---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All prayers die in the air which they…"
description: "\"All prayers die in the air which they uselessly agitate.\" — Robert Green Ingersoll"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/robert-green-ingersoll-361_agitate_all-prayers-die-in-the-air-which-they-us_2569682.png"
---

#  All prayers die in the air which they uselessly agitate.

![“All prayers die in the air which they uselessly agitate.” quote by Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/robert-green-ingersoll-361_agitate_all-prayers-die-in-the-air-which-they-us_2569682.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/robert-green-ingersoll-361_agitate_all-prayers-die-in-the-air-which-they-us_2569682.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/robert-green-ingersoll-361_agitate_all-prayers-die-in-the-air-which-they-us_2569682.png)

> “All prayers die in the air which they uselessly agitate.”

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

## About This Quote

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

Critiques prayer as ineffective, suggesting it merely stirs empty air.

**In simple terms:** Prayers are ineffective.

Key Takeaway

Seek practical solutions.

Themes

skepticism religion prayer

Mood

critical skeptical

Type

philosophical controversial

When to use this quote

- personal crisis
- debate
- public speaking

Key Concepts

rationalism existentialism

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do people persist in prayer despite doubts?
- What alternatives replace prayer for meaning?

A Different Perspective

May overlook comfort prayer provides.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Agitate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agitate/) [Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [Air Uselessly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air-uselessly-1680323/) [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Prayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayers/) [Prayers Die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayers-die-1680321/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Uselessly Agitate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uselessly-agitate-1680322/)

## Related quotes

> [“What is to be, will be, and no prayers of ours can arrest the decree.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/what-is-to-be-will-be-and-no-prayers-of-ours-can-arrest-the-decree/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [“If lies comfort, and truth disturbs - self is being agitated as a result of prideful living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/if-lies-comfort-and-truth-disturbs-self-is-being-agitated-as-a-result/)

[T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/)

> [Pour some water into a tub and stir it up. Now try as hard as you can to calm the water with your hands;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koichi-tohei/pour-some-water-into-a-tub-and-stir-it-up-now-try-as-hard-as-you-can/)

[Koichi Tohei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koichi-tohei/)

> [The risk is enormous to Democrats. Even talking about censure or impeachment threatens to really agitate the Republican base.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-cook/the-risk-is-enormous-to-democrats-even-talking-about-censure-or/)

[Charlie Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-cook/)

> [But in his Farewell Address, George Washington made it clear that he perceived no greater threat to the American experiment than a partisan demagogue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/but-in-his-farewell-address-george-washington-made-it-clear-that-he/)

[John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/)

> [Agitate him and ascertain the pattern of his movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/agitate-him-and-ascertain-the-pattern-of-his-movement/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [In the beginning, when you are meditating, just ignore thought. Shine it on. Then after you are comfortable sitting there, try selectively eliminating negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-the-beginning-when-you-are-meditating-just-ignore-thought-shine-it/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [My final words of advice to you are educate, agitate and organize; have faith in yourself. With justice on our side I do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-r-ambedkar/my-final-words-of-advice-to-you-are-educate-agitate-and-organize-have/)

[B. R. Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/)

> [The most violent passions sometimes leave us at rest, but vanity agitates us constantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-most-violent-passions-sometimes-leave-us-at-rest-but-vanity/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Language is, in other words, not necessary, but voluntary. If it were necessary, it would have stayed simple; it would not agitate our hearts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/language-is-in-other-words-not-necessary-but-voluntary-if-it-were/)

[Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/)

> [I don't know how you feel, but I feel like writing, clarity of thought, and truth have been validated because we see what happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-don-t-know-how-you-feel-but-i-feel-like-writing-clarity-of-thought/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [Organize, agitate, educate, must be our war cry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/organize-agitate-educate-must-be-our-war-cry/)

[Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/)

> [As has been reported, and is unmistakably evident to all but the most naïve, federal employees have been ordered to exploit this crisis, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/as-has-been-reported-and-is-unmistakably-evident-to-all-but-the-most/)

[Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/)

> [There is no eloquence which does not agitate the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/there-is-no-eloquence-which-does-not-agitate-the-soul/)

[Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/)

> [Humility does not disturb or disquiet or agitate, however great it may be; it comes with peace, delight, and calm. . . . The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/humility-does-not-disturb-or-disquiet-or-agitate-however-great-it-may/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

