A-bird-in-the-house Quote by Margaret Laurence
““As a devout Baptist, she believed it was a sin to pray for anything for yourself. You ought to pray only for strength to bear whatever the Lord saw fit to send you, she thought. I was never able to follow this advice, for although I would often feel a sense of uneasiness over the tone of my prayers, I was the kind of person who prayed frantically-"Please, God, please, please, PLEASE let Ross MacVey like me better than Mavis.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Diviners, 1974
She believes prayers should be self‑less, yet struggles with personal desire, highlighting tension between religious doctrine and human longing.
In simple terms: Prayer should be selfless, but desire persists.
Key Takeaway
Balance selfless faith with personal needs.
Themes
faith
inner conflict
desire
Mood
reflective
conflicted
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal crises
- spiritual counseling
- relationship issues
Key Concepts
religious doctrine
personal longing
prayer practice
Questions to Reflect On
- Can one pray selflessly and still ask for personal help?
- What does this reveal about faith and desire?
A Different Perspective
Self‑less prayer may ignore genuine personal needs.
