40 of the best Brother Lawrence Quotes

Compiled & WRITTEN BY A REAL PERSON🩶

A book I have kept with me since the mid-1990s, and have given away more than any other book, is The Practice of the Presence of God. It’s a compilation of letters and conversations between spiritual friends. The book focuses on the thoughts of a man known as Brother Lawrence.

Who was Brother Lawrence?

He was a 17th-century Carmelite Monk living in Paris, France. He wasn’t particularly accomplished or brilliant by the standards of most. However, as his friend, M. Beaufort, Grand Vicar to the former Cardinal de Noailles, understood that others did not: Brother Lawrence possessed the beloved gift of abiding in Christ, even in challenging or unpleasant circumstances. One story, reminiscent of the image above, is how Brother Lawrence was called upon to pick up barrels of wine for the monastery. He did so joyfully, despite a physical impediment (difficulty walking?) which, as he said, caused him to have to “roll” over the barrels of wine. However, he said he was happy to perform the task and did so with a full sense of satisfaction.

However, Brother Lawrence is best known as the monk who worked in the monastery kitchen, even though he greatly disliked kitchen duties. In the 15 years he served in this assigned chore, he learned to be completely absorbed in the love of God, to the point that he would rather be in situations that stretched and challenged his senses, so as to have every opportunity to press in closer to God.

I highly recommend his book, but in the meantime, peruse and enjoy the Brother Lawrence quotes below, which I’ve gathered after a slow, thorough (and delightful) re-reading of this gem.

40 BROTHER LAWRENCE QUOTES

Note: The book is organized by conversations and letters. I’ve identified from which conversation or letter I am quoting.

Were I a preacher, I should, above all other things, preach the practice of the presence of God; and, were I a director, I should advise all the world to do it, so necessary do I think it, and so easy too.

-Fifth Letter

The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament.

Brother Lawrence, Fourth Conversation

The most excellent method…of going to God [is] that of doing our common business without any view of pleasing men, [but] purely for the love of God (as much as we are able).”

-Fourth Conversation

Seek satisfaction only in the fulfilling of [God’s] will, whether He leads us by suffering or by consolation, for all would lie equal to a soul truly resigned.”

-First Conversation

We should feed and nourish our souls with high notions of God; which would yield us great joy in being devoted to Him.

-First Conversation

A troubled mind arises from a want of faith. [paraphrased]

-Second Conversation

When an occasion of practicing some virtue [i.e. patience] (was) offered, he addressed himself to God, saying, Lord, I cannot do this unless Thou enablest me: and that then he received strength more than sufficient.

-Second Conversation

Our only business is to love and delight ourselves in God.

-Second Conversation

Our sanctification [does not] depend upon changing our works, but in doing that for God’s sake, which we commonly do for our own.

-Fourth Conversation

Useless thoughts spoil all.

-Second Conversation

All things are possible to him who believes—they are less difficult to him who hopes—they are more easy to him who loves, and still more easy to him who perseveres in the practice of these three virtues.

-Brother Lawrence, Fourth Conversation

We ought to make a great difference between the acts of the understanding and those of the will: that the first [are] comparitively of little value, and the others, all.

-Second Conversation

Many do not advance in the Christian progress because they stick in penances, and particular exerceises, while they neglect the love of God, which is the end.

-Third Conversation

When I fail in my duty, I readily acknowledge it. I am used to do so: I shall never do therwise, if I am left to myself. [When/if] I fail not, then I give God thanks, acknowledging the strength comes from Him.

-Second Conversation

It (is) impossible, not only that God should deceive, but also that He should long let a soul suffer which is perfectly resigned to Him.

-Third Conversation

There is need neither [of] art nor science for going to God, but only a heart resolutely determined to apply itself to nothing but Him, or for His sake, and to love Him only.

-Third Conversation

We need only to recognize God intimately present with us, to address ourselves to Him every moment, that we may beg His assistance for knowing His will in things doubtful, and for rightly performing those which we plainly see He requires of us, offering them to Him before we do them, and giving Him thanks when we have done.

