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God help Quote by Mark Twain

“O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle -- be Thou near them! With them -- in spirit -- we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us…” quote by Mark Twain
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““O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle -- be Thou near them! With them -- in spirit -- we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it -- for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.””

Mark Twain

About This Quote

Source Prayer: Unknown religious text, likely 19th‑century American wartime prayer

A fervent plea for divine aid to defeat enemies, invoking violent imagery and wishing suffering upon the foe while seeking love‑based spiritual support

In simple terms: A prayer asking God to help win a war, even with harsh means

Key Takeaway

Seek divine guidance, but consider compassion and humanity

Themes

war faith violence retribution suffering spirituality

Mood

somber conflicted intense

Type

prayer war‑rhetoric ethical‑reflection

When to use this quote

  • battlefield leadership
  • military morale
  • spiritual counseling
  • historical war rhetoric
  • ethical debate

Key Concepts

Divine intervention just war theory theology of suffering moral paradox human cruelty

Questions to Reflect On

  • What moral limits should be set on prayers for violent outcomes?
  • How does invoking love while wishing harm affect the supplicant’s conscience?
A Different Perspective

The prayer glorifies extreme violence, which can dehumanize opponents and fuel cycles of retaliation

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