There is not true intimacy between souls who do not know how to respect one another's solitude. Thomas Merton More Quotes by Thomas Merton More Quotes From Thomas Merton Every man has a vocation to be someone: but he must understand clearly that in order to fulfill this vocation he can only be one person: himself. Thomas Merton motivationalmenorder 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 humilitychristianmind 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 pridewisdomprayer 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 passionlightwisdom To worship our false selves is to worship nothing. And the worship of nothing is hell. Thomas Merton hellworshipself 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 selfspirituallong 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 ambitionwisdomway The gate of heaven is everywhere. Thomas Merton gates-of-heavengatesheaven While some men see ordinary happenings, others see divine light and guidance. Thomas Merton lightspiritualmen 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 wisdomworldneeds Peace demands the most heroic labor and the most difficult sacrifice. Thomas Merton heroismsacrificepeace 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 greatnesswisdomchristian 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 cornersshouldrooms 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 rewardswisdommay To be a saint is to be yourself. Thomas Merton being-yourselfsaint 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 solitudepeacelooks Contemplation is the loving sense of this life, this presence and this eternity. Thomas Merton contemplationthis-lifeeternity 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 gracespiritualjoy I will not fear, for you are ever with me and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. Thomas Merton perilangelfaces
