---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have never made but one prayer to God…"
description: "\"I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: 'O Lord make my enemies ridiculous.' And God granted it.\" — Voltaire"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc4/voltaire-173_enemy_i-have-never-made-but-one-prayer-to-god_954318.png"
---

#  I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one…

![“I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: 'O Lord make my enemies ridiculous.' And God granted it.” quote by Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc4/voltaire-173_enemy_i-have-never-made-but-one-prayer-to-god_954318.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc4/voltaire-173_enemy_i-have-never-made-but-one-prayer-to-god_954318.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc4/voltaire-173_enemy_i-have-never-made-but-one-prayer-to-god_954318.png)

> “I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: 'O Lord make my enemies ridiculous.' And God granted it.”

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

## About This Quote

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

He prays briefly for his enemies to become absurd, and believes this request was granted.

**In simple terms:** A humorous prayer for ridicule.

Key Takeaway

Find humor in adversity.

Themes

faith humor enemies prayer absurdity

Mood

witty lighthearted

Type

philosophical satirical

When to use this quote

- personal reflection
- conflict resolution
- social commentary

Key Concepts

theology satire

Questions to Reflect On

- What does ridicule achieve?
- Is humor a valid coping tool?

A Different Perspective

May not be taken seriously as a religious practice.

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[Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/)

## Related quotes

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> [“Do not take the grace of God for granted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/do-not-take-the-grace-of-god-for-granted/)

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[Steven Cuoco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cuoco/)

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[Mother Angelica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-angelica/)

> [What if the very reason we have breath is because we have been saved for a global mission? And what if anything less than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/what-if-the-very-reason-we-have-breath-is-because-we-have-been-saved/)

[David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/)

> [“The arm of God is never too short to save us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-arm-of-god-is-never-too-short-to-save-us/)

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> [I'm a godmother, that's a great thing to be, a godmother. She calls me god for short, that's cute, I taught her that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-m-a-godmother-that-s-a-great-thing-to-be-a-godmother-she-calls-me/)

[Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/)

> [For every thing I do. I always appreciate that God has granted me with another opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/for-every-thing-i-do-i-always-appreciate-that-god-has-granted-me-with/)

[Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/)

> [“Why does the Bible keep nagging us to give thanks? It’s because we quickly forget all that God has done for us; we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-noland/why-does-the-bible-keep-nagging-us-to-give-thanks-it-s-because-we/)

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> [What could be a greater privilege than to listen to the voice of God, and be granted by God himself the ears to hear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/what-could-be-a-greater-privilege-than-to-listen-to-the-voice-of-god/)

[John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/)

> [What mattered to her was that she loved God, whether or not He granted her the consolation and joy of His felt presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kolodiejchuk/what-mattered-to-her-was-that-she-loved-god-whether-or-not-he-granted/)

[Brian Kolodiejchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kolodiejchuk/)

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[Alexandra Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-silber/)

## More by Voltaire

> [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/)

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> [We’re neither pure, nor wise, nor good; we do the best we know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/we-re-neither-pure-nor-wise-nor-good-we-do-the-best-we-know/)

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> [It is with books as with men: a very small number play a great part, the rest are lost in the multitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-with-books-as-with-men-a-very-small-number-play-a-great-part/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [Meslier was the most singular phenomenon ever seen among all the meteors fatal to the Christian religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/meslier-was-the-most-singular-phenomenon-ever-seen-among-all-the/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/)

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> [When his highness sends a ship to Egypt, does he trouble his head whether the mice on board are at their ease or not?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/when-his-highness-sends-a-ship-to-egypt-does-he-trouble-his-head/)

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## More Enemy quotes

> [Shall there be truth between us, as two men? Not as friends, but as enemies and equals?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/shall-there-be-truth-between-us-as-two-men-not-as-friends-but-as/)

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