--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If God wants us to do a thing, he should…" description: "\"If God wants us to do a thing, he should make his wishes sufficiently clear. Sensible people will wait till he has done this before paying much attenti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22b/samuel-butler-823_attention_if-god-wants-us-to-do-a-thing-he-should_542116.jpg" --- # If God wants us to do a thing, he should make his wishes… ![“If God wants us to do a thing, he should make his wishes sufficiently clear. Sensible people will wait till he has done this before paying much attention to him.” quote by Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22b/samuel-butler-823_attention_if-god-wants-us-to-do-a-thing-he-should_542116.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22b/samuel-butler-823_attention_if-god-wants-us-to-do-a-thing-he-should_542116.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22b/samuel-butler-823_attention_if-god-wants-us-to-do-a-thing-he-should_542116.jpg) > “If God wants us to do a thing, he should make his wishes sufficiently clear. Sensible people will wait till he has done this before paying much attention to him.” [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When God intends something, He makes His purpose clear; otherwise people wait for unmistakable signs before acting. **In simple terms:** Clear divine purpose prompts action. Key Takeaway Seek clear signs before acting on divine guidance. Themes faith patience clarity Mood thoughtful contemplative Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - decision making - spiritual seeking - life planning Key Concepts Divine providence human discernment Questions to Reflect On - What signs do you consider sufficient? - How do you balance waiting and acting? A Different Perspective If waiting for clarity leads to missed opportunities, over‑reliance on signs can be limiting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Paying Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paying-attention/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sensible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensible/) ## Related quotes > [Less is more. If you show all your assets, a guy only wants one thing. Let there be some mystery behind the pretty face...if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/less-is-more-if-you-show-all-your-assets-a-guy-only-wants-one-thing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't think anyone wants to do the same thing over and over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bachmann/i-don-t-think-anyone-wants-to-do-the-same-thing-over-and-over-again/) [Eric Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bachmann/) > [The more anybody wants a thing, the more they do think others want it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-webb/the-more-anybody-wants-a-thing-the-more-they-do-think-others-want-it/) [Mary Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-webb/) > [“I'm not going to be that person who wants one thing their whole life, and then gets it and complains about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-m-not-going-to-be-that-person-who-wants-one-thing-their-whole-life/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [No injustice is done to someone who wants that thing done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulpian/no-injustice-is-done-to-someone-who-wants-that-thing-done/) Ulpian > [“And however it is that you think you still feel about me, I can assure you it's nothing more than a classic case of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/and-however-it-is-that-you-think-you-still-feel-about-me-i-can-assure/) [Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/) > [I've wanted one thing for me whole life and I'm not going to be that girl who wants one thing her whole life then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-ve-wanted-one-thing-for-me-whole-life-and-i-m-not-going-to-be-that/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [I find people to be people everywhere. Everyone wants the same thing - be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-whitacre-jr/i-find-people-to-be-people-everywhere-everyone-wants-the-same-thing/) [Edward Whitacre, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-whitacre-jr/) > [If he only wants you for one thing, then remind him of the one reason you left him for a person who wants you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-rose-whitaker/if-he-only-wants-you-for-one-thing-then-remind-him-of-the-one-reason/) Amber Rose Whitaker > [We all have our own life to pursue, our own kind of dream to be weaving, and we all have the power to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/we-all-have-our-own-life-to-pursue-our-own-kind-of-dream-to-be/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Put them in position to make their wishes come true, so they can have multiple accounts that gain interest over night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludacris/put-them-in-position-to-make-their-wishes-come-true-so-they-can-have/) [Ludacris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludacris/) > [They told us not to wish in the first place, not to aspire, not to try; to be quiet, to play nice, to shoot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/they-told-us-not-to-wish-in-the-first-place-not-to-aspire-not-to-try/) [J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/) > [“We all have our own kind of life to pursue, our own kind of dream to be weaving, and we all have the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/we-all-have-our-own-kind-of-life-to-pursue-our-own-kind-of-dream-to/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Make three wishes and they shall all come true. Make three hundred and I will honour every one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/make-three-wishes-and-they-shall-all-come-true-make-three-hundred-and/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [If I wer an angel,i would make all your wishes come true..but I'm only a girl a girl who loves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/if-i-wer-an-angel-i-would-make-all-your-wishes-come-true-but-i-m-only/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) ## More by Samuel Butler > [Is life worth living? This is a question for an embryo not for a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/is-life-worth-living-this-is-a-question-for-an-embryo-not-for-a-man/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [I am the enfant terrible of literature and science. If I cannot, and I know I cannot, get the literary and scientific bigwigs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/i-am-the-enfant-terrible-of-literature-and-science-if-i-cannot-and-i/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [If you follow reason far enough it always leads to conclusions that are contrary to reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/if-you-follow-reason-far-enough-it-always-leads-to-conclusions-that/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [All animals, except man, know that the principal business of life is to enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/all-animals-except-man-know-that-the-principal-business-of-life-is-to/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [The advantage of doing one's praising for oneself is that one can lay it on so thick and exactly in the right places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/the-advantage-of-doing-one-s-praising-for-oneself-is-that-one-can-lay/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [Spare the rod and spoil the child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/spare-the-rod-and-spoil-the-child/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [Opinions have vested interests just as men have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/opinions-have-vested-interests-just-as-men-have/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [“we must judge men not so much by what they, as by what they make us feel that they have it in them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/we-must-judge-men-not-so-much-by-what-they-as-by-what-they-make-us/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [If I die prematurely I shall be saved from being bored to death at my own success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/if-i-die-prematurely-i-shall-be-saved-from-being-bored-to-death-at-my/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [Vaccination is the medical sacrament corresponding to baptism. 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They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If God wants us to do a thing, he should make his wishes sufficiently clear. 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