--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of the…" description: "\"Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of the telegraph, said that whenever he could not see his way clearly, he knelt down and prayed for light and understandin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/nathan-eldon-tanner-26289_down-and_samuel-f-b-morse-inventor-of-the-telegra_607953.jpg" --- # Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of the telegraph, said that… ![“Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of the telegraph, said that whenever he could not see his way clearly, he knelt down and prayed for light and understanding.” quote by Nathan Eldon Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/nathan-eldon-tanner-26289_down-and_samuel-f-b-morse-inventor-of-the-telegra_607953.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/nathan-eldon-tanner-26289_down-and_samuel-f-b-morse-inventor-of-the-telegra_607953.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/nathan-eldon-tanner-26289_down-and_samuel-f-b-morse-inventor-of-the-telegra_607953.jpg) > “Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of the telegraph, said that whenever he could not see his way clearly, he knelt down and prayed for light and understanding.” [Nathan Eldon Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-eldon-tanner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When unclear, he sought divine guidance for clarity and insight. **In simple terms:** He prayed for understanding when lost. Key Takeaway Seek help when confused. Themes faith clarity decisionmaking Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career dilemmas - ethical decisions - personal crises Key Concepts spirituality intuition problem solving Questions to Reflect On - Do you turn to faith in uncertainty? - How can prayer complement rational thought? A Different Perspective Prayer may not replace practical analysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Down and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) [Inventor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inventor/) [Inventor Telegraph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inventor-telegraph-4943683/) [Knelt Prayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knelt-prayed-3101640/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Morse Inventor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morse-inventor-4943682/) [Prayed Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayed-light-4943685/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Samuel Morse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/samuel-morse-4943684/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Telegraph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telegraph/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I once lay in a white hospital for the dying and the dying self, where some god pissed a rain of reason to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-once-lay-in-a-white-hospital-for-the-dying-and-the-dying-self-where/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [The time of day when there was quiet and serenity was every night when we gathered in my parents' bedroom and knelt down together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/the-time-of-day-when-there-was-quiet-and-serenity-was-every-night/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [Speaking the words he had been taught, directing them no longer upward but to the earth on which he knelt, he prayed: 'For what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/speaking-the-words-he-had-been-taught-directing-them-no-longer-upward/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Technology gives us the facilities that lessen the barriers of time and distance - the telegraph and cable, the telephone, radio, and the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-greene-balch/technology-gives-us-the-facilities-that-lessen-the-barriers-of-time/) [Emily Greene Balch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-greene-balch/) > [The major advances in speed of communication and ability to interact took place more than a century ago. The shift from sailing ships to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-major-advances-in-speed-of-communication-and-ability-to-interact/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [For a brief time in the 1850s, the telegraph companies of England and the United States thought that they could (and should) preserve every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gleick/for-a-brief-time-in-the-1850s-the-telegraph-companies-of-england-and/) [James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/) > [No, I'm not interested in developing a powerful brain. All I'm after is just a mediocre brain, something like the President of the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-turing/no-i-m-not-interested-in-developing-a-powerful-brain-all-i-m-after-is/) [Alan Turing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-turing/) > [No, I'm not interested in developing a powerful brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-turing/no-i-m-not-interested-in-developing-a-powerful-brain/) [Alan Turing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-turing/) > [The relative importance of the white and gray matter is often misunderstood. Were it not for the manifold connection of the nerve cells in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-anthony-spitzka/the-relative-importance-of-the-white-and-gray-matter-is-often/) [Edward Anthony Spitzka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-anthony-spitzka/) > [The wireless telegraph is not difficult to understand. The ordinary telegraph is like a very long cat. You pull the tail in New