He that would learn to pray let him go to sea.

Meaning: Facing life's uncontrollable forces reveals humanity's powerlessness and awakens genuine spiritual need.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

Translations

French: Qui veut apprendre à prier, aille souvent sur la mer (literally: If a man would learn to pray let him go often to sea)

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