Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971) American protestant theologian
Full version of the original (ca. 1942)
The Serenity Prayer (c. 1942)
“God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed, courage
to change the things which should be changed,
and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.”
Niebuhr's preferred form, as declared by his widow
The Serenity Prayer (c. 1942)
Variant: God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.
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to change the things which shou…" by Reinhold Niebuhr?
Reinhold Niebuhr65
American protestant theologian 1892–1971Related quotes
Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971) American protestant theologian
One of the most commonly quoted forms.
The Serenity Prayer (c. 1942)
Variant: Lord, grant me the strength to accept the things I cannot change,
he courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Francis of Assisi (1182–1226) Catholic saint and founder of the Franciscan Order
Widely known as The Serenity Prayer this has often been attributed to St. Francis, but earliest known forms of it appeared in the early 20th century, and it is generally credited to Reinhold Niebuhr.
Misattributed
“God, grant me strength to accept those things I cannot change.”
Dan Brown book Angels & Demons
Source: Angels & Demons
“Change is one thing. Acceptance is another.”
Arundhati Roy book The God of Small Things
Source: The God of Small Things
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) Scottish novelist, poet, essayist, and travel writer
Crabbed Age and Youth.
Virginibus Puerisque and Other Papers (1881)
Context: The true wisdom is to be always seasonable, and to change with a good grace in changing circumstances. To love playthings well as a child, to lead an adventurous and honourable youth, and to settle when the time arrives, into a green and smiling age, is to be a good artist in life and deserve well of yourself and your neighbour.