---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who do not believe do not pray…"
description: "\"Those who do not believe do not pray. This is a good functional definition of faith. Faith prays, unbelief does not.\" — John Hardon"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/john-hardon-73304_answers-to-prayer_those-who-do-not-believe-do-not-pray-thi_2281560.png"
---

#  Those who do not believe do not pray. This is a good…

![“Those who do not believe do not pray. This is a good functional definition of faith. Faith prays, unbelief does not.” quote by John Hardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/john-hardon-73304_answers-to-prayer_those-who-do-not-believe-do-not-pray-thi_2281560.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/john-hardon-73304_answers-to-prayer_those-who-do-not-believe-do-not-pray-thi_2281560.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/john-hardon-73304_answers-to-prayer_those-who-do-not-believe-do-not-pray-thi_2281560.png)

> “Those who do not believe do not pray. This is a good functional definition of faith. Faith prays, unbelief does not.”

[John Hardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hardon/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Faith is defined by prayer; lack of belief means lack of prayer.

**In simple terms:** Faith involves prayer; non-belief lacks it.

Key Takeaway

Recognize prayer as a faith expression.

Themes

faith prayer belief definition

Mood

contemplative thoughtful

Type

theological philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal devotion
- religious discussion
- spiritual counseling

Key Concepts

theology spiritual practice belief systems

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you define faith personally?
- Can prayer be symbolic?

A Different Perspective

Faith can be expressed without prayer.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Answers to prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers-to-prayer/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Definition Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definition-faith-470491/) [Definitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitions/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faith Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-faith-243256/) [Faith Prays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-prays-5327555/) [Good fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-fun/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Prays Unbelief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prays-unbelief-5327554/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Unbelief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unbelief/)

## Related quotes

> [“If faith were rational, it wouldn't be - by definition - faith. Faith is belief in what you cannot see or prove or touch.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/if-faith-were-rational-it-wouldn-t-be-by-definition-faith-faith-is/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“My dad had once told me a definition of faith and I had not forgotten it: 'Faith is to believe something you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/braam-malherbe/my-dad-had-once-told-me-a-definition-of-faith-and-i-had-not-forgotten/)

[Braam Malherbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/braam-malherbe/)

> [The truest definition of faith is having the belief you're going somewhere that you can't see, whether it's religion or football or learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-bielema/the-truest-definition-of-faith-is-having-the-belief-you-re-going/)

[Bret Bielema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-bielema/)

> [The best definition I can find of faith is the dependence upon the veracity of another. The Bible definition in the 11th chapter of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/the-best-definition-i-can-find-of-faith-is-the-dependence-upon-the/)

[Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/)

> [“That is the definition of faith, hermano," says Figueroa. "Something that we believe in even though it doesn't work." Eres un cinicio." If it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/that-is-the-definition-of-faith-hermano-says-figueroa-something-that/)

[John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/)

> [Many people operate as though the definition of faith were, Don't ask questions, just believe. They quote Jesus himself, who taught his followers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/many-people-operate-as-though-the-definition-of-faith-were-don-t-ask/)

[Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/)

> [“every faith in the world is based on fabrication. That is the definition of faith—acceptance of that which we imagine to be true, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/every-faith-in-the-world-is-based-on-fabrication-that-is-the/)

[Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/)

> [Now we shall possess a right definition of faith if we call it a firm and certain knowledge of God's benevolence toward us, founded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/now-we-shall-possess-a-right-definition-of-faith-if-we-call-it-a-firm/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [A definition of faith: everything will be alright by God's standards, maybe not ours, but by His for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-r-woodward/a-definition-of-faith-everything-will-be-alright-by-god-s-standards/)

[Mark R. Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-r-woodward/)

> [Devotion is diligence without assurance. If faith were rational, it wouldn't be by definition faith. Faith is walking face-first and full speed into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/devotion-is-diligence-without-assurance-if-faith-were-rational-it/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [To me, the definition of faith is to fear nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/to-me-the-definition-of-faith-is-to-fear-nothing/)

[Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/)

> [That is the definition of faith - acceptance of that which we imagine to be true, that which we cannot prove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/that-is-the-definition-of-faith-acceptance-of-that-which-we-imagine/)

[Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/)

> [But you must still know to respect other people's faith.' 'Why? We don't respect any other delusion. We lock up people who believe they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arditti/but-you-must-still-know-to-respect-other-people-s-faith-why-we-don-t/)

[Michael Arditti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arditti/)

> [If faith were rational , it wouldn't be -by definition- faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/if-faith-were-rational-it-wouldn-t-be-by-definition-faith/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [Having been brought up with a definition of faith as adherence to a set of beliefs, I have more and more begun to turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-brown-taylor/having-been-brought-up-with-a-definition-of-faith-as-adherence-to-a/)

