--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: O Jesus, I could be a mule or plow the…" description: "\"“O Jesus, I could be a mule or plow the furrows with my hands if need be or hold those rickety walls up with my back if need be if I knew that somewher..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/toni-morrison-271_quote_o-jesus-i-could-be-a-mule-or-plow-the-fu_82538.jpg" --- # O Jesus, I could be a mule or plow the furrows with my… ![“O Jesus, I could be a mule or plow the furrows with my hands if need be or hold those rickety walls up with my back if need be if I knew that somewhere in this world in the pocket of some night I could open my legs to some cowboy lean hips but you are trying to tell me no and O my sweet Jesus what…” quote by Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/toni-morrison-271_quote_o-jesus-i-could-be-a-mule-or-plow-the-fu_82538.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/toni-morrison-271_quote_o-jesus-i-could-be-a-mule-or-plow-the-fu_82538.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/toni-morrison-271_quote_o-jesus-i-could-be-a-mule-or-plow-the-fu_82538.jpg) > ““O Jesus, I could be a mule or plow the furrows with my hands if need be or hold those rickety walls up with my back if need be if I knew that somewhere in this world in the pocket of some night I could open my legs to some cowboy lean hips but you are trying to tell me no and O my sweet Jesus what kind of cross is that?”” [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A plea for personal agency and intimacy, questioning religious constraints that deny bodily desire and human connection. **In simple terms:** Desires vs. imposed morality Key Takeaway Faith can conflict with human needs Themes desire faith agency conflict intimacy Mood longing conflict hope Type personal spiritual questioning When to use this quote - seeking love - feeling judged - spiritual struggle Key Concepts bodily autonomy spiritual authority Practical Applications - personal counseling - theological debate Questions to Reflect On - How do we reconcile personal desire with spiritual teachings? - When does faith become a barrier to intimacy? A Different Perspective null ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cross/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) ## Related quotes > [“As Reverend Deal moved into his sermon, the hands of the women unfolded like pairs of raven's wings and flew high above their hats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/as-reverend-deal-moved-into-his-sermon-the-hands-of-the-women/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“Oh Sweet Jesus, David Copperfield!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maegan-lynn-moores/oh-sweet-jesus-david-copperfield/) [Maegan Lynn Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maegan-lynn-moores/) > [How sweet the name of Jesus sounds In a believer's ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, And drives away his fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/how-sweet-the-name-of-jesus-sounds-in-a-believer-s-ear-it-soothes-his/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Oh, sweet Jesus. I’m going to die and I won’t even see it coming”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-march/oh-sweet-jesus-i-m-going-to-die-and-i-won-t-even-see-it-coming/) [Meghan March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-march/) > [“Wow, this puts the sweet in Sweet Jesus .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/wow-this-puts-the-sweet-in-sweet-jesus/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [How Sweet the name of Jesus... the rock on which I build, my shield and hiding place, my never failing treasury, filled with boundless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/how-sweet-the-name-of-jesus-the-rock-on-which-i-build-my-shield-and/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Sweet Jesus! Sweet, sweet Jesus!” Mom called to the Savior, caught up in the divine intervention that was Hank and me. I narrowed my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/sweet-jesus-sweet-sweet-jesus-mom-called-to-the-savior-caught-up-in/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“Sweet Jesus," he whispered, trailing kisses along the line of her jaw. "Our excavation must have freed some deep, dark ancient enchantment from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-elliott/sweet-jesus-he-whispered-trailing-kisses-along-the-line-of-her-jaw/) Cara Elliott > [“Oh Sweet Jesus. Sweet mother fucking fuckery of fucks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-sivec/oh-sweet-jesus-sweet-mother-fucking-fuckery-of-fucks/) [Tara Sivec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-sivec/) > [“Holy! Mother of sweet Jesus! ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rucy-ban/holy-mother-of-sweet-jesus/) [Rucy Ban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rucy-ban/) > [If Jesus bore the cross, and died on it for me, ought I not to be willing to take it up for Him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/if-jesus-bore-the-cross-and-died-on-it-for-me-ought-i-not-to-be/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [With arms outstretched on the cross. Jesus took holy God in one hand and sinful man with the other and brought the two together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-j-lawson/with-arms-outstretched-on-the-cross-jesus-took-holy-god-in-one-hand/) [Steven J Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-j-lawson/) > [The cross where Jesus died became also the cross where His apostle died. 