--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How can you and I really expect to glide…" description: "\"How can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, 'Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56d/neal-a-maxwell-925_adversity_how-can-you-and-i-really-expect-to-glide_1587516.png" --- # How can you and I really expect to glide naively through… ![“How can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, 'Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art! Then, let me come…” quote by Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56d/neal-a-maxwell-925_adversity_how-can-you-and-i-really-expect-to-glide_1587516.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56d/neal-a-maxwell-925_adversity_how-can-you-and-i-really-expect-to-glide_1587516.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56d/neal-a-maxwell-925_adversity_how-can-you-and-i-really-expect-to-glide_1587516.png) > “How can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, 'Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art! Then, let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share Thy joy!'” [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker asks for a painless, trouble‑free life, fearing that hardship shapes character and faith. **In simple terms:** Avoiding pain also avoids growth. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges as part of spiritual development. Themes faith growth comfort spirituality Mood reflective hopeful serene Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal prayer - counseling - spiritual direction - life coaching - teaching Key Concepts theodicy human experience divine purpose Questions to Reflect On - What lessons might you miss by avoiding hardship? - How can suffering deepen your relationship with the divine? A Different Perspective Pain and difficulty are essential for true maturity and empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Betrayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayal/) [Dwell Thee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dwell-thee-348030/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Experiences Thee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiences-thee-6009910/) [Forsaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forsaken/) [Give me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/give-me/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Gliding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gliding/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Let me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-me/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is-hard/) [Life is not easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is-not-easy/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Lord Experiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord-experiences-6009911/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Mormonism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mormonism/) [Naively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naively-1102244/) [Naively Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naively-life-6009909/) [Opposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposition/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pain and sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-and-sorrow/) [Share](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/share/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) [Thee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thee/) [Thou art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou-art/) ## Related quotes > [“You and I cannot really expect to glide through life . . . naively petitioning, 'Lord, give me experience but not grief, a deeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-maxwell/you-and-i-cannot-really-expect-to-glide-through-life-naively/) [Neal maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-maxwell/) > [Mysterious love, uncertain treasure, hast thou more of pain or pleasure! Endless torments dwell about thee: Yet who would live, and live without thee!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/mysterious-love-uncertain-treasure-hast-thou-more-of-pain-or-pleasure/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“Lord, how excellent are Thy ways, and how devious and dark are the ways of man. Show us how to die, that we may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/lord-how-excellent-are-thy-ways-and-how-devious-and-dark-are-the-ways/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [If thou rememberest that God standeth by to behold and visit all that thou doest; whether in the body or in the soul, thou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-thou-rememberest-that-god-standeth-by-to-behold-and-visit-all-that/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [I (naively) thought university training would make you better in following what happens in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-rosling/i-naively-thought-university-training-would-make-you-better-in/) [Hans Rosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-rosling/) > [I'm still the person who naively thinks if I can imagine it, I can have it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lee/i-m-still-the-person-who-naively-thinks-if-i-can-imagine-it-i-can/) [Jennifer Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lee/) > [When I was a boy, I naively thought that this thing called happiness would be something I would wake up to find every day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bernard/when-i-was-a-boy-i-naively-thought-that-this-thing-called-happiness/) [Jeffrey Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bernard/) > [One naively thinks that by winning the Olympics, it's going to be this switch, and then your life is going to be perfect, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-hamill/one-naively-thinks-that-by-winning-the-olympics-it-s-going-to-be-this/) [Dorothy Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-hamill/) > [Maybe I see things too naively at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hodgson/maybe-i-see-things-too-naively-at-times/) [Roy Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hodgson/) > [“The naively cynical measure a piece of legislation, a victory, a milestone not against the past or the limits of the possible, but against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/the-naively-cynical-measure-a-piece-of-legislation-a-victory-a/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [“Don’t naively assume that negative influences have no impact on you, they do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mensah-oteh/don-t-naively-assume-that-negative-influences-have-no-impact-on-you/) [Mensah Oteh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mensah-oteh/) > [Just as we tend to assume that the world is as we see it, we naively suppose that people are as we imagine them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/just-as-we-tend-to-assume-that-the-world-is-as-we-see-it-we-naively/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [In general people experience their present naively, as it were, without being able to form an estimate of its contents; they have first to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/in-general-people-experience-their-present-naively-as-it-were-without/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-curie/life-is-not-easy-for-any-of-us-but-what-of-that-we-must-have/) [Marie Curie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-curie/) > [I am quite happy that the Beatles came and went. There is even a sort of glory in not having it go on forever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/i-am-quite-happy-that-the-beatles-came-and-went-there-is-even-a-sort/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) ## More by Neal A. Maxwell > [Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/clearly-when-we-baptize-our-eyes-should-gaze-beyond-the-baptismal/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [We should not assume; however, that just because something is unexplainable by us, it is unexplainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/we-should-not-assume-however-that-just-because-something-is/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Naive optimism and pervasive pessimism are both to be avoided, therefore. It's not an easy balance to maintain, to be asked to work away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-are-both-to-be-avoided/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Occasionally some individuals let the seeming ordinariness of life dampen their spirits. Though actually coping and growning, others lack the quiet, inner-soul satisfaction that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/occasionally-some-individuals-let-the-seeming-ordinariness-of-life/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The acceptance of the reality that we are in the Lord's loving hands is only a recognition that we have never really been anywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-acceptance-of-the-reality-that-we-are-in-the-lord-s-loving-hands/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [We can't dwell upon another's ingratitude without using up our time and talents unprofitably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/we-can-t-dwell-upon-another-s-ingratitude-without-using-up-our-time/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The winds of tribulation, which blow out some men's candles of commitment, only fan the fires of faith of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-winds-of-tribulation-which-blow-out-some-men-s-candles-of/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Power is most safe with those who are not in love with it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/power-is-most-safe-with-those-who-are-not-in-love-with-it/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Ultimate hope constitutes the anchor of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/ultimate-hope-constitutes-the-anchor-of-the-soul/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Frequently, we busily search for group service projects, which are surely needed and commendable, when quiet, personal service is also urgently needed. Sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/frequently-we-busily-search-for-group-service-projects-which-are/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The cumulative weight of all mortal sins--past, present, and future--pressed upon that perfect, sinless, and sensitive Soul! All our infirmities and sicknesses were somehow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-cumulative-weight-of-all-mortal-sins-past-present-and-future/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [“When we feel so alone, we cannot presume to teach him who, at the apogee of his agony, trod “the winepress alone” anything about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/when-we-feel-so-alone-we-cannot-presume-to-teach-him-who-at-the/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [How myopic it is to view His ministry as all crucifixion and no resurrection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/how-myopic-it-is-to-view-his-ministry-as-all-crucifixion-and-no/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Patience stoutly resists pulling up the daisies to see how the roots are doing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/patience-stoutly-resists-pulling-up-the-daisies-to-see-how-the-roots/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Our little pebble of poor performance helps to start, or to sustain, an avalanche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/our-little-pebble-of-poor-performance-helps-to-start-or-to-sustain-an/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) [Explore all 328 Neal A. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) [James Buckham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buckham-kennedy/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) [S.E. SEVER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-sever/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, 'Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. 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