--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we pray we speak to God; but when we…" description: "\"When we pray we speak to God; but when we read, God speaks to us.\" — St. Jerome" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ef/st-jerome-3227_praying_when-we-pray-we-speak-to-god-but-when-we_2832141.png" --- # When we pray we speak to God; but when we read, God speaks… ![“When we pray we speak to God; but when we read, God speaks to us.” quote by St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ef/st-jerome-3227_praying_when-we-pray-we-speak-to-god-but-when-we_2832141.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ef/st-jerome-3227_praying_when-we-pray-we-speak-to-god-but-when-we_2832141.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ef/st-jerome-3227_praying_when-we-pray-we-speak-to-god-but-when-we_2832141.png) > “When we pray we speak to God; but when we read, God speaks to us.” [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He contrasts speaking to God in prayer with God speaking through reading, emphasizing reciprocal communication. **In simple terms:** Prayer is speaking; reading is God speaking. Key Takeaway Listen to written wisdom. Themes spirituality communication faith Mood reverent contemplative Type religious philosophical When to use this quote - Bible study - spiritual retreats - personal reflection Key Concepts prayer scripture dialogue Questions to Reflect On - How does reading feel like divine speech? - What does prayer teach you? A Different Perspective May seem doctrinal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-read-332138/) [God Speaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-speaks/) [Pray Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray-speak-3641418/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Read God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-god-511841/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speak God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-god/) ## Related quotes > [“It has been said that when we pray, we speak to God; when we read, He speaks to us. Keeping this in mind, look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-carroll/it-has-been-said-that-when-we-pray-we-speak-to-god-when-we-read-he/) [William A. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-carroll/) > [“Many of the psalms teach us how to sing the blues.  God provided those songs and prayers for us, because he knows we live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/many-of-the-psalms-teach-us-how-to-sing-the-blues-god-provided-those/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some people, in order to discover God, read books. But there is a great book: the very appearance of created things. Look above you!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-in-order-to-discover-god-read-books-but-there-is-a-great/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Beware Okonkwo!" she warned. "Beware of exchanging words with Agbala. Does a man speak when a god speaks? Beware!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/beware-okonkwo-she-warned-beware-of-exchanging-words-with-agbala-does/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [God speaks in the silence of the heart, and we listen. And then we speak to God from the fullness of our heart, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/god-speaks-in-the-silence-of-the-heart-and-we-listen-and-then-we/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Through prayer we speak to God. In meditation, God speaks to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/through-prayer-we-speak-to-god-in-meditation-god-speaks-to-us/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [“Prayer is when you speak and God listens and meditation is when God speaks and you listen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sukhraj-s-dhillon/prayer-is-when-you-speak-and-god-listens-and-meditation-is-when-god/) [Sukhraj S. Dhillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sukhraj-s-dhillon/) > [When we speak to God, we call it prayer; when God speaks back, we call it psychosis!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/when-we-speak-to-god-we-call-it-prayer-when-god-speaks-back-we-call/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [“…when you lonely is the best time to pray, to speak to the Lord, and most important, to listen to the Lord…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-galasetti/when-you-lonely-is-the-best-time-to-pray-to-speak-to-the-lord-and/) [Andrew Galasetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-galasetti/) > [“Of music! Then pray speak aloud. It is of all subjects my delight. I must have my share in the conversation if you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/of-music-then-pray-speak-aloud-it-is-of-all-subjects-my-delight-i/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [If we really want to pray we must first learn to listen, for in the silence of the heart God speaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot/if-we-really-want-to-pray-we-must-first-learn-to-listen-for-in-the/) [T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/) > [“Hence the best service that anybody can render God is diligently to hear and read God's Word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/hence-the-best-service-that-anybody-can-render-god-is-diligently-to/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Everything can be seen with both positive and negative aspects as you can read same words in two ways, either you read it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/everything-can-be-seen-with-both-positive-and-negative-aspects-as-you/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [I love my quiet time with my Savior. Praise the Lord for a country in which we can read God's Word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-my-quiet-time-with-my-savior-praise-the-lord-for-a-country-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You ask: what is the meaning or purpose of life? I can only answer with another question: do you think we are wise enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/you-ask-what-is-the-meaning-or-purpose-of-life-i-can-only-answer-with/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) ## More by St. Jerome > [Wine is the first weapon that devils use in attacking the young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/wine-is-the-first-weapon-that-devils-use-in-attacking-the-young/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [The Roman world is in collapse but we do not bend our neck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/the-roman-world-is-in-collapse-but-we-do-not-bend-our-neck/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [And as regards Adam and Eve we must maintain that before the fall they were virgins in Paradise: but after they sinned, and were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/and-as-regards-adam-and-eve-we-must-maintain-that-before-the-fall/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [When the stomach is full, it is easy to talk of fasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/when-the-stomach-is-full-it-is-easy-to-talk-of-fasting/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [Music to me is a voice, my voice, it's my way of expressing what colours can I bring in, what emotions, what feel. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/music-to-me-is-a-voice-my-voice-it-s-my-way-of-expressing-what/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [Everything must have in it a sharp seasoning of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/everything-must-have-in-it-a-sharp-seasoning-of-truth/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [The best advice that I can give you is this: Church-traditions- especially when they do not run counter to the faith- are to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/the-best-advice-that-i-can-give-you-is-this-church-traditions/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [Woman is the gate of the devil, the road to iniquity, the sting of the scorpion, in a word, a dangerous species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/woman-is-the-gate-of-the-devil-the-road-to-iniquity-the-sting-of-the/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [If Christ did not want to dismiss the Jews without food in the desert for fear that they would collapse on the way, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/if-christ-did-not-want-to-dismiss-the-jews-without-food-in-the-desert/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [For it is good to cleave to God, and to put our hopes in the Lord, so that, when we have exchanged this poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/for-it-is-good-to-cleave-to-god-and-to-put-our-hopes-in-the-lord-so/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [When I could not see the light with my blind eyes, I blamed not my eyes, but the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/when-i-could-not-see-the-light-with-my-blind-eyes-i-blamed-not-my/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [Instead of speaking saintly words we must act them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/instead-of-speaking-saintly-words-we-must-act-them/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [Honest speech does not seek secret places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/honest-speech-does-not-seek-secret-places/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [It is no fault of Christianity that a hypocrite falls into sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/it-is-no-fault-of-christianity-that-a-hypocrite-falls-into-sin/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [ If you call \[the synagogue\] a brothel, a den of vice, the devil's refuge, Satan's fortress, a place to deprave the soul, an abyss… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/if-you-call-the-synagogue-a-brothel-a-den-of-vice-the-devil-s-refuge/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) [Explore all 136 St. Jerome quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) ## More Praying quotes > [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/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) > [Pray, hope, don't worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/pray-hope-don-t-worry/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/do-not-pray-for-tasks-equal-to-your-powers-pray-for-powers-equal-to/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [Therefore, brethren, pray until God gives us revelation so that "knowing this" in our spirit we may truly confess "that our old man has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/therefore-brethren-pray-until-god-gives-us-revelation-so-that-knowing/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the scientific perspective, and we've retained a lot of our beast nature. We've done all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago-from-the-scientific/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [Anything you pray for, you need to prepare for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/anything-you-pray-for-you-need-to-prepare-for/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [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/) > [The only people without problems are in cemeteries. If you don't have problems, get on your knees and pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/the-only-people-without-problems-are-in-cemeteries-if-you-don-t-have/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [The purpose is to be in gratitude forever. Live with applied consciousness, prosperity will break through the walls, flood you with it. You do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh-yogi/the-purpose-is-to-be-in-gratitude-forever-live-with-applied/) [Harbhajan Singh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh-yogi/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [“Listening is an essential part of praying. Answers from the Lord come quietly—ever so quietly. 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Burke Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-burke-peterson/) > [I thought that I had no time for faith nor time to pray, then I saw an armless man saying his Rosary with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/i-thought-that-i-had-no-time-for-faith-nor-time-to-pray-then-i-saw-an/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) [Browse all 4,204 Praying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we pray we speak to God; but when we read, God speaks to us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "St. Jerome" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/when-we-pray-we-speak-to-god-but-when-we-read-god-speaks-to-us/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Praying" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/when-we-pray-we-speak-to-god-but-when-we-read-god-speaks-to-us/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ef/st-jerome-3227_praying_when-we-pray-we-speak-to-god-but-when-we_2832141.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ef/st-jerome-3227_praying_when-we-pray-we-speak-to-god-but-when-we_2832141.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ef/st-jerome-3227_praying_when-we-pray-we-speak-to-god-but-when-we_2832141.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When we pray we speak to God; but when we read, God speaks to us.” — St. Jerome", "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": "St. Jerome", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When we pray we speak to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/when-we-pray-we-speak-to-god-but-when-we-read-god-speaks-to-us/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/when-we-pray-we-speak-to-god-but-when-we-read-god-speaks-to-us/#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 } } ] } ```