--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I prayed all the way up that hill…" description: "\"I prayed all the way up that hill yesterday, he said softly. Not for you to stay; I didna think that would be right. I prayed I'd be strong enough to s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/diana-gabaldon-185_be-brave_i-prayed-all-the-way-up-that-hill-yester_2229669.jpg" --- # I prayed all the way up that hill yesterday, he said… ![“I prayed all the way up that hill yesterday, he said softly. Not for you to stay; I didna think that would be right. I prayed I'd be strong enough to send ye away. He shook his head, still gazing up the hill, a faraway look in his eyes. I said 'Lord, if I've never had courage in my life before…” quote by Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/diana-gabaldon-185_be-brave_i-prayed-all-the-way-up-that-hill-yester_2229669.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/diana-gabaldon-185_be-brave_i-prayed-all-the-way-up-that-hill-yester_2229669.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/diana-gabaldon-185_be-brave_i-prayed-all-the-way-up-that-hill-yester_2229669.jpg) > “I prayed all the way up that hill yesterday, he said softly. Not for you to stay; I didna think that would be right. I prayed I'd be strong enough to send ye away. He shook his head, still gazing up the hill, a faraway look in his eyes. I said 'Lord, if I've never had courage in my life before, let me have it now. Let me be brave enough not to fall on my knees and beg her to stay.' He pulled his eyes away from the cottage and smiled briefly at me. Hardest thing I ever did, Sassenach.” [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character seeks divine courage to confront a painful decision, pleading for bravery rather than pleading for a loved one's presence. **In simple terms:** Asking for strength to act, not to beg. Key Takeaway Seek inner courage before pleading. Themes courage faith conflict love decision Mood reflective determined hopeful Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - facing a breakup - making a tough moral choice - standing up to a loved one - seeking divine help Key Concepts spirituality personal growth inner conflict Questions to Reflect On - What does true bravery look like for you? - How can you act without relying on external validation? A Different Perspective Reliance on prayer may not guarantee the desired outcome; personal agency is still required. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-brave/) [Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) [Cottages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cottages/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Gazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gazing/) [Hardest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardest/) [Hardest thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardest-thing/) [Hills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hills/) [His eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his-eyes/) [Knees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knees/) [Let me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-me/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Prayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayed/) [Prayed Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayed-strong-2516618/) [Prayed Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayed-way-3060136/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-lord/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Strong enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-enough/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) [Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday/) ## Related quotes > [“I prayed all the way up that hill yesterday,” he said softly. “Not for you to stay; I didna think that would be right.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-prayed-all-the-way-up-that-hill-yesterday-he-said-softly-not-for-2/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“by our prayer, by the hours of work we offered up for other people, the hopeful conversations we had with our friends, the hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-fernandez/by-our-prayer-by-the-hours-of-work-we-offered-up-for-other-people-the/) [Francis Fernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-fernandez/) > [If he isn't treating you right he isn't the man that God has planned for you or the man that you've prayed for. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/if-he-isn-t-treating-you-right-he-isn-t-the-man-that-god-has-planned/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [“To have ye with me again--to talk wi' you--to know I can say anything, not guard my words or hide my thoughts--God, Sassenach," he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/to-have-ye-with-me-again-to-talk-wi-you-to-know-i-can-say-anything/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I wasn't used to living crowded cheek by jowl with numbers of other people, as was customary here. People ate, slept, and frequently copulated,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-wasn-t-used-to-living-crowded-cheek-by-jowl-with-numbers-of-other/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“My good sir, is she your daughter then?' 'Yes, but don't pay any attention to what she says,' said the lord. 'She's a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chr-tien-de-troyes/my-good-sir-is-she-your-daughter-then-yes-but-don-t-pay-any-attention/) [Chrétien de Troyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chr-tien-de-troyes/) > [“Daddy-by Nancy B. Brewer When I used to say, speak up you are as good as they, You would just smile and say, let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-b-brewer/daddy-by-nancy-b-brewer-when-i-used-to-say-speak-up-you-are-as-good/) [Nancy B. Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-b-brewer/) > [For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways,my ways,said the Lord,so that not all our wants it God's want too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariane-corbito/for-my-thoughts-are-not-your-thoughts-neither-are-your-ways-my-ways/) [Mariane Corbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariane-corbito/) > [“Good-bye, my lord," he said, meaning it this time. Because that smell would always be there now. Because it would be the last time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/good-bye-my-lord-he-said-meaning-it-this-time-because-that-smell/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“What’s up?’ he said. ‘Lord help us, sir, there’s something horrible buried under the flagstones.’ For”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edmondson/what-s-up-he-said-lord-help-us-sir-there-s-something-horrible-buried/) [Elizabeth Edmondson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edmondson/) > [“She bowed her head and said, "Lord of hosts, please stand with us against this darkness." The quiet, bedrock-deep energy of true faith brushed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/she-bowed-her-head-and-said-lord-of-hosts-please-stand-with-us/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“EXCELLENT, BUNTER,” SAID LORD Peter, sinking with a sigh into a luxurious armchair. “I couldn’t have done better myself. The thought of the Dante…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/excellent-bunter-said-lord-peter-sinking-with-a-sigh-into-a-luxurious/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [He said when the Lord made people He made them all the same for starters. But life marks people. If you know the way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/he-said-when-the-lord-made-people-he-made-them-all-the-same-for/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [He said: My Lord! surely my bones are weakened and my head flares with hoariness, and, my Lord! I have never been unsuccessful in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quran/he-said-my-lord-surely-my-bones-are-weakened-and-my-head-flares-with/) [Quran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quran/) > [Adam, who said to our Lord in the Garden of Eden, I got more ribs - you got more broads? Never got a dinner!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-buttons/adam-who-said-to-our-lord-in-the-garden-of-eden-i-got-more-ribs-you/) [Red Buttons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-buttons/) ## More by Diana Gabaldon > [Alright, all right," I said. "What if I tell you a story, instead?" Highlanders loved stories, and Jamie was no exception. "Oh, aye, "…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/alright-all-right-i-said-what-if-i-tell-you-a-story-instead/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [There were moments, of course. Those small spaces in time, too soon gone, when everything seems to stand still, and existence is balanced on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/there-were-moments-of-course-those-small-spaces-in-time-too-soon-gone/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [When I turned 35, I thought, 'Mozart was dead at 36, so I set the bar: I'm going to start writing a book on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-i-turned-35-i-thought-mozart-was-dead-at-36-so-i-set-the-bar-i-m/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I stagger out of bed, take the dogs outside, and then I'll get a Diet Coke and a couple of dog biscuits and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-stagger-out-of-bed-take-the-dogs-outside-and-then-i-ll-get-a-diet/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“It was…hard. I didna call out, or let them see I was scairt, but I couldna keep my feet. Halfway through it, I fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/it-was-hard-i-didna-call-out-or-let-them-see-i-was-scairt-but-i/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I have all the time and space in the world when I write a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-have-all-the-time-and-space-in-the-world-when-i-write-a-book/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I discovered that, given the indescribable nature of what I write, the only way to sell it is to give people free samples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-discovered-that-given-the-indescribable-nature-of-what-i-write-the/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“We are bound,you and I, and nothing on this earth shall part me from you."One large hand rose to stroke my hair. "D'ye mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/we-are-bound-you-and-i-and-nothing-on-this-earth-shall-part-me-from/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I think characters are going to be, if not a reflection of the author, at least some refraction of some part of their personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-think-characters-are-going-to-be-if-not-a-reflection-of-the-author/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [My husband asked me once why I read so many mysteries, and part of it is just intellectual, part of it is the joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-husband-asked-me-once-why-i-read-so-many-mysteries-and-part-of-it/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“My Da says you’re never drunk, so long as ye can hold on to the floor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-da-says-you-re-never-drunk-so-long-as-ye-can-hold-on-to-the-floor/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [When you're an artist, you can't write with the intent of affecting anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-you-re-an-artist-you-can-t-write-with-the-intent-of-affecting/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“But a man is not forgotten, as long as there are two people left under the sky. One, to tell the story; the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/but-a-man-is-not-forgotten-as-long-as-there-are-two-people-left-under/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“I didn’t answer, occupied in dissolving the penicillin tablets in the vial of sterile water. I selected a glass barrel, fitted a needle, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-didn-t-answer-occupied-in-dissolving-the-penicillin-tablets-in-the/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) [Explore all 952 Diana Gabaldon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## More