Heavenly father Quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
““Father! Whom I do not know! Father! who filled all my soul and who has now turned His countenance away from me! Call me to You! Be silent no longer! Your silence will not stay this thirsting soul—and could a person, a father, be angry whose son, unexpectedly returning, threw himself on his neck and cried: Father! I have come back! Don’t be angry that I am breaking off the travels that you meant for me to endure longer. The world is everywhere the same, in effort and work, reward and joy, but what is that to me? I am only happy where you are, and it is before your countenance that I want to suffer and enjoy.—And You, dear heavenly Father, would turn him away from You?””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Untitled Prayer, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1795
A soul cries out to a distant, silent father, yearning for acceptance and fearing abandonment, reflecting deep spiritual longing.
In simple terms: Soul seeks father’s acceptance.
Key Takeaway
Seek reconciliation with the divine.
Themes
spirituality
longing
faith
Mood
melancholic
pleading
Type
poetic
religious
When to use this quote
- personal prayer
- confessional writing
- grief counseling
- spiritual retreats
Key Concepts
theology
existential angst
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “father” symbolize for you?
- How do you cope with feeling abandoned?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may not resonate with non-religious readers.
