--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be short in all religious exercises…" description: "\"Be short in all religious exercises. Better leave the people longing than loathing.\" — Nathanael Emmons" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c14/nathanael-emmons-27168_exercise_be-short-in-all-religious-exercises-bett_845434.jpg" --- # Be short in all religious exercises. Better leave the… ![“Be short in all religious exercises. Better leave the people longing than loathing.” quote by Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c14/nathanael-emmons-27168_exercise_be-short-in-all-religious-exercises-bett_845434.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c14/nathanael-emmons-27168_exercise_be-short-in-all-religious-exercises-bett_845434.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c14/nathanael-emmons-27168_exercise_be-short-in-all-religious-exercises-bett_845434.jpg) > “Be short in all religious exercises. Better leave the people longing than loathing.” [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Brief worship leaves space for longing, avoiding resentment that comes from over‑indulgence. **In simple terms:** Short devotion fosters yearning, not disdain. Key Takeaway Practice concise, heartfelt devotion. Themes spirituality discipline longing Mood contemplative inspirational Type religion philosophy When to use this quote - personal prayer - daily meditation - religious study - spiritual retreats Key Concepts theology psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does brevity affect your spiritual experience? - Can longing be a motivator for deeper faith? A Different Perspective Too brief practice may feel hollow for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) ## Related quotes > [In matters of religion, I have considered that its free exercise is placed by the Constitution independent of the powers of the general government.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/in-matters-of-religion-i-have-considered-that-its-free-exercise-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Those who are devoted to amusements; who love the society of those who love pleasure, have an aversion to religious exercises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/those-who-are-devoted-to-amusements-who-love-the-society-of-those-who/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [Habit must play a larger place in our religious life. We worship when we feel like it, we pray when we feel like it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-washington-sockman/habit-must-play-a-larger-place-in-our-religious-life-we-worship-when/) [Ralph Washington Sockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-washington-sockman/) > [A good meditation, even when it is interrupted by occasional nodding, is much more beneficial than many outward religious exercises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-tauler/a-good-meditation-even-when-it-is-interrupted-by-occasional-nodding/) [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) > [I believe that prayer in public schools should be voluntary. It is difficult for me to see how religious exercises can be a requirement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/i-believe-that-prayer-in-public-schools-should-be-voluntary-it-is/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [Today we're just growing and consuming, and I think maybe there's a sadness in that. People are longing for a time when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-verbinski/today-we-re-just-growing-and-consuming-and-i-think-maybe-there-s-a/) [Gore Verbinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-verbinski/) > [People are longing for tribe and community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zal-batmanglij/people-are-longing-for-tribe-and-community/) [Zal Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zal-batmanglij/) > [“What we rarely see receive is a picture of adulthood that represents it as the ideal it should be. (...) What better way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-neiman/what-we-rarely-see-receive-is-a-picture-of-adulthood-that-represents/) [Susan Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-neiman/) > [It may be that America has become too big and complicated for most people to deal with being part of. People are longing for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-taibbi/it-may-be-that-america-has-become-too-big-and-complicated-for-most/) [Matt Taibbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-taibbi/) > [“I think that a lot of people have a longing to move out of the present. The present is very constricting. You can’t go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/i-think-that-a-lot-of-people-have-a-longing-to-move-out-of-the/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [People are longing to rediscover true community. We have had enough of loneliness, independence and competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/people-are-longing-to-rediscover-true-community-we-have-had-enough-of/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [You don't leave people who can't defend themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/you-don-t-leave-people-who-can-t-defend-themselves/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [“Many other inhabitants of the city were similarly afflicted. Every day, more and more people took to saving time, and the more they did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende-momo/many-other-inhabitants-of-the-city-were-similarly-afflicted-every-day/) Michael Ende, Momo > [“Words for everyday showers of prettiness, and the kind of misty loveliness that disappears whenever you try to grasp it. Beauty that’s heralded by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/words-for-everyday-showers-of-prettiness-and-the-kind-of-misty/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [When life gives you lemons, make orange juice and leave people wondering how you did it...