Be brave quotes > [If You Love Someone, Be Brave Enough To Tell Them., Otherwise Be Brave Enough To Watch Them To Be Loved By Someone Else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal-zahoor/if-you-love-someone-be-brave-enough-to-tell-them-otherwise-be-brave/) [Bilal Zahoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bilal-zahoor/) > [Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/be-convinced-that-to-be-happy-means-to-be-free-and-that-to-be-free/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [I admire machinery as much is any man, and am as thankful to it as any man can be for what it does for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-admire-machinery-as-much-is-any-man-and-am-as-thankful-to-it-as-any/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [To be able to live and train in Iraq under these circumstances you need to be brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-able-to-live-and-train-in-iraq-under-these-circumstances-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be brave! Be strong! Be fearless! Once you have taken up the spiritual life, fight as long as there is any life in you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/be-brave-be-strong-be-fearless-once-you-have-taken-up-the-spiritual/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Sometimes I think I'm a nihilist because it doesn't matter, none of this matters. We're all following the will of some unknowable higher power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/sometimes-i-think-i-m-a-nihilist-because-it-doesn-t-matter-none-of/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > [Let us be brave in the face of adversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-elder/let-us-be-brave-in-the-face-of-adversity/) [Seneca the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-elder/) > [So that my life be brave, what though not long?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-drummond/so-that-my-life-be-brave-what-though-not-long/) [William Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-drummond/) > [You can plan to be brave - it's even better if you just try to be brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/you-can-plan-to-be-brave-it-s-even-better-if-you-just-try-to-be-brave/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) > [We are in a tight corner, now, I agree. But we have been in tight corners before and come out of them. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hoffman/we-are-in-a-tight-corner-now-i-agree-but-we-have-been-in-tight/) [Mary Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-hoffman/) > [ Before \[Hindus and Moslems\] dare think of freedom, they must be brave enough to love one another, to tolerate one another's religion, even prejudices… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/before-hindus-and-moslems-dare-think-of-freedom-they-must-be-brave/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The real problem with big issues like Medicare is that both parties have to be brave at the same time. Every pollster will tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/the-real-problem-with-big-issues-like-medicare-is-that-both-parties/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [Fear is the raw material from which courage is manufactured. Without it, we wouldn't even know what it means to be brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/fear-is-the-raw-material-from-which-courage-is-manufactured-without/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [Pain nourishes courage. You can't be brave if you've only had wonderful things happen to you. Pain is inevitable. Misery is optional. Physical pain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara/pain-nourishes-courage-you-can-t-be-brave-if-you-ve-only-had/) [Barbara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara/) > [You make choices and sometimes they're good and sometimes they backfire. The most important thing is to be brave, forgive yourself when you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersey-clemons/you-make-choices-and-sometimes-they-re-good-and-sometimes-they/) [Kiersey Clemons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersey-clemons/) [Browse all 333 Be brave quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-brave/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I prayed all the way up that hill yesterday, he said softly. Not for you to stay; I didna think that would be right. I prayed I'd be strong enough to send ye away. He shook his head, still gazing up the hill, a faraway look in his eyes. I said 'Lord, if I've never had courage in my life before, let me have it now. Let me be brave enough not to fall on my knees and beg her to stay.' He pulled his eyes away from the cottage and smiled briefly at me. Hardest thing I ever did, Sassenach.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Diana Gabaldon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-prayed-all-the-way-up-that-hill-yesterday-he-said-softly-not-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Be brave" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-prayed-all-the-way-up-that-hill-yesterday-he-said-softly-not-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/diana-gabaldon-185_be-brave_i-prayed-all-the-way-up-that-hill-yester_2229669.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/diana-gabaldon-185_be-brave_i-prayed-all-the-way-up-that-hill-yester_2229669.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/diana-gabaldon-185_be-brave_i-prayed-all-the-way-up-that-hill-yester_2229669.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I prayed all the way up that hill yesterday, he said softly. Not for you to stay; I didna think that would…” — Diana Gabaldon", "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": "Diana Gabaldon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I prayed all the way up...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-prayed-all-the-way-up-that-hill-yesterday-he-said-softly-not-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-prayed-all-the-way-up-that-hill-yesterday-he-said-softly-not-for/#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 } } ] } ```