Who said “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change…”?

Verified

Reinhold Niebuhr. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Serenity Prayer (c. 1942)

Find The Serenity Prayer on Amazon · paid link

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

Authors A–Z
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
— Reinhold Niebuhr
VerifiedThe Serenity Prayer (c. 1942) · evidenceChange
Report

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Serenity Prayer (c. 1942).

APA

Niebuhr, R. (n.d.). God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9237-god-grant-me-the-serenity-to-accept-the/

MLA

Niebuhr, Reinhold. “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9237-god-grant-me-the-serenity-to-accept-the/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Niebuhr, Reinhold. “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9237-god-grant-me-the-serenity-to-accept-the/.

Related quotes

“To improve is to change, so to be perfect is to have changed often.”
— Winston Churchill
VerifiedDuring a debate with Philip Snowden, 1st Viscount Snowden (June 23, 1925); Complete Speeches, 1897–1963, edited by Robert Rhodes James, Chelsea House ed., vol. 4 (1922–1928), p. 3706 · evidenceDetails & citeChange
Report

More quotes by Reinhold Niebuhr

“Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.”
VerifiedThe Children of Light and The Children of Darkness (1944) · evidenceDetails & citeDemocracy
Report
“If we survive danger it steels our courage more than anything else.”
Danger
Report
“The sad duty of politics is to establish justice in a sinful world.”
Justice
Report
“There is no cure for the pride of a virtuous nation but pure religion.”
Pride
Report
“The mastery of nature is vainly believed to be an adequate substitute for self mastery.”
Power
Report
All 11 Reinhold Niebuhr quotes →