--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: souls without prayer are like people…" description: "\"“souls without prayer are like people whose bodies or limbs are paralysed: they possess feet and hands but they cannot control them.”\" — Teresa of Ávila" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/teresa-of-vila-1246_prayer_souls-without-prayer-are-like-people-who_1919673.jpg" --- # souls without prayer are like people whose bodies or limbs… ![“souls without prayer are like people whose bodies or limbs are paralysed: they possess feet and hands but they cannot control them.” quote by Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/teresa-of-vila-1246_prayer_souls-without-prayer-are-like-people-who_1919673.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/teresa-of-vila-1246_prayer_souls-without-prayer-are-like-people-who_1919673.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/teresa-of-vila-1246_prayer_souls-without-prayer-are-like-people-who_1919673.jpg) > ““souls without prayer are like people whose bodies or limbs are paralysed: they possess feet and hands but they cannot control them.”” [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prayer is essential for the soul to direct its faculties; without it, spiritual limbs are paralyzed. **In simple terms:** Prayer guides the soul’s actions. Key Takeaway Cultivate regular prayer. Themes spirituality discipline inner life Mood contemplative serene solemn Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - daily meditation - confession - spiritual direction - times crises Key Concepts prayer free will spiritual paralysis Questions to Reflect On - How does prayer affect your daily decisions? - What non‑prayer practices support your spiritual health? A Different Perspective Prayer alone may not solve all problems; action is also needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Paralysed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paralysed/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Souls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/souls/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) ## Related quotes > [Souls of prayer are souls of great silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/souls-of-prayer-are-souls-of-great-silence/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [“The door of entry into this castle is prayer and meditation. If a person does not realize Whom he is addressing, and understand what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-aon-prakasha/the-door-of-entry-into-this-castle-is-prayer-and-meditation-if-a/) [Padma Aon Prakasha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-aon-prakasha/) > [Souls without prayer are like bodies, palsied and lame, having hands and feet they cannot use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/souls-without-prayer-are-like-bodies-palsied-and-lame-having-hands/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [They who have steeped their souls in prayer Can every anguish calmly bear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-monckton-milnes-1st-baron-houghton/they-who-have-steeped-their-souls-in-prayer-can-every-anguish-calmly/) [Richard Monckton Milnes, 1st Baron Houghton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-monckton-milnes-1st-baron-houghton/) > [Wake up in the morning, we're paralysed... We'll fly into the garden like butterflies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-goulding/wake-up-in-the-morning-we-re-paralysed-we-ll-fly-into-the-garden-like/) [Ellie Goulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-goulding/) > [My fiancee's brother-in-law was recently paralysed in an accident and it really brought home the fact that thousands of young people live with spinal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/my-fiancee-s-brother-in-law-was-recently-paralysed-in-an-accident-and/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [As I found at QPR, a club in the process of a takeover is paralysed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/as-i-found-at-qpr-a-club-in-the-process-of-a-takeover-is-paralysed/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [“I die a little more, still in silence, paralysed by you, in fear, in pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppet/i-die-a-little-more-still-in-silence-paralysed-by-you-in-fear-in-pain/) Poppet > [“Don’t you think it’s actually harder for you . . . to adapt, I mean? Because you’ve done all that stuff?’ ‘Are you asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/don-t-you-think-it-s-actually-harder-for-you-to-adapt-i-mean-because/) [Jojo Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) > [“... he was totally in thrall to the face of the girl in front of him. She stunned him. She paralysed him. Just being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-parsons/he-was-totally-in-thrall-to-the-face-of-the-girl-in-front-of-him-she/) [Tony Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-parsons/) > [For the first six or eight months at Juilliard I felt paralysed. I didn't know what I was doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-whitacre/for-the-first-six-or-eight-months-at-juilliard-i-felt-paralysed-i/) [Eric Whitacre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-whitacre/) > [Brexit has been a strain on all of us. In some ways it has paralysed us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer/brexit-has-been-a-strain-on-all-of-us-in-some-ways-it-has-paralysed-us/) [Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer/) > [I lay here on the ground, still. I can't move. I try moving my arm and legs. Nothing. I'm paralysed. I see a shadow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/i-lay-here-on-the-ground-still-i-can-t-move-i-try-moving-my-arm-and/) Im Nothing > [“I turned in my seat. Will’s face was in shadow and I couldn’t quite make it out. ‘Just hold on. Just for a minute.’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/i-turned-in-my-seat-will-s-face-was-in-shadow-and-i-couldn-t-quite/) [Jojo Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) > [Stigma is a social gangrene that has paralysed the function order in our communities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russyb/stigma-is-a-social-gangrene-that-has-paralysed-the-function-order-in/) Russyb ## More by Teresa of Ávila > [“Of the good things they do many will pass unnoticed, or will even not be considered good at all; but they need not fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/of-the-good-things-they-do-many-will-pass-unnoticed-or-will-even-not/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [I made you, dear, and all I make is perfect. Please come close, for I desire you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/i-made-you-dear-and-all-i-make-is-perfect-please-come-close-for-i/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [How often I failed in my duty to God, because I was not leaning on the strong pillar of prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/how-often-i-failed-in-my-duty-to-god-because-i-was-not-leaning-on-the/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Half-instructed confessors have done my soul great harm; for I could not always have such learned ones as I would have desired. They certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/half-instructed-confessors-have-done-my-soul-great-harm-for-i-could/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Truth suffers, but never dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/truth-suffers-but-never-dies/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [“you will never lack so much of the water of comfort that your thirst will be intolerable;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/you-will-never-lack-so-much-of-the-water-of-comfort-that-your-thirst/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/whoever-has-god-lacks-nothing-god-alone-suffices/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Do you know when people really become spiritual? It is when they become the slaves of God and are branded with His sign, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/do-you-know-when-people-really-become-spiritual-it-is-when-they/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [How friendly we should all be with one another if nobody were interested in money and honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/how-friendly-we-should-all-be-with-one-another-if-nobody-were/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [“an unrestrained infatuation with ecstasy and other extraordinary phenomena developed. These experiences were thought of as something to be obtained at all costs. Among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/an-unrestrained-infatuation-with-ecstasy-and-other-extraordinary/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [“The Lord has no body now on earth but yours, no hands now but yours, no feet now but yours. Yours are the eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/the-lord-has-no-body-now-on-earth-but-yours-no-hands-now-but-yours-no/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Our greatest gain is to lose the wealth that is of such brief duration and, by comparison with eternal things, of such little worth;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/our-greatest-gain-is-to-lose-the-wealth-that-is-of-such-brief/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [God has no hands or feet or voice except ours and through these He works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/god-has-no-hands-or-feet-or-voice-except-ours-and-through-these-he/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [His Majesty knows best what is suitable for us. There's no need for us to be advising Him about what He should give us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/his-majesty-knows-best-what-is-suitable-for-us-there-s-no-need-for-us/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [There is no affliction, trial, or labor difficult to endure, when we consider the torments and sufferings which Our Lord Jesus Christ endured for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/there-is-no-affliction-trial-or-labor-difficult-to-endure-when-we/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) [Explore all 267 Teresa of Ávila quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) ## More Paralysed quotes > [Wake up in the morning, we're paralysed... We'll fly into the garden like butterflies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-goulding/wake-up-in-the-morning-we-re-paralysed-we-ll-fly-into-the-garden-like/) [Ellie Goulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-goulding/) > [“I turned in my seat. Will’s face was in shadow and I couldn’t quite make it out. ‘Just hold on. Just for a minute.’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/i-turned-in-my-seat-will-s-face-was-in-shadow-and-i-couldn-t-quite/) [Jojo Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) > [I lay here on the ground, still. I can't move. I try moving my arm and legs. Nothing. I'm paralysed. I see a shadow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/i-lay-here-on-the-ground-still-i-can-t-move-i-try-moving-my-arm-and/) Im Nothing > [Brexit has been a strain on all of us. In some ways it has paralysed us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer/brexit-has-been-a-strain-on-all-of-us-in-some-ways-it-has-paralysed-us/) [Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer/) > [For the first six or eight months at Juilliard I felt paralysed. I didn't know what I was doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-whitacre/for-the-first-six-or-eight-months-at-juilliard-i-felt-paralysed-i/) [Eric Whitacre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-whitacre/) > [“... he was totally in thrall to the face of the girl in front of him. She stunned him. She paralysed him. Just being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-parsons/he-was-totally-in-thrall-to-the-face-of-the-girl-in-front-of-him-she/) [Tony Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-parsons/) > [“Don’t you think it’s actually harder for you . . . to adapt, I mean? Because you’ve done all that stuff?’ ‘Are you asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/don-t-you-think-it-s-actually-harder-for-you-to-adapt-i-mean-because/) [Jojo Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) > [“I die a little more, still in silence, paralysed by you, in fear, in pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppet/i-die-a-little-more-still-in-silence-paralysed-by-you-in-fear-in-pain/) Poppet > [As I found at QPR, a club in the process of a takeover is paralysed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/as-i-found-at-qpr-a-club-in-the-process-of-a-takeover-is-paralysed/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [My fiancee's brother-in-law was recently paralysed in an accident and it really brought home the fact that thousands of young people live with spinal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/my-fiancee-s-brother-in-law-was-recently-paralysed-in-an-accident-and/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [Stigma is a social gangrene that has paralysed the function order in our communities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russyb/stigma-is-a-social-gangrene-that-has-paralysed-the-function-order-in/) Russyb [Browse all 12 Paralysed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paralysed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“souls without prayer are like people whose bodies or limbs are paralysed: they possess feet and hands but they cannot control them.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Teresa of Ávila" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/souls-without-prayer-are-like-people-whose-bodies-or-limbs-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Paralysed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/souls-without-prayer-are-like-people-whose-bodies-or-limbs-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/teresa-of-vila-1246_prayer_souls-without-prayer-are-like-people-who_1919673.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/teresa-of-vila-1246_prayer_souls-without-prayer-are-like-people-who_1919673.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/teresa-of-vila-1246_prayer_souls-without-prayer-are-like-people-who_1919673.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“souls without prayer are like people whose bodies or limbs are paralysed: they possess feet and hands but…” — Teresa of Ávila", "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": "Teresa of Ávila", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“souls without prayer are like people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/souls-without-prayer-are-like-people-whose-bodies-or-limbs-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/souls-without-prayer-are-like-people-whose-bodies-or-limbs-are/#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 } } ] } ```