The truth that many people never understand until it is too late is that the more you try to avoid suffering, the more you suffer. Thomas Merton More Quotes by Thomas Merton More Quotes From Thomas Merton The mission of Christian humility in social life is not merely to edify, but to keep minds open to many alternatives. The rigidity of a certain type of Christian thought has seriously impaired this capacity, which nonviolence must recover. Thomas Merton humility christian mind None of our prayers should ever be petitions for our own needs: for this is only another subtle way of trying to put ourselves on the same plane as God — acting as if we had no needs, as if we were not creatures, not dependent on Him. Thomas Merton pride wisdom prayer The light of truth burns without a flicker in the depths of a house that is shaken with storms of passion and fear. Thomas Merton passion light wisdom To worship our false selves is to worship nothing. And the worship of nothing is hell. Thomas Merton hell worship self As long as I continue to take myself seriously, how can I consider myself a saint? How can I consider myself a contemplative? For the self I bother about does not really exist, never will, never did except in my own imagination. Thomas Merton self spiritual long Finally I am coming to the conclusion that my highest ambition is to be what I already am. That I will never fulfill my obligation to surpass myself unless I first accept myself, and if I accept myself fully in the right way, I will already have surpassed myself. Thomas Merton ambition wisdom way The gate of heaven is everywhere. Thomas Merton gates-of-heaven gates heaven While some men see ordinary happenings, others see divine light and guidance. Thomas Merton light spiritual men When you expect the world to end at any moment, you know there is no need to hurry. You take your time, you do your work well. Thomas Merton wisdom world needs Peace demands the most heroic labor and the most difficult sacrifice. Thomas Merton heroism sacrifice peace Our Christian destiny is, in fact, a great one: but we cannot achieve greatness unless we lose all interest in being great. For our own idea of greatness is illusory, and if we pay too much attention to it we will be lured out of the peace and stability of the being God gave us, and seek to live in a myth we have created for ourselves. And when we are truly ourselves we lose most of the futile self-consciousness that keeps us constantly comparing ourselves with others in order to see how big we are. Thomas Merton greatness wisdom christian Humility is the surest sign of strength. Thomas Merton humility There should be at least a room or some corner where no one will find you and disturb you or notice you. Thomas Merton corners should rooms True happiness is not found in any other reward than that of being united with God. If I seek some other reward besides God Himself, I may get my reward but I cannot be happy. Thomas Merton rewards wisdom may To be a saint is to be yourself. Thomas Merton being-yourself saint Solitude is not something you must hope for in the future. Rather, it is a deepening of the present, and unless you look for it in the present you will never find it. Thomas Merton solitude peace looks Contemplation is the loving sense of this life, this presence and this eternity. Thomas Merton contemplation this-life eternity O God, teach me to be satisfied with my own helplessness in the spiritual life. Teach me to be content with Your grace that comes to me in darkness and that works things I cannot see. Teach me to be happy that I can depend on You. To depend on You should be enough for an eternity of joy. To depend on You by itself ought to be infinitely greater than any joy which my own intellectual appetite could desire. Thomas Merton grace spiritual joy I will not fear, for you are ever with me and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. Thomas Merton peril angel faces Zen insight is not our awareness, but Being's awareness of itself in us. Thomas Merton insight awareness
