--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He tried everything from science to…" description: "\"“He tried everything from science to voodoo, everything but prayer. That, at least, I could give him in abundance. I prayed ceaselessly for him, a desp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ff/patti-smith-394_life_he-tried-everything-from-science-to-vood_483901.jpg" --- # He tried everything from science to voodoo, everything but… ![“He tried everything from science to voodoo, everything but prayer. That, at least, I could give him in abundance. I prayed ceaselessly for him, a desperate human prayer. Not for his life, no one could take that cup from him, but for the strength to endure the unendurable.” quote by Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ff/patti-smith-394_life_he-tried-everything-from-science-to-vood_483901.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ff/patti-smith-394_life_he-tried-everything-from-science-to-vood_483901.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ff/patti-smith-394_life_he-tried-everything-from-science-to-vood_483901.jpg) > ““He tried everything from science to voodoo, everything but prayer. That, at least, I could give him in abundance. I prayed ceaselessly for him, a desperate human prayer. Not for his life, no one could take that cup from him, but for the strength to endure the unendurable.”” [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) ## 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 offers relentless prayer for someone’s endurance, not to change fate but to give them inner strength to face impossible suffering. **In simple terms:** Prayer for strength, not rescue. Key Takeaway Offer unwavering support through prayer. Themes compassion endurance faith suffering support Mood somber reflective hopeful Type empathic inspirational When to use this quote - caregiving - terminal illness - war trauma - personal loss - mental health crises Key Concepts spirituality human resilience existential struggle Questions to Reflect On - How can we support others when we cannot change their fate? - What limits exist for prayer’s effectiveness? A Different Perspective Prayer cannot alter external events, only internal coping. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abundance Prayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abundance-prayed-4155309/) [Human Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-prayer-3118419/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Prayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayed/) [Prayed Ceaselessly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayed-ceaselessly-4155311/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Voodoo Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voodoo-prayer-4155310/) ## Related quotes > [Love happens when you are ready to share with another human being. Prayer happens when you are ready to share with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/love-happens-when-you-are-ready-to-share-with-another-human-being/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“Maybe if we all prayed for somebody else, somehow we'd all be forgiven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-bavati/maybe-if-we-all-prayed-for-somebody-else-somehow-we-d-all-be-forgiven/) [Robyn Bavati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-bavati/) > [“God's forgot that ever I lived... He's forgot...and He never cared, nohow…" He smoothed her brown, rough-palmed hand; he held her hands to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-miller/god-s-forgot-that-ever-i-lived-he-s-forgot-and-he-never-cared-nohow/) [Caroline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-miller/) > [“However, as he began his prayer, she couldn’t think about anything but the warm pressure of his hands against hers. His fingers were strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jody-hedlund/however-as-he-began-his-prayer-she-couldn-t-think-about-anything-but/) [Jody Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jody-hedlund/) > [“At the time, I prayed to God only intermittently, and then mainly to ask for things, such as: “Please let me get an A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-martin/at-the-time-i-prayed-to-god-only-intermittently-and-then-mainly-to/) [James Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-martin/) > [We must learn to let go, to give up, to make room for the things we have prayed for and desired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fillmore/we-must-learn-to-let-go-to-give-up-to-make-room-for-the-things-we/) [Charles Fillmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fillmore/) > [“She prayed for that all through the night, uncertain to Whom or what, but with a feeling that almost resembled faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-jordan/she-prayed-for-that-all-through-the-night-uncertain-to-whom-or-what/) [Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) > [Sometimes I prayed for Baby Jesus to make me good, but Baby Jesus didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/sometimes-i-prayed-for-baby-jesus-to-make-me-good-but-baby-jesus-didn/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the Mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-l-reynolds/and-he-came-out-and-went-as-he-was-wont-to-the-mount-of-olives-and/) [Benjamin L. Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-l-reynolds/) > [I knew I wanted to be used by God in big ways. I always prayed He would trust me enough to use me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-robertson/i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-used-by-god-in-big-ways-i-always-prayed-he/) [Kay Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-robertson/) > [In the beginning, people prayed to the Creatress of Life, the Mistress of Heaven. At the very dawn of religion, God was a woman.