--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The more I prayed for my enemies, the…" description: "\"The more I prayed for my enemies, the softer my heart became.\" — Phan Thi Kim Phuc" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/phan-thi-kim-phuc-9214_enemies_the-more-i-prayed-for-my-enemies-the-sof_3151321.jpg" --- # The more I prayed for my enemies, the softer my heart… ![“The more I prayed for my enemies, the softer my heart became.” quote by Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/phan-thi-kim-phuc-9214_enemies_the-more-i-prayed-for-my-enemies-the-sof_3151321.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/phan-thi-kim-phuc-9214_enemies_the-more-i-prayed-for-my-enemies-the-sof_3151321.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/phan-thi-kim-phuc-9214_enemies_the-more-i-prayed-for-my-enemies-the-sof_3151321.jpg) > “The more I prayed for my enemies, the softer my heart became.” [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Praying for enemies cultivates compassion, softening hostility into empathy. **In simple terms:** Praying for foes makes you kinder. Key Takeaway Practice empathy toward those you dislike. Themes compassion forgiveness empathy Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - conflict resolution - personal growth - interpersonal relationships Key Concepts Buddhist compassion psychology of forgiveness Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn anger into compassion? - What practices help soften a hardened heart? A Different Perspective May not work if resentment is deeply entrenched. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Enemies Softer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies-softer-5658409/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Prayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayed/) [Prayed Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayed-enemies-5658408/) [Softer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/softer/) [Softer Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/softer-heart-4453347/) ## Related quotes > [The softer your heart is the less that your past is forming your present and your future. When there is openness and softness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/the-softer-your-heart-is-the-less-that-your-past-is-forming-your/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > [For years, I prayed to the gods of Cao Dai for healing and peace. But as one prayer after another went unanswered, it became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/for-years-i-prayed-to-the-gods-of-cao-dai-for-healing-and-peace-but/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [Europe seems a little softer, but in America it's harsh. In L.A., where I live, it's all about perfectionism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/europe-seems-a-little-softer-but-in-america-it-s-harsh-in-l-a-where-i/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [Heartbeats pound softer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silverstein/heartbeats-pound-softer/) [Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silverstein/) > [My softer side? I mean, I like to snuggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-gronkowski/my-softer-side-i-mean-i-like-to-snuggle/) [Rob Gronkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-gronkowski/) > [It's taken me years to embrace the softer elements of who I am and let that shine some.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-lynne/it-s-taken-me-years-to-embrace-the-softer-elements-of-who-i-am-and/) [Shelby Lynne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-lynne/) > [Advice is like snow; the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into, the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/advice-is-like-snow-the-softer-it-falls-the-longer-it-dwells-upon-and/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [“Oh, what is brighter than the light? What is darker than the night? What is kkener than an axe? What is softer than melting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/oh-what-is-brighter-than-the-light-what-is-darker-than-the-night-what/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The more you dont look backwards the more you wont turn into stone...move forward and smell the roses,they have a softer feeling..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenchqueen/the-more-you-dont-look-backwards-the-more-you-wont-turn-into-stone/) [Frenchqueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frenchqueen/) > [My dad is the softer one and my mum is the disciplinarian, the one who calls the shots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-madeley/my-dad-is-the-softer-one-and-my-mum-is-the-disciplinarian-the-one-who/) [Chloe Madeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-madeley/) > [For people who have been following me for a long time, I really hope that they can get to know me a little better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-nigri/for-people-who-have-been-following-me-for-a-long-time-i-really-hope/) [Jessica Nigri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-nigri/) > [I'm always looking in the lighting to tell the story in a different way than it actually looks in real life because it's, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/i-m-always-looking-in-the-lighting-to-tell-the-story-in-a-different/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [Sometimes people think that that you are going softer, or you are going mainstream, but that's not true. It's way more true to change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neige/sometimes-people-think-that-that-you-are-going-softer-or-you-are/) [Neige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neige/) > [You should have a softer pillow than my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/you-should-have-a-softer-pillow-than-my-heart/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [People in the U.K. are passionate about the 'X Factor' - it's their show, so you have to care. It's brought out a more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulisa/people-in-the-u-k-are-passionate-about-the-x-factor-it-s-their-show/) [Tulisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulisa/) ## More by Phan Thi Kim Phuc > [I suffered too much and I want to stop the suffering of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-suffered-too-much-and-i-want-to-stop-the-suffering-of-other-people/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [From time to time I look at the picture when I am very sad. I just want to remember my past and that scene…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/from-time-to-time-i-look-at-the-picture-when-i-am-very-sad-i-just/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I am praying every day for peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-am-praying-every-day-for-peace/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [Those bombs have brought me immeasurable pain. Even now, some 40 years later, I am still receiving treatment for burns that cover my arms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/those-bombs-have-brought-me-immeasurable-pain-even-now-some-40-years/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I want to give back all the love and care that I have received over the years from so many people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-want-to-give-back-all-the-love-and-care-that-i-have-received-over/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I