Humor Quote by Mark Twain
““And now the minister prayed. A good, generous prayer it was, and went into details: it pleaded for the church, and the little children of the church; for the other churches of the village; for the village itself; for the county; for the State; for the State officers; for the United States; for the churches of the United States; for Congress; for the President; for the officers of the Government; for poor sailors, tossed by stormy seas; for the oppressed millions groaning under the heel of European monarchies and Oriental despotisms; for such as have the light and the good tidings, and yet have not eyes to see nor ears to hear withal; for the heathen in the far islands of the sea; and closed with a supplication that the words he was about to speak might find grace and favor, and be as seed sown in fertile ground, yielding in time a grateful harvest of good. Amen.””
About This Quote
Source Literature: The Innocents Abroad, 1869
A minister’s extensive prayer asks for blessings on many levels, from individuals to nations, reflecting universal compassion and hope for positive change.
In simple terms: A prayer covering everyone and everything, hoping for good outcomes.
Key Takeaway
Pray broadly and inclusively.
Themes
compassion
hope
community
faith
globalism
Mood
reflective
hopeful
spiritual
Type
religious
inspirational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- church services
- political rallies
- family gatherings
- international aid meetings
- personal meditation
Key Concepts
interconnectedness
altruism
spirituality
Questions to Reflect On
- How can one balance broad compassion with targeted action?
- What personal responsibilities arise from such a universal prayer?
A Different Perspective
May be overly broad, diluting focus on specific needs.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
