert topping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-curtin/it-s-a-floor-cleaner-and-a-dessert-topping/) [Jane Curtin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-curtin/) > [I don't think I've ever seen pie advertised. That's how you know it's good. They advertise ice cream and other desserts. They advertise the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-carolla/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-seen-pie-advertised-that-s-how-you-know-it-s/) [Adam Carolla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-carolla/) > [I am not allowed to fall in love again but then why I see spring around me even in dessert when I am with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-not-allowed-to-fall-in-love-again-but-then-why-i-see-spring/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you take added sugar out of your diet, when you have fruit for dessert it is going to taste fantastic!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-david/if-you-take-added-sugar-out-of-your-diet-when-you-have-fruit-for/) [Laurie David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-david/) > [We must have a pie. Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/we-must-have-a-pie-stress-cannot-exist-in-the-presence-of-a-pie/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [The friendly cow, all red and white, I love with all my heart; She gives me cream with all her might, To eat with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/the-friendly-cow-all-red-and-white-i-love-with-all-my-heart-she-gives/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [My whole thing is simple, well-balanced meals. I have to say, though, that I really like dessert. 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