Of all duties, prayer certainly is the sweetest and most easy.
Yes — that quote is correctly attributed to Laurence Sterne (1713–1768), the Anglo-Irish novelist and Anglican clergyman best known for The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy.
“Of all duties, prayer certainly is the sweetest and most easy.”
— Laurence Sterne
Context and Background
This line appears in Sterne’s sermon collection, part of his Sermons of Mr. Yorick (published between 1760 and 1769). In addition to being a celebrated novelist, Sterne was a preacher, and his sermons often combined moral reflection, sentimentality, and wit — the same qualities that shaped his fiction.
Here, Sterne presents prayer not as a burdensome religious duty but as a natural act of devotion and sweetness, suggesting that communion with God should bring comfort rather than strain.
Interpretation
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“Sweetest” — prayer nourishes the spirit and brings inner peace.
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“Most easy” — it requires no ritual or complexity; sincerity alone suffices.
Summary
Laurence Sterne’s quote reflects his gentle, human-centered theology: that true faith expresses itself through heartfelt, simple prayer — a source of solace and joy rather than obligation.
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