Farewell, farewell! but this I tell To thee, thou Wedding-Guest! He prayeth well, who loveth well Both man and bird and beast.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Prayer is effective when one loves all creatures, not just humans. The speaker addresses a Wedding-Guest to share this moral lesson.
- In plain terms
- To pray well, you must love all living things.
- What can you take from it?
- Love for all creatures strengthens your spiritual life.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who do you love besides people?
- Does love change prayer?
Another view
Some traditions limit love to humans or specific groups.
More from Samuel Taylor Coleridge
'Ha! ha!' quoth he, 'full plain I see, The Devil knows how to row.'
Permalink to quote #73 He prayeth best, who loveth best All things both great and small; For the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all.
Permalink to quote #75 And the owlet whoops to the wolf below, That eats the she-wolf's young.
Permalink to quote #72
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