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merlin-stone/in-the-beginning-people-prayed-to-the-creatress-of-life-the-mistress/) [Merlin Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merlin-stone/) > [She told me that all the girls in Annezin prayed every night for the war to end and for the English to go away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/she-told-me-that-all-the-girls-in-annezin-prayed-every-night-for-the/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [“And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-morgan/and-when-they-had-prayed-the-place-where-they-were-assembled-together/) [Robert J. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-morgan/) > [How many times have you prayed or asked or said you needed help, when suddenly somebody showed up in your life? We are all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agapi-stassinopoulos/how-many-times-have-you-prayed-or-asked-or-said-you-needed-help-when/) [Agapi Stassinopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agapi-stassinopoulos/) > [That night, I thanked God for seeing me through that day of days and prayed I would make it through D plus 1. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-winters/that-night-i-thanked-god-for-seeing-me-through-that-day-of-days-and/) [Richard Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-winters/) ## More by Patti Smith > [I had a really happy childhood - my siblings were great, my mother was very fanciful, and I loved to read. But there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-had-a-really-happy-childhood-my-siblings-were-great-my-mother-was/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [As a citizen, hopefully I'm humanist. As an artist, I'm free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/as-a-citizen-hopefully-i-m-humanist-as-an-artist-i-m-free/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [ Sometimes \[people\] seem to think I came out of the womb, you know, cursing, with an electric guitar. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/sometimes-people-seem-to-think-i-came-out-of-the-womb-you-know/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“Inside it he inscribed a few lines of poetry, portraying us as the gypsy and the fool, one creating silence; one listening closely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/inside-it-he-inscribed-a-few-lines-of-poetry-portraying-us-as-the/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Who can know the heart of youth but youth itself?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/who-can-know-the-heart-of-youth-but-youth-itself/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“I clawed through a thick web of the culture’s consciousness that I hadn’t known existed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-clawed-through-a-thick-web-of-the-culture-s-consciousness-that-i/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Ultimately, we are not seeking others to bow to, but to reinforce our individual natures, to help us suffer our own choices, to guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/ultimately-we-are-not-seeking-others-to-bow-to-but-to-reinforce-our/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [If I'm taking a picture of Brancusi's grave, I know that there's something of him, of his mortal remains, beneath my feet, and there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/if-i-m-taking-a-picture-of-brancusi-s-grave-i-know-that-there-s/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I'm certain, as we filled down the great staircase, that I appeared the same as ever, a moping twelve years-old, all arms and legs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-m-certain-as-we-filled-down-the-great-staircase-that-i-appeared-the/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life may you proceed with balance and stealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/in-art-and-dream-may-you-proceed-with-abandon-in-life-may-you-proceed/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [New York is the thing that seduced me. New York is the thing that formed me. New York is the thing that deformed me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/new-york-is-the-thing-that-seduced-me-new-york-is-the-thing-that/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I don't wanna be equal with anybody. I wanna be above equal. I don't think most people are equal to me. I'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-don-t-wanna-be-equal-with-anybody-i-wanna-be-above-equal-i-don-t/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I think I'm constantly in a state of adjustment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-think-i-m-constantly-in-a-state-of-adjustment/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Somehow I started introducing writing into my drawings, and after a time, the language took over and I started getting very involved with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/somehow-i-started-introducing-writing-into-my-drawings-and-after-a/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I'm okay with roaming around the world in my bunk for days on end. Maybe every third day I'll get a shower or stumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-m-okay-with-roaming-around-the-world-in-my-bunk-for-days-on-end/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) [Explore all 595 Patti Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) ## More Life quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“There's more to life than you can see. Your sight is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-kling/there-s-more-to-life-than-you-can-see-your-sight-is-limited/) [Tammy Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-kling/) > [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/) [Deanna L. Lawlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-l-lawlis/) > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) [Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He tried everything from science to voodoo, everything but prayer. 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