---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One must pray first, but afterwards one…"
description: "\"One must pray first, but afterwards one must help oneself. God does not care for cowards. --\"Wanda\" — Ouida"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7b/ouida-3651_care_one-must-pray-first-but-afterwards-one-m_1769779.png"
---

#  One must pray first, but afterwards one must help oneself…

![“One must pray first, but afterwards one must help oneself. God does not care for cowards. --&quot;Wanda” quote by Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7b/ouida-3651_care_one-must-pray-first-but-afterwards-one-m_1769779.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7b/ouida-3651_care_one-must-pray-first-but-afterwards-one-m_1769779.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7b/ouida-3651_care_one-must-pray-first-but-afterwards-one-m_1769779.png)

> “One must pray first, but afterwards one must help oneself. God does not care for cowards. --"Wanda”

[Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/)

## About This Quote

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

Prayer should be followed by personal effort; divine help favors the proactive, not the cowardly.

**In simple terms:** Pray, then act; God favors the brave.

Key Takeaway

Take action after praying.

Themes

faith self-reliance courage responsibility

Mood

thoughtful encouraging

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- career decisions
- health challenges
- financial planning

Key Concepts

theology personal agency motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you balance faith with personal effort?
- When is prayer insufficient?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on divine aid may discourage seeking practical help.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Care Cowards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care-cowards-1641505/) [Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward/) [Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/) [Cowards Wanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowards-wanda-1767677/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Help Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-oneself-1641506/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself/) [Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray/) [Pray Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray-help-716895/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Self help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-help/)

## Related quotes

> [One must pray first, but afterwards one must help oneself. God does not care for cowards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/one-must-pray-first-but-afterwards-one-must-help-oneself-god-does-not/)

[Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/)

> [Self-help must precede help from others. Even for making certain of help from heaven, one has to help oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morarji-desai/self-help-must-precede-help-from-others-even-for-making-certain-of/)

[Morarji Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morarji-desai/)

> [“For one can never really be helped by another; one must find the strength to help oneself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/for-one-can-never-really-be-helped-by-another-one-must-find-the/)

[Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/)

> [“Do not pray for help when you are facing adversity. Pray for wisdom, strength, and tenacity so that you can overcome it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/do-not-pray-for-help-when-you-are-facing-adversity-pray-for-wisdom/)

[Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/)

> [“He looked into my face innocently searching with his clear eyes. He was waiting apparently for me to tell him what it was about.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/he-looked-into-my-face-innocently-searching-with-his-clear-eyes-he/)

[Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/)

> [We should always pray for help, but we should always listen for inspiration and impressions to proceed in ways different from those we may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-groberg/we-should-always-pray-for-help-but-we-should-always-listen-for/)

[John H. Groberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-groberg/)

> [Often we want people to pray for us and help us, but we always defeat our object when we look too much to them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-simpson/often-we-want-people-to-pray-for-us-and-help-us-but-we-always-defeat/)

[A. B. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-simpson/)

> [I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. It doesn't change God - it changes me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-pray-because-i-can-t-help-myself-i-pray-because-i-m-helpless-it/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [You may have confidence in the Lord’s service. The Savior will help you do what He has called you to do, be it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/you-may-have-confidence-in-the-lord-s-service-the-savior-will-help/)

[Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/)

> [We are all in this together. With fellow ward members and missionaries, we plan and pray and help one another. Please keep the full-time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-l-andersen/we-are-all-in-this-together-with-fellow-ward-members-and-missionaries/)

[Neil L. Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-l-andersen/)

> [“C. S. Lewis described: “I pray because I can’t help myself. . . . I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/c-s-lewis-described-i-pray-because-i-can-t-help-myself-i-pray-because/)

[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/)

> [There are many out there who plead and pray for help. There are those who are discouraged, those who are beset by poor health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/there-are-many-out-there-who-plead-and-pray-for-help-there-are-those/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [I pray because I can't help myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-pray-because-i-can-t-help-myself/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [The Savior will help you do what He has called you to do, be it for a time as a worker in the Church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/the-savior-will-help-you-do-what-he-has-called-you-to-do-be-it-for-a/)

[Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/)

> [Let us be on the side of those who sit in jails and are sentenced to death for their faith. Let us pray for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wurmbrand/let-us-be-on-the-side-of-those-who-sit-in-jails-and-are-sentenced-to/)

[Richard Wurmbrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wurmbrand/)

## More by Ouida

> [Sport inevitably creates deadness of feeling. No one could take pleasure in it who was sensitive to suffering; and therefore its pursuit by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/sport-inevitably-creates-deadness-of-feeling-no-one-could-take/)

[Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/)