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-williams/when-life-gives-you-lemons-make-orange-juice-and-leave-people/) [Jade Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-williams/) ## More by Nathanael Emmons > [One principal reason why men are so often useless is that they neglect their own profession or calling, and divide and shift their attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/one-principal-reason-why-men-are-so-often-useless-is-that-they/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [It is easy to learn something about everything, but difficult to learn everything about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/it-is-easy-to-learn-something-about-everything-but-difficult-to-learn/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [Style should be like window-glass, perfectly transparent, and with very little sash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/style-should-be-like-window-glass-perfectly-transparent-and-with-very/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [In reasoning upon moral subjects, we have great occasion for candor, in order to compare circumstances, and weigh arguments with impartiality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/in-reasoning-upon-moral-subjects-we-have-great-occasion-for-candor-in/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [How vast is eternity! - It will swallow up all the human race; it will collect all the intelligent universe; it will open scenes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/how-vast-is-eternity-it-will-swallow-up-all-the-human-race-it-will/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [There is not a single spot between Christianity and atheism, upon which a man can firmly fix his foot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/there-is-not-a-single-spot-between-christianity-and-atheism-upon/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [You ask if we shall know our friends in heaven. - Do you suppose we are greater fools there than here?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/you-ask-if-we-shall-know-our-friends-in-heaven-do-you-suppose-we-are/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [Real holiness has love for its essence, humility for its clothing, the good of others as its employment, and the honor of God as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/real-holiness-has-love-for-its-essence-humility-for-its-clothing-the/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [The more men have multiplied the forms of religion, so much the more has vital godliness declined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/the-more-men-have-multiplied-the-forms-of-religion-so-much-the-more/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [These two rules make the best system: first, have something to say; second, say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/these-two-rules-make-the-best-system-first-have-something-to-say/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [The more men have multiplied the forms of religion, the more vital Godliness has declined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/the-more-men-have-multiplied-the-forms-of-religion-the-more-vital/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [Obedience to God is the most infallible evidence that creatures can exhibit of their sincere and supreme love to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/obedience-to-god-is-the-most-infallible-evidence-that-creatures-can/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [The weakest spot in every man is where he thinks himself to be the wisest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/the-weakest-spot-in-every-man-is-where-he-thinks-himself-to-be-the/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [Selfishness is the root and source of all natural and moral evils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/selfishness-is-the-root-and-source-of-all-natural-and-moral-evils/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [Just definitions either prevent or put an end to disputes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/just-definitions-either-prevent-or-put-an-end-to-disputes/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) [Explore all 21 Nathanael Emmons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) ## More Exercise quotes > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [I always wanted to make sure that within my unit that I was never the weak person. So I made sure that my physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carmouche/i-always-wanted-to-make-sure-that-within-my-unit-that-i-was-never-the/) [Liz Carmouche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carmouche/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Everyday happiness means getting up in the morning, and you can't wait to finish your breakfast. You can't wait to do your exercises. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/everyday-happiness-means-getting-up-in-the-morning-and-you-can-t-wait/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) > [If your goal is to look different, you'll see results faster with strength training than with cardio alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kaiser/if-your-goal-is-to-look-different-you-ll-see-results-faster-with/) [Anna Kaiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kaiser/) > [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [Exercise teaches you the pleasure of discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/exercise-teaches-you-the-pleasure-of-discipline/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [One should try to locate power at the extreme of its exercise, where it is always less legal in character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/one-should-try-to-locate-power-at-the-extreme-of-its-exercise-where/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [What do you think of our gym <3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-do-you-think-of-our-gym-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is exactly in the repetition of the exercises that the education of the senses exists; not that the child shall know colors, forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/it-is-exactly-in-the-repetition-of-the-exercises-that-the-education/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [One things guys have to remember is consistency... You can't make up for three years of eating poorly in just one workout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/one-things-guys-have-to-remember-is-consistency-you-can-t-make-up-for/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [For girls who want to get their waistline down a little bit and don't have any weights in the house, they can actually use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepa/for-girls-who-want-to-get-their-waistline-down-a-little-bit-and-don-t/) [Pepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepa/) > [The human body has been designed to resist an infinite number of changes and attacks brought about by its environment. 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