York,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-wireless-telegraph-is-not-difficult-to-understand-the-ordinary/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Henry Ford has several times sneered at unproductive stockholders… Well, now. Let's see. Who made Henry Ford's own automobile company possible? The stockholders who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/henry-ford-has-several-times-sneered-at-unproductive-stockholders/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [Most change in America doesn't come from, politicians. It comes from people inventing things and creating. The telephone, the telegraph, the computer, all those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-boaz/most-change-in-america-doesn-t-come-from-politicians-it-comes-from/) [David Boaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-boaz/) > [Information is crucial to our biological substance - our genetic code is information. But before 1950, it was not obvious that inheritance had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gleick/information-is-crucial-to-our-biological-substance-our-genetic-code/) [James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/) > [Bell Labs Cafeteria, New York, 1943: His high pitched voice already stood out above the general murmur of well-behaved junior executives grooming themselves for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-turing/bell-labs-cafeteria-new-york-1943-his-high-pitched-voice-already/) [Alan Turing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-turing/) > [This country has achieved its commercial and financial supremacy under a regime of private ownership. It conquered the wilderness, built our railroads, our factories,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-b-cortelyou/this-country-has-achieved-its-commercial-and-financial-supremacy/) [George B. Cortelyou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-b-cortelyou/) ## More by Nathan Eldon Tanner > [Let us look for the good rather than try to discover any hidden evil. We can easily find fault in others if that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-eldon-tanner/let-us-look-for-the-good-rather-than-try-to-discover-any-hidden-evil/) [Nathan Eldon Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-eldon-tanner/) > [The most difficult thing for us seems to be to give of ourselves, to do away with selfishness. If we really love someone, nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-eldon-tanner/the-most-difficult-thing-for-us-seems-to-be-to-give-of-ourselves-to/) [Nathan Eldon Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-eldon-tanner/) > [I observed that the successful farmer worked at his job. He would do his plowing, disking, harrowing, seeding, and harvesting in the proper season…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-eldon-tanner/i-observed-that-the-successful-farmer-worked-at-his-job-he-would-do/) [Nathan Eldon Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-eldon-tanner/) > [An honest, sincerely stated compliment helps to build character; criticism destroys it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-eldon-tanner/an-honest-sincerely-stated-compliment-helps-to-build-character/) [Nathan Eldon Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-eldon-tanner/) > [Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-eldon-tanner/service-is-the-rent-we-pay-for-the-privilege-of-living-on-this-earth/) [Nathan Eldon Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-eldon-tanner/) > [It is our duty to save the world. That is our mission, insofar as they will listen unto us and receive our testimony. ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-eldon-tanner/it-is-our-duty-to-save-the-world-that-is-our-mission-insofar-as-they/) [Nathan Eldon Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-eldon-tanner/) > [It is easy to do things for our own families and loved ones, but to give of our substance for the stranger who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-eldon-tanner/it-is-easy-to-do-things-for-our-own-families-and-loved-ones-but-to/) [Nathan Eldon Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-eldon-tanner/) > [Self-discipline is doing what you know you should do when you don't want to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-eldon-tanner/self-discipline-is-doing-what-you-know-you-should-do-when-you-don-t/) [Nathan Eldon Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-eldon-tanner/) > [There is no real happiness in having or getting, but only in giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-eldon-tanner/there-is-no-real-happiness-in-having-or-getting-but-only-in-giving/) [Nathan Eldon Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-eldon-tanner/) > [To be healthy and happy, a person must live a life that includes a good variety of activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-eldon-tanner/to-be-healthy-and-happy-a-person-must-live-a-life-that-includes-a/) [Nathan Eldon Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-eldon-tanner/) > [Start right now to put into practice some of the things that have been taught to us today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-eldon-tanner/start-right-now-to-put-into-practice-some-of-the-things-that-have/) [Nathan Eldon Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-eldon-tanner/) > [Integrity, or the lack of it, touches almost every facet of our lives-everything we say, every thought and desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-eldon-tanner/integrity-or-the-lack-of-it-touches-almost-every-facet-of-our-lives/) [Nathan Eldon Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-eldon-tanner/) > [Improper parental example in the home is a leading cause of the wandering of youth...