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What does this mean?"Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer."

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

SaltukhanWhat does this mean?

"Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer."

In many religions, when people pray (that is, ask a *** or gods to grant them favors), they put their hands together, or "clasp" them together. It is a traditional posture of the hands probably derived from some typical ancient gesture of begging. The prayer may consist of some standard formula of words typical of their religion, or in some cases it may be said in their own words. Their wishes may be granted or not. That is, they may get what they ask the ***(s) for, or not. (Most often they don't, but that is usually attributed to not having prayed correctly.)

The author of your quoted sentence believes that such practices as praying are not at all useful toward accomplishing anything. They are only hopes. He says that if people use their hands to work toward their goals, they will reach their goals much more quickly than if they use them to pray that their goals will be reached.

It is like the contrast between actually doing your homework and just hoping that somehow your homework will get done.

CJ

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