He who has learned to pray has learned the greatest secret of a holy and happy life.

--William Law, 1726

It is a direct approach to the throbbing heart of the universe.

--Israel Bettan, 1930

When we pray, we link ourselves with the inexhaustible power that spins the universe.  We ask that a part of this power be apportioned to our needs.  Even in asking, our human deficiencies are filled and we arise strengthened and repaired.

--Alexis Carrel, 1941

When we pray it is not a question of persuading God, of inclining Him, of changing His providential dispositions;  it is simply a question of raising our will to the level of His will so as to will with Him what He has decided to give us

--Reginald Garrigou Lagrange, 1937

The purpose of prayer is to leave us alone with God.

--Leo Baeck, 1936

Our Lord's first public act was prayer.  As He prayed the Heavens were opened.  The last act of The Crucified before giving up His life in atonement for the world's sin was prayer.

--Oswald C.J. Hoffmann, 1959

Your influence for Christ will depend, beyond all your knowing and beyond anybody else's knowing, on your having one foot set on the ladder of prayer.

--R.A. Knox, 1963

It is not well for a man to pray cream, and live skim milk.

--Henry Ward Beecher, 1858