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-eldon-tanner/improper-parental-example-in-the-home-is-a-leading-cause-of-the/) [Nathan Eldon Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-eldon-tanner/) > [Gossip is the worst form of judging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-eldon-tanner/gossip-is-the-worst-form-of-judging/) [Nathan Eldon Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-eldon-tanner/) > [Freedom is based on truth, and no man is completely free as long as any part of his belief is based on error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-eldon-tanner/freedom-is-based-on-truth-and-no-man-is-completely-free-as-long-as/) [Nathan Eldon Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-eldon-tanner/) [Explore all 22 Nathan Eldon Tanner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-eldon-tanner/) ## More Down and quotes > [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [In relations between the rich and the strong, between the rich and the poor, between the master and the servant, it's liberty that grinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-relations-between-the-rich-and-the-strong-between-the-rich-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [There's a dishonest tyranny in the liberal/progressive/socialist agenda that comes down and says 'we are here because we care about you; we want what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/there-s-a-dishonest-tyranny-in-the-liberal-progressive-socialist/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [If you feel like you want to die, it's time to sit down and make a list of all the things you haven't done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/if-you-feel-like-you-want-to-die-it-s-time-to-sit-down-and-make-a/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [Music is how I get free. It's a way to shut the rest of the world down and create your own world within it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-of-gab/music-is-how-i-get-free-it-s-a-way-to-shut-the-rest-of-the-world-down/) [Gift of Gab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-of-gab/) > [Being funny is one of my greatest strengths. I can make girls smile when they're down, and when they're having a good time, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/being-funny-is-one-of-my-greatest-strengths-i-can-make-girls-smile/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [When I look at nature I feel as if I'll be able to paint it all, note it all down, and then you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/when-i-look-at-nature-i-feel-as-if-i-ll-be-able-to-paint-it-all-note/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [I think the best Thanksgiving we ever had was one where we didn't even have a turkey. Mom and Dad sat us kids down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-think-the-best-thanksgiving-we-ever-had-was-one-where-we-didn-t/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [When an angel comes down and takes me away, memories of me and my songs will always stay until the end of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/when-an-angel-comes-down-and-takes-me-away-memories-of-me-and-my/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [I think there's too much mult-tasking going on. I think people need to quiet down and focus and be still more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-think-there-s-too-much-mult-tasking-going-on-i-think-people-need-to/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [I was so drunk last night I fell down and missed the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-martin/i-was-so-drunk-last-night-i-fell-down-and-missed-the-floor/) [Dean Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-martin/) > [There was a reason these boys were still alive, though. Something made them stronger than the other kids, the ones who had died in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-higson/there-was-a-reason-these-boys-were-still-alive-though-something-made/) [Charlie Higson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-higson/) [Browse all 2,527 Down and quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of the telegraph, said that whenever he could not see his way clearly, he knelt down and prayed for light and understanding.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nathan Eldon Tanner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-eldon-tanner/samuel-f-b-morse-inventor-of-the-telegraph-said-that-whenever-he/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Down and" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-eldon-tanner/samuel-f-b-morse-inventor-of-the-telegraph-said-that-whenever-he/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/nathan-eldon-tanner-26289_down-and_samuel-f-b-morse-inventor-of-the-telegra_607953.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/nathan-eldon-tanner-26289_down-and_samuel-f-b-morse-inventor-of-the-telegra_607953.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/nathan-eldon-tanner-26289_down-and_samuel-f-b-morse-inventor-of-the-telegra_607953.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of the telegraph, said that whenever he could not see his way clearly, he knelt…” — Nathan Eldon Tanner", "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": "Nathan Eldon Tanner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-eldon-tanner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-eldon-tanner/samuel-f-b-morse-inventor-of-the-telegraph-said-that-whenever-he/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-eldon-tanner/samuel-f-b-morse-inventor-of-the-telegraph-said-that-whenever-he/#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 } } ] } ```