## More by Robert Green Ingersoll

> [Our hope of immortality does not come from any religions, but nearly all religions come from that hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/our-hope-of-immortality-does-not-come-from-any-religions-but-nearly/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [I read the other day an account of a meeting between John Knox and John Calvin. Imagine a dialogue between a pestilence and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-read-the-other-day-an-account-of-a-meeting-between-john-knox-and/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [Shakespeare has done far more for the world than the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/shakespeare-has-done-far-more-for-the-world-than-the-bible/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [Every man who expresses an honest thought is a soldier in the army of intellectual liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/every-man-who-expresses-an-honest-thought-is-a-soldier-in-the-army-of/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [Liberty is the condition of progress. Without Liberty, there remains only barbarism. Without Liberty, there can be no civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/liberty-is-the-condition-of-progress-without-liberty-there-remains/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [It has been said that a man of genius should select his ancestors with great care - and yet there does not seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/it-has-been-said-that-a-man-of-genius-should-select-his-ancestors/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [When passions and appetites are stronger than the intellect, men are savages; when the intellect governs the passions, when the passions are servants, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/when-passions-and-appetites-are-stronger-than-the-intellect-men-are/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [In spite of my surroundings, of my education, I had no love for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/in-spite-of-my-surroundings-of-my-education-i-had-no-love-for-god/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [The combined wisdom and genius of all mankind cannot possibly conceive of an argument against liberty of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-combined-wisdom-and-genius-of-all-mankind-cannot-possibly/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [Calvin founded a little theocracy, modeled after the Old Testament, and succeeded in erecting the most detestable government that ever existed, except the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/calvin-founded-a-little-theocracy-modeled-after-the-old-testament-and/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [I do not believe in loving enemies; I have pretty hard work to love my friends. Neither do I believe in revenge. No man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-do-not-believe-in-loving-enemies-i-have-pretty-hard-work-to-love-my/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [What is it that distinguishes you and me from the lower animals - from the beasts? More, I say, than anything else, human sympathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/what-is-it-that-distinguishes-you-and-me-from-the-lower-animals-from/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [The literature of many lands is rich with the tributes that gratitude, admiration and love have paid to the great and honored dead. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-literature-of-many-lands-is-rich-with-the-tributes-that-gratitude/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

[Explore all 640 Robert Green Ingersoll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

## More Agitate quotes

> [“If lies comfort, and truth disturbs - self is being agitated as a result of prideful living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/if-lies-comfort-and-truth-disturbs-self-is-being-agitated-as-a-result/)

[T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/)

> [There is no eloquence which does not agitate the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/there-is-no-eloquence-which-does-not-agitate-the-soul/)

[Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/)

> [As has been reported, and is unmistakably evident to all but the most naïve, federal employees have been ordered to exploit this crisis, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/as-has-been-reported-and-is-unmistakably-evident-to-all-but-the-most/)

[Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/)

> [Organize, agitate, educate, must be our war cry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/organize-agitate-educate-must-be-our-war-cry/)

[Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/)

> [I don't know how you feel, but I feel like writing, clarity of thought, and truth have been validated because we see what happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-don-t-know-how-you-feel-but-i-feel-like-writing-clarity-of-thought/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [Language is, in other words, not necessary, but voluntary. If it were necessary, it would have stayed simple; it would not agitate our hearts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/language-is-in-other-words-not-necessary-but-voluntary-if-it-were/)

[Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/)

> [The most violent passions sometimes leave us at rest, but vanity agitates us constantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-most-violent-passions-sometimes-leave-us-at-rest-but-vanity/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [My final words of advice to you are educate, agitate and organize; have faith in yourself. With justice on our side I do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-r-ambedkar/my-final-words-of-advice-to-you-are-educate-agitate-and-organize-have/)

[B. R. Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/)

> [In the beginning, when you are meditating, just ignore thought. Shine it on. Then after you are comfortable sitting there, try selectively eliminating negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-the-beginning-when-you-are-meditating-just-ignore-thought-shine-it/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Agitate him and ascertain the pattern of his movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/agitate-him-and-ascertain-the-pattern-of-his-movement/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [But in his Farewell Address, George Washington made it clear that he perceived no greater threat to the American experiment than a partisan demagogue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/but-in-his-farewell-address-george-washington-made-it-clear-that-he/)

[John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/)

> [The risk is enormous to Democrats. Even talking about censure or impeachment threatens to really agitate the Republican base.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-cook/the-risk-is-enormous-to-democrats-even-talking-about-censure-or/)

[Charlie Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-cook/)

> [Pour some water into a tub and stir it up. Now try as hard as you can to calm the water with your hands;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koichi-tohei/pour-some-water-into-a-tub-and-stir-it-up-now-try-as-hard-as-you-can/)

[Koichi Tohei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koichi-tohei/)

> [Humility does not disturb or disquiet or agitate, however great it may be; it comes with peace, delight, and calm. . . . The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/humility-does-not-disturb-or-disquiet-or-agitate-however-great-it-may/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [Tolerance is really a better thing than understanding. Because it doesn't agitate against human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/tolerance-is-really-a-better-thing-than-understanding-because-it/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

[Browse all 54 Agitate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agitate/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "All prayers die in the air which they uselessly agitate.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robert Green Ingersoll"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/all-prayers-die-in-the-air-which-they-uselessly-agitate/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Agitate"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/all-prayers-die-in-the-air-which-they-uselessly-agitate/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/robert-green-ingersoll-361_agitate_all-prayers-die-in-the-air-which-they-us_2569682.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/robert-green-ingersoll-361_agitate_all-prayers-die-in-the-air-which-they-us_2569682.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/robert-green-ingersoll-361_agitate_all-prayers-die-in-the-air-which-they-us_2569682.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“All prayers die in the air which they uselessly agitate.” — Robert Green Ingersoll",
                "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": "Robert Green Ingersoll",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "All prayers die in the air...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/all-prayers-die-in-the-air-which-they-uselessly-agitate/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/all-prayers-die-in-the-air-which-they-uselessly-agitate/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