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Only one force is greater-the love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/sin-is-the-second-most-powerful-force-in-the-universe-for-it-sent/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“You can always count on the promise of forever that He made when He died on that cross and rose again three days later.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naya-s/you-can-always-count-on-the-promise-of-forever-that-he-made-when-he/) [Naya S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naya-s/) ## More by Toni Morrison > [Perhaps that's what all human relationships boiled down to: Would you save my life? or would you take it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/perhaps-that-s-what-all-human-relationships-boiled-down-to-would-you/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [In times of dread, artists must never choose to remain silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/in-times-of-dread-artists-must-never-choose-to-remain-silent/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“Not know it was hard;knowing it was harder”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/not-know-it-was-hard-knowing-it-was-harder/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“Didn’t everything on God’s earth have or acquire defense?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/didn-t-everything-on-god-s-earth-have-or-acquire-defense/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [If you can't count, they can cheat you. 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Its threat gave her direction, clarity, audacity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/she-was-fierce-in-the-presence-of-death-heroic-even-as-she-was-at-no/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) [Explore all 774 Toni Morrison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) ## More Cross quotes > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [I do enjoy intense, bloodthirsty action, but I like to blend and cross genres. 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I desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/my-religious-convictions-and-scientific-views-cannot-at-present-be/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/to-endure-the-cross-is-not-a-tragedy-it-is-the-suffering-which-is-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I am interested in bringing Africa to the foot of the Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-am-interested-in-bringing-africa-to-the-foot-of-the-cross/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [There is a very thin line dividing characterisation from impersonation. I've to make sure I don't cross over into mimicry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushant-singh-rajput/there-is-a-very-thin-line-dividing-characterisation-from/) [Sushant Singh Rajput](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushant-singh-rajput/) > [The Son of God goes forth to war,A kingly crown to gain;His blood red banner streams afar:Who follows in His train?Who best can drink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reginald-heber/the-son-of-god-goes-forth-to-war-a-kingly-crown-to-gain-his-blood-red/) [Reginald Heber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reginald-heber/) > [Sin is the second most powerful force in the universe, for it sent Jesus to the cross. Only one force is greater-the love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/sin-is-the-second-most-powerful-force-in-the-universe-for-it-sent/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“God has chosen to save the world through the cross, through the shameful and powerless death of the crucified Messiah. 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Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) [Browse all 986 Cross quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cross/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“O Jesus, I could be a mule or plow the furrows with my hands if need be or hold those rickety walls up with my back if need be if I knew that somewhere in this world in the pocket of some night I could open my legs to some cowboy lean hips but you are trying to tell me no and O my sweet Jesus what kind of cross is that?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Toni Morrison" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/o-jesus-i-could-be-a-mule-or-plow-the-furrows-with-my-hands-if-need/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cross" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/o-jesus-i-could-be-a-mule-or-plow-the-furrows-with-my-hands-if-need/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/toni-morrison-271_quote_o-jesus-i-could-be-a-mule-or-plow-the-fu_82538.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/toni-morrison-271_quote_o-jesus-i-could-be-a-mule-or-plow-the-fu_82538.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/toni-morrison-271_quote_o-jesus-i-could-be-a-mule-or-plow-the-fu_82538.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“O Jesus, I could be a mule or plow the furrows with my hands if need be or hold those rickety walls up with…” — Toni Morrison", "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": "Toni Morrison", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“O Jesus, I could be a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/o-jesus-i-could-be-a-mule-or-plow-the-furrows-with-my-hands-if-need/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/o-jesus-i-could-be-a-mule-or-plow-the-furrows-with-my-hands-if-need/#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 } } ] } ```