Burden Quote by Etty Hillesum
“When I pray, I never pray for myself, always for others, or else I hold a silly, naive, or deadly serious dialogue with what is deepest inside me, which for the sake of convenience I call God. Praying to God for something for yourself strikes me as being too childish for words. To pray for another's well-being is something I find childish as well; one should only pray that another should have enough strength to shoulder his burden. If you do that, you lend him some of your own strength.”
About This Quote
Source Diary: 1941–1943, Etty Hillesum
Prayer should focus on empowering others, not self‑centered wishes.
In simple terms: Pray for others’ strength, not personal gain.
Key Takeaway
Shift prayer to support others’ resilience.
Themes
spirituality
selflessness
compassion
Mood
contemplative
humble
Type
spiritual
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal prayer
- community support
- counseling
Key Concepts
altruism
inner dialogue
faith practice
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance self‑care with altruism?
- What does “strength” mean in this context?
A Different Perspective
Self‑centered prayer can neglect personal needs.
