--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer, before taking…" description: "\"I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer, before taking off his prison garb, kneeling on the floor praying fervently to his God. I was most deeply moved by the way this..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_bonhoeffer_i-saw-pastor-bonhoeffer-before-taking-of_252413.jpg" --- # I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer, before taking off his prison… ![“I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer, before taking off his prison garb, kneeling on the floor praying fervently to his God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer. At the place of execution, he again said a prayer and then climbed the…” quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_bonhoeffer_i-saw-pastor-bonhoeffer-before-taking-of_252413.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_bonhoeffer_i-saw-pastor-bonhoeffer-before-taking-of_252413.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_bonhoeffer_i-saw-pastor-bonhoeffer-before-taking-of_252413.jpg) > “I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer, before taking off his prison garb, kneeling on the floor praying fervently to his God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer. At the place of execution, he again said a prayer and then climbed the steps to the gallows, brave and composed. His death ensued in a few seconds. In the almost 50 years that I have worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God.” [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A devout man faced execution with calm prayer, showing absolute trust in divine will. **In simple terms:** He prayed peacefully before death. Key Takeaway Find peace in faith during trials. Themes faith courage submission martyrdom spirituality Mood reflective reverent Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - hospital settings - end‑of‑life care - spiritual counseling - personal crisis - historical study Key Concepts theistic devotion existential surrender moral conviction Questions to Reflect On - What does true surrender to a higher power mean? - Can faith coexist with personal responsibility? A Different Perspective Such surrender may conflict with personal agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) [Doctors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctors/) [Execution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/execution/) [Gods will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-will/) [Kneeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kneeling/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pastor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pastor/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Short prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-prayer/) ## Related quotes > [I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer kneeling on the floor praying fervently to God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eberhard-bethge/i-saw-pastor-bonhoeffer-kneeling-on-the-floor-praying-fervently-to/) Eberhard Bethge > [“Through the half-open door in one room of the huts I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer, before taking off his prison garb, kneeling on the floor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-fischer-h-llstrung/through-the-half-open-door-in-one-room-of-the-huts-i-saw-pastor/) H. Fischer-Hüllstrung > [“A congregation that does not pray for the ministry of its pastor,” Bonhoeffer warns, “is no longer a congregation.”11 He then adds, “A pastor who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/a-congregation-that-does-not-pray-for-the-ministry-of-its-pastor/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“You may see by this, that when a woman has formed a project, no one can hinder her from putting it into execution.” Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-dulcken/you-may-see-by-this-that-when-a-woman-has-formed-a-project-no-one-can/) H.W. Dulcken > [“You’re right. I don’t have a right to ask.” But I sat there on the bar stool, staring at him, willing him to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/you-re-right-i-don-t-have-a-right-to-ask-but-i-sat-there-on-the-bar/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“If we would answer the question of the existence of the Evil then we would not be sinners, we could make something else responsible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/if-we-would-answer-the-question-of-the-existence-of-the-evil-then-we/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Must the Christian go around looking for a cross to bear, seeking to suffer? No, insisted Bonhoeffer. Opportunities for bearing crosses will occur along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/must-the-christian-go-around-looking-for-a-cross-to-bear-seeking-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/god-does-not-give-us-everything-we-want-but-he-does-fulfill-his-2/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“So she prayed. She prayed she'd been right when she told herself something good and decent lived inside this man. Mostly, though, she prayed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loree-lough/so-she-prayed-she-prayed-she-d-been-right-when-she-told-herself/) [Loree Lough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loree-lough/) > [“One side of the road: She said to his Him: You are the man I prayed for Another side of the road: He said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/one-side-of-the-road-she-said-to-his-him-you-are-the-man-i-prayed-for/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [No man ever prayed heartily without learning something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-ever-prayed-heartily-without-learning-something/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man prayed, and at first he thought that prayer was talking. But he became more and more quiet until in the end he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/a-man-prayed-and-at-first-he-thought-that-prayer-was-talking-but-he/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Of all the people on Earth, the prefect and the greatest Man prayed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/of-all-the-people-on-earth-the-prefect-and-the-greatest-man-prayed/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [The unlettered man who prayed to his maker would be heard; the pedant reciting a faultless invocation would be ignored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-shenker/the-unlettered-man-who-prayed-to-his-maker-would-be-heard-the-pedant/) [Israel Shenker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-shenker/) > [On Thanksgiving we do just everything except give thanks. We eat, we watch football, we have a good time with family. Almost nobody gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/on-thanksgiving-we-do-just-everything-except-give-thanks-we-eat-we/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) ## More by Dietrich Bonhoeffer > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/gratitude-transforms-the-torment-of-memory-of-good-things-now-gone/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/only-he-who-believes-is-obedient-and-only-he-who-is-obedient-believes/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Who