> [Indifference is the invincible grant of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/indifference-is-the-invincible-grant-of-the-world/)

[Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/)

> [When you talk yourself, you think how witty, how original, how acute you are; but when another does so, you are very apt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/when-you-talk-yourself-you-think-how-witty-how-original-how-acute-you/)

[Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/)

> [Indifference is the invisible giant of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/indifference-is-the-invisible-giant-of-the-world/)

[Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/)

> [There is nothing that you may not get people to believe in if you will only tell it them loud enough and often enough,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/there-is-nothing-that-you-may-not-get-people-to-believe-in-if-you/)

[Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/)

> [To vice, innocence must always seem only a superior kind of chicanery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/to-vice-innocence-must-always-seem-only-a-superior-kind-of-chicanery/)

[Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/)

> [An easy-going husband is the one indispensable comfort of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/an-easy-going-husband-is-the-one-indispensable-comfort-of-life/)

[Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/)

> [Christianity has ever been the enemy of human love; it has forever cursed and expelled and crucified the one passion which sweetens and smiles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/christianity-has-ever-been-the-enemy-of-human-love-it-has-forever/)

[Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/)

> [Genius scorns the power of gold: it is wrong. Gold is the war-scythe on its chariot, which mows down the millions of its foes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/genius-scorns-the-power-of-gold-it-is-wrong-gold-is-the-war-scythe-on/)

[Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/)

> [There is a self-evident axiom, that she who is born a beauty is half married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/there-is-a-self-evident-axiom-that-she-who-is-born-a-beauty-is-half/)

[Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/)

> [No great talker ever did any great thing yet, in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/no-great-talker-ever-did-any-great-thing-yet-in-this-world/)

[Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/)

> [The philosopher stands at his desk in the lecture hall, and demonstrates away the soul of man, and with exact thought measures out his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/the-philosopher-stands-at-his-desk-in-the-lecture-hall-and/)

[Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/)

> [The song that we hear with our ears is only the song that is sung in our hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/the-song-that-we-hear-with-our-ears-is-only-the-song-that-is-sung-in/)

[Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/)

> [It is a kind of blindness--poverty. We can only grope through life when we are poor, hitting and maiming ourselves against every angle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/it-is-a-kind-of-blindness-poverty-we-can-only-grope-through-life-when/)

[Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/)

> [A just chastisement may benefit a man, though it seldom does; but an unjust one changes all his blood to gall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/a-just-chastisement-may-benefit-a-man-though-it-seldom-does-but-an/)

[Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/)

[Explore all 125 Ouida quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/)

## More Care quotes

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [We all know what it feels like to love someone and care about them and want to protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-madeira/we-all-know-what-it-feels-like-to-love-someone-and-care-about-them/)

[Kiana Madeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-madeira/)

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [I certainly do care for you Jeff Campbell less than you are always thinking and much more than you are ever knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-certainly-do-care-for-you-jeff-campbell-less-than-you-are-always/)

[Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/)

> [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/)

[Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/)

> [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/)

[Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/)

> [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/)

[Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/)

> [What makes you care about nature, about the planet? Is it really that you're afraid of what's going to happen if you don't take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/what-makes-you-care-about-nature-about-the-planet-is-it-really-that/)

[Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/)

> [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/)

[James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/)

> [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/)

[Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/)

> [I don't care if you make a print on a bath mat, just as long as it is a good print.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-weston/i-don-t-care-if-you-make-a-print-on-a-bath-mat-just-as-long-as-it-is/)

[Edward Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-weston/)

> [The world's problems are, by and large, human problems-the unavoidable consequence of egoic sleepwalking. If we care to look, all the signs are present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-world-s-problems-are-by-and-large-human-problems-the-unavoidable/)

[Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

[Browse all 19,019 Care quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "One must pray first, but afterwards one must help oneself. God does not care for cowards. --\"Wanda",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ouida"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/one-must-pray-first-but-afterwards-one-must-help-oneself-god-does-not-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Care"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/one-must-pray-first-but-afterwards-one-must-help-oneself-god-does-not-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7b/ouida-3651_care_one-must-pray-first-but-afterwards-one-m_1769779.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7b/ouida-3651_care_one-must-pray-first-but-afterwards-one-m_1769779.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7b/ouida-3651_care_one-must-pray-first-but-afterwards-one-m_1769779.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“One must pray first, but afterwards one must help oneself. God does not care for cowards. --\"Wanda” — Ouida",
                "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": "Ouida",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "One must pray first, but afterwards...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/one-must-pray-first-but-afterwards-one-must-help-oneself-god-does-not-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/one-must-pray-first-but-afterwards-one-must-help-oneself-god-does-not-2/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
