--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To Be is to live with God." description: "\"To Be is to live with God.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_god_to-be-is-to-live-with-god-2046575_2046575.png" --- # To Be is to live with God. ![“To Be is to live with God.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_god_to-be-is-to-live-with-god-2046575_2046575.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_god_to-be-is-to-live-with-god-2046575_2046575.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_god_to-be-is-to-live-with-god-2046575_2046575.png) > “To Be is to live with God.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living with God means aligning life with divine purpose. **In simple terms:** God guides true living. Key Takeaway Seek purpose beyond self. Themes spirituality purpose philosophy Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily decisions - ethical dilemmas - personal growth Key Concepts theism existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What does divine purpose mean to you? - How does spirituality influence your choices? A Different Perspective Interpretations of “God” vary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live/) [Live God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-god/) ## Related quotes > [Henceforth, please God, forever I forego the yolk of men's opinions. I will be light-hearted as a bird and live with God. I find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/henceforth-please-god-forever-i-forego-the-yolk-of-men-s-opinions-i/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Live as with God; and, whatever be your calling, pray for the gift that will perfectly qualify you in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/live-as-with-god-and-whatever-be-your-calling-pray-for-the-gift-that/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) > [My imperative is to seek every moment and to live so God is in control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-salatin/my-imperative-is-to-seek-every-moment-and-to-live-so-god-is-in-control/) [Joel Salatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-salatin/) > [My desire is to live more to God today than yesterday, and to be more holy this day than the last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-asbury/my-desire-is-to-live-more-to-god-today-than-yesterday-and-to-be-more/) [Francis Asbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-asbury/) > [You can’t live for God until you learn how to live because of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-donehey/you-can-t-live-for-god-until-you-learn-how-to-live-because-of-god/) [Mike Donehey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-donehey/) > [“To live with God is better, but to die for Christ is the best. :)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippians-1-21/to-live-with-god-is-better-but-to-die-for-christ-is-the-best/) [Philippians 1 21](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippians-1-21/) > [“To me, every day of life is a good day. Of course there are people & situations thrown on your path, only as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanina-king/to-me-every-day-of-life-is-a-good-day-of-course-there-are-people/) [LaNina King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lanina-king/) > [“Is there no God? What is his correct address? Which street does he live in? Is he up there? There is no one up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/is-there-no-god-what-is-his-correct-address-which-street-does-he-live/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Live to please God, not people. You have His approval, and that is all you really need!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/live-to-please-god-not-people-you-have-his-approval-and-that-is-all/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/resolution-one-i-will-live-for-god-resolution-two-if-no-one-else-does/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“God blessed us with so many beautiful things around us 'NATURE' and then gave us the precious gift 'LIFE' to enjoy. So, why worried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manik-ghawri/god-blessed-us-with-so-many-beautiful-things-around-us-nature-and/) [Manik Ghawri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manik-ghawri/) > [Live as though only God and yourself were in this world, so that your heart may not be detained by anything human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/live-as-though-only-god-and-yourself-were-in-this-world-so-that-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Whither am I going? To the New World. What to do? To gain honor? No, if I know my own heart. To get money?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-asbury/whither-am-i-going-to-the-new-world-what-to-do-to-gain-honor-no-if-i/) [Francis Asbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-asbury/) > [Live for God. Obey the Scriptures. Think of others before yourself. Be holy. Love Jesus. And as you do these things, do whatever else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/live-for-god-obey-the-scriptures-think-of-others-before-yourself-be/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [You can't live for God until you learn how to live because of God. And you can't go and make good choices for God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-donehey/you-can-t-live-for-god-until-you-learn-how-to-live-because-of-god-and/) [Mike Donehey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-donehey/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More God quotes > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) [Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To Be is to live with God.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/to-be-is-to-live-with-god/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "God" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/to-be-is-to-live-with-god/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_god_to-be-is-to-live-with-god-2046575_2046575.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_god_to-be-is-to-live-with-god-2046575_2046575.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/731/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_god_to-be-is-to-live-with-god-2046575_2046575.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To Be is to live with God.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To Be is to live with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/to-be-is-to-live-with-god/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/to-be-is-to-live-with-god/#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 } } ] } ```