In an age of noise, distraction, and spiritual restlessness, the quiet wisdom of a 17th-century lay brother still speaks with striking clarity. Brother Lawrence, a humble Carmelite monk from France, became known not for grand sermons or theological debates, but for his simple, radical devotion to God in the everyday.
His collected teachings, found in The Practice of the Presence of God, chronicle his lifelong pursuit of constant communion with the Divine—not just in prayer, but in peeling potatoes, mending sandals, and sweeping the floor. He believed God could be found in the ordinary as much as the extraordinary, and that living in continual awareness of God’s presence was both possible and transformative.
Here are 15 of Brother Lawrence’s most beloved and enduring quotes that capture the heart of his spiritual journey:
1.
“We should fix ourselves firmly in the presence of God by conversing all the time with Him.”
2.
“The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen… I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Sacrament.”
3.
“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God.”
4.
“Think often on God, by day, by night, in your business and even in your diversions. He is always near you and with you.”
5.
“We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God.”
6.
“It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God.”
7.
“Let us think often that our only business in this life is to please God.”
8.
“One act of inward resignation to God is worth more than many outward acts of devotion.”
9.
“We can do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for love of Him.”
10.
“I am doing now what I will do for all eternity—I am blessing God, praising Him, adoring Him, and loving Him with all my heart.”
11.
“We must know before we can love. 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.”
12.
“When we are faithful in keeping ourselves in His holy presence… we begin to know Him by faith.”
13.
“We must trust God entirely and surrender ourselves into His hands.”
14.
“He does not ask much of us—merely a thought of Him from time to time, a little act of adoration, sometimes to ask for His grace…”
15.
“We ought to act with God in the greatest simplicity, speak to Him frankly and plainly, and offer Him our work and our sufferings.”
Brother Lawrence’s words are more than poetic reflections—they are a gentle invitation to a deeper, quieter way of being. His life reminds us that holiness isn’t always found in great deeds or dramatic gestures, but in the small, sincere movements of a heart turned toward God.
So whether you’re washing dishes or walking to work, may you remember: every moment can be sacred when lived in His presence.
