--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He had been taught by his uncle that his…" description: "\"“He had been taught by his uncle that his prayers were more acceptable to God if he said them in his nightshirt than if he waited till he was dressed. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48a/w-somerset-maugham-237_prayer_he-had-been-taught-by-his-uncle-that-his_325610.jpg" --- # He had been taught by his uncle that his prayers were more… ![“He had been taught by his uncle that his prayers were more acceptable to God if he said them in his nightshirt than if he waited till he was dressed. This did not surprise him, for he was beginning to realize that he was the creature of a God who appreciated the discomfort of his worshipers.” quote by W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48a/w-somerset-maugham-237_prayer_he-had-been-taught-by-his-uncle-that-his_325610.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48a/w-somerset-maugham-237_prayer_he-had-been-taught-by-his-uncle-that-his_325610.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48a/w-somerset-maugham-237_prayer_he-had-been-taught-by-his-uncle-that-his_325610.jpg) > ““He had been taught by his uncle that his prayers were more acceptable to God if he said them in his nightshirt than if he waited till he was dressed. This did not surprise him, for he was beginning to realize that he was the creature of a God who appreciated the discomfort of his worshipers.”” [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## 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 most sincere when offered in discomfort, reflecting a deity who values earnest struggle over polished ritual. **In simple terms:** True devotion often comes in hardship. Key Takeaway Embrace sincere effort despite discomfort. Themes faith humility authenticity Mood reflective contemplative Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal prayer - spiritual practice - seeking meaning Key Concepts theology human nature Questions to Reflect On - Do you find comfort in formal worship? - How does discomfort shape sincerity? A Different Perspective Even in discomfort, prayer may be seen as genuine, but it can also be ritualistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptable God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptable-god-1096571/) [God Appreciated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-appreciated-2681638/) [God Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-said/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Prayers Acceptable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayers-acceptable-2600739/) [Uncle Prayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncle-prayers-2600740/) ## Related quotes > [“It was a cold morning, and he shivered a little; but he had been taught by his uncle that his prayers were more acceptable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/it-was-a-cold-morning-and-he-shivered-a-little-but-he-had-been-taught/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“Philip got up and knelt down to say his prayers. It was a cold morning, and he shivered a little; but he had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/philip-got-up-and-knelt-down-to-say-his-prayers-it-was-a-cold-morning/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [God's hearing of our prayers doth not depend upon sanctification, but upon Christ's intercession; not upon what we are in ourselves, but what' we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/god-s-hearing-of-our-prayers-doth-not-depend-upon-sanctification-but/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [When I was young I had an elderly friend who used often to ask me to stay with him in the country. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/when-i-was-young-i-had-an-elderly-friend-who-used-often-to-ask-me-to/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [All that men will serve God with must be done in Faith, viz. in the Spirit. 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Somerset Maugham > [“A man thinks it quite natural that he should fall out of love with a woman, but it never strikes him for a moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-man-thinks-it-quite-natural-that-he-should-fall-out-of-love-with-a/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“A man's work reveals him. In social intercourse he gives you the surface that he wishes the world to accept, but in his book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-man-s-work-reveals-him-in-social-intercourse-he-gives-you-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Love is only a dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/love-is-only-a-dirty-trick-played-on-us-to-achieve-continuation-of/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [The world is hard and cruel. 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It makes one long for an apple occasionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/in-hollywood-the-women-are-all-peaches-it-makes-one-long-for-an-apple/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Follow your inclinations with due regard to the policeman round the corner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/follow-your-inclinations-with-due-regard-to-the-policeman-round-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“His love became a prison from which he longed to escape, but he had not the strength merely to open the door-that was all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/his-love-became-a-prison-from-which-he-longed-to-escape-but-he-had/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I did not believe him capable of love. That is an emotion in which tenderness is an essential part, but Strickland had no tenderness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/i-did-not-believe-him-capable-of-love-that-is-an-emotion-in-which/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [If only the good were a little less heavy-footed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/if-only-the-good-were-a-little-less-heavy-footed/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Perfection has one grave defect: it is apt to be dull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/perfection-has-one-grave-defect-it-is-apt-to-be-dull/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“A God that can be understood is no God. Who can explain the Infinite in words?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-god-that-can-be-understood-is-no-god-who-can-explain-the-infinite/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“My dear, you used to be quite a dish; now you're quite a tureen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/my-dear-you-used-to-be-quite-a-dish-now-you-re-quite-a-tureen/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“When people say they do not care what others thing of them, for the most part they deceive themselves”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/when-people-say-they-do-not-care-what-others-thing-of-them-for-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) [Explore all 840 W. Somerset Maugham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## More Prayer quotes > [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. 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