"How can you sing of amazing grace and all God's wonders without using your hands?"

Religion

Create & Download Quote Image

Customize Design

Theme Color

Insight & Reflection

This reflection on religion by Mahalia Jackson resonates across generations. It highlights a fundamental truth about human nature: our continuous search for meaning in religion is what ultimately defines our character and our path forward.

About Mahalia Jackson

Mahalia Jackson was an American gospel singer, widely considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century. With a career spanning 40 years, Jackson was integral to the development and spread of gospel blues in black churches throughout the U.S. During a time when racial segregation was pervasive in American society, she met considerable and unexpected success in a recording career, selling an estimated 22 million records and performing in front of integrated and secular audiences in concert halls around the world, making her one of the best-selling gospel music artists.

More quotes by Mahalia Jackson →
Editorial Note: This quote is curated and fact-checked by the ShortQuote Editorial Team. Verified Literature Specialist.

More by Mahalia Jackson

"One thing about playing the real jazz is that you can't count it."

— Mahalia Jackson
Read more →

"Gospel music rhythms are not African in origin, although I know that's what the jazz experts say."

— Mahalia Jackson
Read more →

"Sometimes you ask God for something and you don't know what you're asking."

— Mahalia Jackson
Read more →

"Do you know most of the Jewish songs have the same trend of sadness as Negro spirituals?"

— Mahalia Jackson
Read more →

More about Religion

"We can't form our children on our own concepts; we must take them and love them as God gives them to us."

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Read more →

"I feel there should have been some recognition of the Spice Girls at this year's 25th anniversary. We flew the flag for Britain around the globe in the 1990s and we achieved a hell of a lot."

— Melanie Chisholm
Read more →

"There was no religious ceremony connected with marriage among us, while on the other hand the relation between man and woman was regarded as in itself mysterious and holy."

— Charles Eastman
Read more →

"But how odd that in this heathen nation of empty pews, where churches' bare, ruined choirs are converted into luxury loft living, a Labour government - yes, a Labour government - is deliberately creating a huge expansion of faith schools."

— Polly Toynbee
Read more →
View all Religion quotes →