---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If prayer fails I am in a greater…"
description: "\"“If prayer fails I am in a greater darkness yet, not knowing whether I have presumed too much or believed too little.”\" — Morris L. West"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d53/morris-l-west-32113_blaise-meredith_if-prayer-fails-i-am-in-a-greater-darkne_162277.jpg"
---

#  If prayer fails I am in a greater darkness yet, not…

![“If prayer fails I am in a greater darkness yet, not knowing whether I have presumed too much or believed too little.” quote by Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d53/morris-l-west-32113_blaise-meredith_if-prayer-fails-i-am-in-a-greater-darkne_162277.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d53/morris-l-west-32113_blaise-meredith_if-prayer-fails-i-am-in-a-greater-darkne_162277.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d53/morris-l-west-32113_blaise-meredith_if-prayer-fails-i-am-in-a-greater-darkne_162277.jpg)

> ““If prayer fails I am in a greater darkness yet, not knowing whether I have presumed too much or believed too little.””

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

## About This Quote

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

A struggle with faith and doubt, questioning whether one's prayers are insufficient or one's expectations are too high.

**In simple terms:** Questioning faith and expectations.

Key Takeaway

Reflect on the balance between hope and humility.

Themes

faith doubt self‑reflection

Mood

contemplative uncertain

Type

philosophical personal

When to use this quote

- personal crisis
- prayer
- self‑assessment

Key Concepts

spirituality humility existential inquiry

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you trust your efforts as much as your prayers?
- How can you measure spiritual growth?

A Different Perspective

Over‑reliance on prayer may ignore practical action.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/)

## Related quotes

> [“I feel the life slipping out of me. When the pain comes, I cry out, but there is no prayer in it, only fear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/i-feel-the-life-slipping-out-of-me-when-the-pain-comes-i-cry-out-but/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

> [“I can't tell you why God made you the way you are any more than I can tell you why he's planted a carcinoma…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/i-can-t-tell-you-why-god-made-you-the-way-you-are-any-more-than-i-can/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

> [“One solved nothing by waving the commandments like a bludgeon at people's heads. There was no point in shouting damnation at a man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/one-solved-nothing-by-waving-the-commandments-like-a-bludgeon-at/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

> [Praying that does not result in right thinking and right living is a farce. We have missed the whole office of prayer if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/praying-that-does-not-result-in-right-thinking-and-right-living-is-a/)

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

> [“And he who worships knowledge enters into greater darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-m/and-he-who-worships-knowledge-enters-into-greater-darkness/)

[Sri M](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-m/)

> [The greater the darkness, the better the drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/the-greater-the-darkness-the-better-the-drama/)

[Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/)

> [There is a greater darkness than the one we fight. It is the darkness of the soul that has lost its way. The war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/there-is-a-greater-darkness-than-the-one-we-fight-it-is-the-darkness/)

[J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/)

> [I myself am pursuing the same instinctive course as the veriest human animal you can think of I am, however young, writing at random…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/i-myself-am-pursuing-the-same-instinctive-course-as-the-veriest-human/)

[John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/)

> [“We who are so lucky as to be born into the light - who see it every day and never think about it, we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/we-who-are-so-lucky-as-to-be-born-into-the-light-who-see-it-every-day/)

[L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/)

> [“To show Bravery is to enter the unknown darkness, knowing there MIGHT BE monsters inside. To show Courage is to enter the unknown darkness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-edward-lee-miller/to-show-bravery-is-to-enter-the-unknown-darkness-knowing-there-might/)

[Cody Edward Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-edward-lee-miller/)

> [“People seek light in the external darkness Not knowing that the Light is within. Close your physical eyes and see with your inner vision.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-zernoff/people-seek-light-in-the-external-darkness-not-knowing-that-the-light/)

[Raphael Zernoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-zernoff/)

> [I think we have to trust ourselves in the darkness of not knowing. The God out of which we came and into which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/i-think-we-have-to-trust-ourselves-in-the-darkness-of-not-knowing-the/)

[Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/)

> [“I will face the darkness, but I will not let it become me. Fear may be present but it will not possess me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-dewey/i-will-face-the-darkness-but-i-will-not-let-it-become-me-fear-may-be/)

[Laurel Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-dewey/)

> [Until this all crashes down, I'll hold on. you're going to make this work. Into the darkness...not knowing at all…you're going to make this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kittie/until-this-all-crashes-down-i-ll-hold-on-you-re-going-to-make-this/)

[Kittie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kittie/)

> [I am learning that in life it is OK to travel in darkness, not knowing what your next move is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobie-smulders/i-am-learning-that-in-life-it-is-ok-to-travel-in-darkness-not-knowing/)

[Cobie Smulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobie-smulders/)