got burned by napalm, and I became a victim of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-got-burned-by-napalm-and-i-became-a-victim-of-war/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [God used me that day. Even though so much of my body was burned, my feet were not burned, and so I could run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/god-used-me-that-day-even-though-so-much-of-my-body-was-burned-my/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [Religion doesn't help me at all. But the relationship between me and God and Jesus, that changed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/religion-doesn-t-help-me-at-all-but-the-relationship-between-me-and/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [As a child, I loved to climb on the tree, like a monkey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/as-a-child-i-loved-to-climb-on-the-tree-like-a-monkey/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I have my foundation, I help the children who are victims of war, and I talk about kids and I help people to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-have-my-foundation-i-help-the-children-who-are-victims-of-war-and-i/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I was really embarrassed. And I asked why they took my picture when I was in such agony, and I'm the girl, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-was-really-embarrassed-and-i-asked-why-they-took-my-picture-when-i/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I have two boys, so I don't want any more child to suffer like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-have-two-boys-so-i-don-t-want-any-more-child-to-suffer-like-me/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [For years, I prayed to the gods of Cao Dai for healing and peace. But as one prayer after another went unanswered, it became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/for-years-i-prayed-to-the-gods-of-cao-dai-for-healing-and-peace-but/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [Dear friends: faith and forgiveness is much more powerful than napalm could ever be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/dear-friends-faith-and-forgiveness-is-much-more-powerful-than-napalm/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) > [I hated myself. I hated people who made war. I hated people who were normal. I envied them. I wish I would be normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/i-hated-myself-i-hated-people-who-made-war-i-hated-people-who-were/) [Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) [Explore all 74 Phan Thi Kim Phuc quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/) ## More Enemies quotes > [“Never let your Enemies become your Advocates.” by A. K. Hasan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-k-hasan/never-let-your-enemies-become-your-advocates-by-a-k-hasan/) [A.K. Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-k-hasan/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [“If it takes night to make day, pain to know pleasure, black to make white, then doesn't it stand to reason that the depth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-snyder/if-it-takes-night-to-make-day-pain-to-know-pleasure-black-to-make/) [Michael Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-snyder/) > [“Enemies Teach. Friends Preach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/enemies-teach-friends-preach/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) > [Your greatest weapon is your enemies mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddha/your-greatest-weapon-is-your-enemies-mind/) [Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddha/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Sometimes even paranoids have enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delmore-schwartz/sometimes-even-paranoids-have-enemies/) [Delmore Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delmore-schwartz/) > [When a husband brings his wife flowers for no reason, there's a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-mcgee/when-a-husband-brings-his-wife-flowers-for-no-reason-there-s-a-reason/) [Molly McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-mcgee/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“Anyone who is portraying Israel as a friend is a servant of Israel. I warn some sides against turning enemies into friends and friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayed-hassan-nasrallah/anyone-who-is-portraying-israel-as-a-friend-is-a-servant-of-israel-i/) [Sayed Hassan Nasrallah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayed-hassan-nasrallah/) > [No accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person's enemies say about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/no-accurate-thinker-will-judge-another-person-by-that-which-the-other/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Whoever will not love his enemies cannot know the Lord and the sweetness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silouan-the-athonite/whoever-will-not-love-his-enemies-cannot-know-the-lord-and-the/) [Silouan the Athonite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silouan-the-athonite/) > [I play basketball hard-nosed and if you're not on my team, during that 48 minutes we're enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/i-play-basketball-hard-nosed-and-if-you-re-not-on-my-team-during-that/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [“Enemies are people who's story you haven't heard, or who's face you haven't seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-butter/enemies-are-people-who-s-story-you-haven-t-heard-or-who-s-face-you/) [Irene Butter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-butter/) > [A sweet thing, perspective - a chance to see your enemies so small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/a-sweet-thing-perspective-a-chance-to-see-your-enemies-so-small/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) [Browse all 1,888 Enemies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The more I prayed for my enemies, the softer my heart became.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Phan Thi Kim Phuc" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/the-more-i-prayed-for-my-enemies-the-softer-my-heart-became/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enemies" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/the-more-i-prayed-for-my-enemies-the-softer-my-heart-became/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/phan-thi-kim-phuc-9214_enemies_the-more-i-prayed-for-my-enemies-the-sof_3151321.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/phan-thi-kim-phuc-9214_enemies_the-more-i-prayed-for-my-enemies-the-sof_3151321.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/phan-thi-kim-phuc-9214_enemies_the-more-i-prayed-for-my-enemies-the-sof_3151321.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The more I prayed for my enemies, the softer my heart became.” — Phan Thi Kim Phuc", "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": "Phan Thi Kim Phuc", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The more I prayed for my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/the-more-i-prayed-for-my-enemies-the-softer-my-heart-became/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/the-more-i-prayed-for-my-enemies-the-softer-my-heart-became/#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 } } ] } ```