can really be faithful in great things if he has not learned to be faithful in the things of daily life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/who-can-really-be-faithful-in-great-things-if-he-has-not-learned-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The church can only defend its own space by fighting, not for space, but for the salvation of the world. Otherwise the church becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-church-can-only-defend-its-own-space-by-fighting-not-for-space/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [There remains an experience of incomparable value . . . to see the great events of world history from below; from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-remains-an-experience-of-incomparable-value-to-see-the-great/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/to-endure-the-cross-is-not-a-tragedy-it-is-the-suffering-which-is-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“There is only one church, the church of faith ruled by the word of Jesus Christ alone. This is the true catholic church that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-is-only-one-church-the-church-of-faith-ruled-by-the-word-of/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“As Christians, we needn’t be at all ashamed of some impatience, longing, opposition to what is unnatural, and our full share of desire for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/as-christians-we-needn-t-be-at-all-ashamed-of-some-impatience-longing/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/those-who-love-their-dream-of-a-christian-community-more-than-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“From now on there can be no more wars of faith. The only way to overcome our enemy is by loving him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/from-now-on-there-can-be-no-more-wars-of-faith-the-only-way-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The scriptures do not present us with a series of Christian types to be imitated according to choice; they preach to us in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-scriptures-do-not-present-us-with-a-series-of-christian-types-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/we-are-not-to-simply-bandage-the-wounds-of-victims-beneath-the-wheels/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) [Explore all 711 Dietrich Bonhoeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## More Bonhoeffer quotes > [“We are also brought into the church-community as a result of Christ’s death on the cross—a community of the forgiven, who should be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/we-are-also-brought-into-the-church-community-as-a-result-of-christ-s/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“(Bonhoeffer's) change was not an ungainly, embarrassing leap from which he would have to retreat slightly when he gained more maturity and perspective. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-change-was-not-an-ungainly-embarrassing-leap-from-which/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in the first chapter of his wonderful book Life Together, has a discussion of how Christians never meet one-on-one; they always meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/dietrich-bonhoeffer-in-the-first-chapter-of-his-wonderful-book-life/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“If you board the wrong train it is no use running along the corridor in the opposite direction. —DIETRICH BONHOEFFER”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/if-you-board-the-wrong-train-it-is-no-use-running-along-the-corridor/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [If your opponent has a conscience, then follow Gandhi and nonviolence. But if your enemy has no conscience like Hitler, then follow Bonhoeffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/if-your-opponent-has-a-conscience-then-follow-gandhi-and-nonviolence/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“Bonhoeffer and Luther draw on Christ’s paradox of gaining one’s life by losing it. So we come to the ultimate paradox: by service—and ultimately,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/bonhoeffer-and-luther-draw-on-christ-s-paradox-of-gaining-one-s-life/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“Bonhoeffer categorically refuses to demythologize the resurrection ... he finally walked to his execution, saying that for him it was the beginning of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bonhoeffer-categorically-refuses-to-demythologize-the-resurrection-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The rich world of his ancestors set the standards for Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s own life. It gave him a certainty of judgment and manner that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/the-rich-world-of-his-ancestors-set-the-standards-for-dietrich/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Jeremiah was not eager to become a prophet of God. When the call came to him all of a sudden, he shrank back, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxes/jeremiah-was-not-eager-to-become-a-prophet-of-god-when-the-call-came/) Eric Metaxes > [. A god who let us prove his existence would be an idol. Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraha-lincon/a-god-who-let-us-prove-his-existence-would-be-an-idol-dietrich/) Abraha Lincon > [“Bonhoeffer's experiences with African American community underscored an idea that was developing in his mind: the only real piety and power that he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-experiences-with-african-american-community-underscored/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [ “His soul really shone in the dark desperation of our prison . . . \[Bonhoeffer\] had always been afraid that he would not be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/payne-best/his-soul-really-shone-in-the-dark-desperation-of-our-prison/) Payne Best > [“Grace is costly because it calls us through our person to the person of Jesus Christ. And when we follow the person of Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-root/grace-is-costly-because-it-calls-us-through-our-person-to-the-person/) [Andrew Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-root/) > [The family trees of Karl and Paula Bonhoeffer are everywhere so laden with figures of accomplishment that one might expect future generations to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/the-family-trees-of-karl-and-paula-bonhoeffer-are-everywhere-so-laden/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“The ethics of the Sermon on the Mount are nothing less than extraordinary. To look at them as something that can be fulfilled within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/the-ethics-of-the-sermon-on-the-mount-are-nothing-less-than/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) Browse all 54 Bonhoeffer quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer, before taking off his prison garb, kneeling on the floor praying fervently to his God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer. At the place of execution, he again said a prayer and then climbed the steps to the gallows, brave and composed. His death ensued in a few seconds. 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