## More by Morris L. West

> [“I was lost a long time, without knowing it. Without the Faith, one is free, and that is a pleasant feeling at first. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/i-was-lost-a-long-time-without-knowing-it-without-the-faith-one-is/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

> [“One solved nothing by waving the commandments like a bludgeon at people's heads. There was no point in shouting damnation at a man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/one-solved-nothing-by-waving-the-commandments-like-a-bludgeon-at/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

> [“I don't believe in miracles, only unexplained facts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/i-don-t-believe-in-miracles-only-unexplained-facts/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

> [“I believe in saints as I believe in sanctity. I believe in miracles as I believe in God, who can suspend the laws of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/i-believe-in-saints-as-i-believe-in-sanctity-i-believe-in-miracles-as/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

> [“The man who does good in doubt must have so much more merit than one who does it in the bright certainty of belief.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/the-man-who-does-good-in-doubt-must-have-so-much-more-merit-than-one/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

> [“I can't tell you why God made you the way you are any more than I can tell you why he's planted a carcinoma…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/i-can-t-tell-you-why-god-made-you-the-way-you-are-any-more-than-i-can/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

> [“He spoke a kind of ecclesiastical jargon; a debased rhetoric that explained nothing but brought the truth into disrepute. It begged all the questions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/he-spoke-a-kind-of-ecclesiastical-jargon-a-debased-rhetoric-that/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

> [“Each of us can walk only the path he sees at his own feet. Each of us is subject to the consequences of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/each-of-us-can-walk-only-the-path-he-sees-at-his-own-feet-each-of-us/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

> [“Look at yourself! You're a priest. You know damn well that if I were setting out to make a girl at this moment instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/look-at-yourself-you-re-a-priest-you-know-damn-well-that-if-i-were/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

> [“I feel the life slipping out of me. When the pain comes, I cry out, but there is no prayer in it, only fear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/i-feel-the-life-slipping-out-of-me-when-the-pain-comes-i-cry-out-but/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

> [“We are ants on the carcass of the world, spawned out of nothing, going busily nowhere. One of us dies, the others crawl over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/we-are-ants-on-the-carcass-of-the-world-spawned-out-of-nothing-going/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

> [“One has to abandon altogether the search for security, and reach out to the risk of living with both arms. One has to court…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/one-has-to-abandon-altogether-the-search-for-security-and-reach-out/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

> [“Even in sin, the act of love -done with love- is shadowed with divinity. Its conformity may be at fault, but its nature is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/even-in-sin-the-act-of-love-done-with-love-is-shadowed-with-divinity/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

> [“Other priests, he knew, found an intense pleasure in the raw, salty dialect of peasant conversation. They picked up pearls of wisdom and experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/other-priests-he-knew-found-an-intense-pleasure-in-the-raw-salty/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

> [ “\[The writer\] has to be the kind of man who turns the world upside down and says, lookit, it looks different, doesn’t it?” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/the-writer-has-to-be-the-kind-of-man-who-turns-the-world-upside-down/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

[Explore all 16 Morris L. West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

## More Blaise-meredith quotes

> [“One solved nothing by waving the commandments like a bludgeon at people's heads. There was no point in shouting damnation at a man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/one-solved-nothing-by-waving-the-commandments-like-a-bludgeon-at/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

> [“I can't tell you why God made you the way you are any more than I can tell you why he's planted a carcinoma…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/i-can-t-tell-you-why-god-made-you-the-way-you-are-any-more-than-i-can/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

> [“I feel the life slipping out of me. When the pain comes, I cry out, but there is no prayer in it, only fear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/i-feel-the-life-slipping-out-of-me-when-the-pain-comes-i-cry-out-but/)

[Morris L. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/)

Browse all 4 Blaise-meredith quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“If prayer fails I am in a greater darkness yet, not knowing whether I have presumed too much or believed too little.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Morris L. West"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/if-prayer-fails-i-am-in-a-greater-darkness-yet-not-knowing-whether-i/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Blaise-meredith"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/if-prayer-fails-i-am-in-a-greater-darkness-yet-not-knowing-whether-i/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d53/morris-l-west-32113_blaise-meredith_if-prayer-fails-i-am-in-a-greater-darkne_162277.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d53/morris-l-west-32113_blaise-meredith_if-prayer-fails-i-am-in-a-greater-darkne_162277.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d53/morris-l-west-32113_blaise-meredith_if-prayer-fails-i-am-in-a-greater-darkne_162277.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If prayer fails I am in a greater darkness yet, not knowing whether I have presumed too much or believed too…” — Morris L. West",
                "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": "Morris L. West",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-l-west/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“If prayer fails I am in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/if-prayer-fails-i-am-in-a-greater-darkness-yet-not-knowing-whether-i/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-l-west/if-prayer-fails-i-am-in-a-greater-darkness-yet-not-knowing-whether-i/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
