Reinhold Niebuhr

Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

"Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary."

The Serenity Prayer

This has often been attributted to others, including St. Francis of Assisi but without sources. Though similar prayers may have existed, the work seems to be Neibuhr's. He never copyrighted the prayer and it has been used in many variants.

One of the most famous variants:

• God grant me the serenity
  to accept the things I cannot change,
  courage to change the things I can,
  and the wisdom to know the difference.

Niebuhr's preferred form as declared by his widow:

• God, give us grace to accept with serenity
  the things that cannot be changed, courage
  to change the things which should be changed,
  and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.

Full version of the original (c.1942):

• God, give us grace to accept with serenity
  the things that cannot be changed,
  courage to change the things
  which should be changed,
  and the wisdom to distinguish
  the one from the other.
  
  Living one day at a time,
  Enjoying one moment at a time,
  Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
  Taking, as Jesus did,
  This sinful world as it is,
  Not as I would have it,
  Trusting that You will make all things right,
  If I surrender to Your will,
  So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
  And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
  
  Amen.