[Barbara Brown Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-brown-taylor/)

## More by John Hardon

> [You must pray...without prayer, all the schooling in the world will not produce the effect God wants homeschooling to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hardon/you-must-pray-without-prayer-all-the-schooling-in-the-world-will-not/)

[John Hardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hardon/)

> [The same ones who brought the children physically in the world have the natural obligation binding in the natural law to provide for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hardon/the-same-ones-who-brought-the-children-physically-in-the-world-have/)

[John Hardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hardon/)

> [Sloth is the desire for ease, even at the expense of doing the known will of God. Whatever we do in life requires effort.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hardon/sloth-is-the-desire-for-ease-even-at-the-expense-of-doing-the-known/)

[John Hardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hardon/)

[Explore all 4 John Hardon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hardon/)

## More Answers to prayer quotes

> [The only way to Heaven is prayer; a prayer of the heart, which every one is capable of, and not of reasonings which are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/the-only-way-to-heaven-is-prayer-a-prayer-of-the-heart-which-every/)

[Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/)

> [The third petition of the Lord's Prayer is repeated daily by millions who have not the slightest intention of letting anyone's will be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-third-petition-of-the-lord-s-prayer-is-repeated-daily-by-millions/)

[Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/)

> [There is a general kind of praying which fails for lack of precision. It is as if a regiment of soldiers should all fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/there-is-a-general-kind-of-praying-which-fails-for-lack-of-precision/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [God will do nothing but in answer to prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/god-will-do-nothing-but-in-answer-to-prayer/)

[John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/)

> [By becoming the answer to someone's prayer, we often find the answer to our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/by-becoming-the-answer-to-someone-s-prayer-we-often-find-the-answer/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [I believe the old cliché, 'God helps those who help themselves,' is not only misleading but often dead wrong. My most spectacular answers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/i-believe-the-old-clich-god-helps-those-who-help-themselves-is-not/)

[Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/)

> [The firmament of the Bible is ablaze with answers to prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-l-cuyler/the-firmament-of-the-bible-is-ablaze-with-answers-to-prayer/)

[Theodore L. Cuyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-l-cuyler/)

> [When a man has found the Lord, he no longer has to use words when he is praying, for the Spirit Himself will intercede…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/when-a-man-has-found-the-lord-he-no-longer-has-to-use-words-when-he/)

[John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/)

> [I don't know of a single foreign product that enters this country untaxed, except the answer to prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-don-t-know-of-a-single-foreign-product-that-enters-this-country/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude - an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/prayer-is-not-so-much-an-act-as-it-is-an-attitude-an-attitude-of/)

[Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/)

> [The most glorious works of grace that have ever took place, have been in answer to prayer; and it is in this way, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carey/the-most-glorious-works-of-grace-that-have-ever-took-place-have-been/)

[William Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carey/)

> [The story of every great Christian achievement is the history of answered prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/the-story-of-every-great-christian-achievement-is-the-history-of/)

[Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/)

> [There is a beauty bestowed in some degree on all God's saints who pray much which is of the same nature and is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-stalker/there-is-a-beauty-bestowed-in-some-degree-on-all-god-s-saints-who/)

[James Stalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-stalker/)

> [I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/i-have-so-much-to-do-that-i-spend-several-hours-in-prayer-before-i-am/)

[John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/)

> [You don't know how to pray? Put yourself in the presence of God, and as soon as you have said, 'Lord, I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josemaria-escriva/you-don-t-know-how-to-pray-put-yourself-in-the-presence-of-god-and-as/)

[Josemaria Escriva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josemaria-escriva/)

[Browse all 88 Answers to prayer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers-to-prayer/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Those who do not believe do not pray. This is a good functional definition of faith. Faith prays, unbelief does not.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Hardon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hardon/those-who-do-not-believe-do-not-pray-this-is-a-good-functional/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Answers to prayer"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hardon/those-who-do-not-believe-do-not-pray-this-is-a-good-functional/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/john-hardon-73304_answers-to-prayer_those-who-do-not-believe-do-not-pray-thi_2281560.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/john-hardon-73304_answers-to-prayer_those-who-do-not-believe-do-not-pray-thi_2281560.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/john-hardon-73304_answers-to-prayer_those-who-do-not-believe-do-not-pray-thi_2281560.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Those who do not believe do not pray. This is a good functional definition of faith. Faith prays, unbelief…” — John Hardon",
                "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": "John Hardon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hardon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Those who do not believe do...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hardon/those-who-do-not-believe-do-not-pray-this-is-a-good-functional/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hardon/those-who-do-not-believe-do-not-pray-this-is-a-good-functional/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