-Fourth Conversation

O my God, since Thou art with me, and I must now, in obedience to Thy commands, apply my mind to these outward things, I beseech Thee to grant me the grace to continue in Thy Presence; and to this end do Thou prosper me with Thy assistance, receive all my works, and possess all my affections.

a prayer by brother lawrence
(Fourth Conversation)

It is a great delusion to think that the times of prayer ought to differ from other times.

-Fourth Conversation

We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.

-Fourth Conversation

The greater perfection a soul aspires after, the more dependent it is upon Divine grace.

-Fourth Conversation

I am come to a state wherein it would be as difficult for me not to think of God as it was at first to accustom myself to it.

-Fourth Conversation

I began to live as if there was none but God and I in the world. Sometimes I considered myself before Him as a poor criminal at the feet of his judge; at other times I beheld Him in my heart as my Father, as my God; I worshipped Him the oftenest that I could, keeping my mind in His holy Presence, and recalling it as often as I found it wandered from Him.

-First Letter

When we are faithful to keep ourselves in His Holy Presence, and set Him always before us, this not only hinders our offending Him, and doing anything that may displease Him, at least wilfully, but it also begets in us a holy freedom, and if I may so speak, a familiarity with God, wherewith we ask, and that successfully, the graces we stand in need of.

-First Letter

I have no will but that of God, which I endeavor to accomplish in all things, and to which I am so resigned tha I would not take up a straw from the ground against His order, or from any other motive than purely that of love to Him.

-Second Letter

Sometimes I consider myself as a stone before a carver, whereof he is to make a statue; presenting myself thus before God, I desire Him to form His perfect image in my soul, and make me entirely like Himself.

Brother Lawrence, Second Letter

The soul which enjoys God desires herein nothing but Him.

-Second Letter

A little remembrance of God, one act of inward worship, though upon a march, and a sword in hand, are prayers, which, however short, are nevertheless very acceptable to God; and far from lessening a soldier’s courage in occasions of danger, they best serve to fortify it.

-Third Letter

Not to advance in the spiritual life is to go back. But those who have the gale of the Holy Spirit go forward even in sleep.

-Fourth Letter

Let all our employment be to know God: the more one knows Him, the more one desires to know Him.

Fifteenth Letter

There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God.

Brother Lawrence, Fifth Letter

Lift up your heart to Him, sometimes even at your meals, and when you are in company; the least little remembrance will always be acceptable to Him. You need not cry very loud; He is nearer to us than we are aware of.

-Seventh Letter

The heart must be emply of all other things; because God will possess the heart alone; and as He cannot possess it alone without emptying it of all besides, so neither can He act there, and do in it what He pleases, unless it be left vacant to Him.

-Fifth Letter

If the vessel of our soul is still tossed with winds and storms, let us awake the Lord, who reposes in it, and He will quickly calm the sea.

-Fourth Letter

In order to know God, we must often think of Him; and when we come to love Him, we shall then also think of Him often for our heart will be with our treasure.

-Ninth Letter

We ought to love our friends, but without encroaching upon the love due to God, which must be the principal.

-Tenth Letter

I confess to Him all my wickednesss, I ask His forgiveness, I abandon myself in His hands that He may do what He pleases with me. The King, full of mercy and goodness, very far from chastising me, embraces me with love, makes me eat at His table, serves me with His own hands, gives me the key of His treasures; He converses and delights Himself with me incessantly, in a thousand and a thousand ways, and treats me in all respects as His favorite. It is thus I consider myself from time to time in His holy presence.

-Second Letter

If we knew how much God loves us, we should always be ready to receive equally and with indifference from His Hand the sweet and the bitter; all would please that came from Him.

-Fifteenth Letter

God has many ways of drawing us to Himself. He sometimes hides Himself from us, but faith alone, which will not fail us in time of need, ought to be our support and the foundation of our confidence.

-Twelfth Letter

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