Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Thomas Merton

Quote by Thomas Merton

Work

Thomas Merton: I Have Seen what I was Looking for : Selected Spiritual Writings

This book compiles a selection of spiritual essays and reflections by Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk and prominent writer. The writings delve into the depths of religious contemplation, offering insights into Merton's personal spiritual journey and his exploration of Christian mysticism. more

Author

Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton

Thomas Merton (January 31, 1915 - December 10, 1968) was an American writer, poet, social critic, and mystic. His works covered a wide range of topics including philosophy, religion, and social justice, and were highly appreciated by readers. more

You May Also Like

“We know when we are following our vocation when our soul is set free from preoccupation with itself and is able to seek God and even to find Him, even though it may not appear to find Him. Gratitude and confidence and freedom from ourselves: these are signs that we have found our vocation and are living up to it even though everything else may seem to have gone wrong. They give us peace in any suffering. They teach us to laugh at despair. And we may have to.”

KnowsGivingMaySoulSeemsAbleSufferingFoundTeachLaughingGoneGratitudeDespairFollowingVocationPreoccupation
Book:No Man Is an Island
Create image

“It is almost impossible to overestimate the value of true humility and its power in the spiritual life. For the beginning of humility is the beginning of blessedness and the consummation of humility is the perfection of all joy. Humility contains in itself the answer to all the great problems of the life of the soul. It is the only key to faith, with which the spiritual life begins: for faith and humility are inseparable. In perfect humility all selfishness disappears and your soul no longer lives for itself or in itself for God: and it is lost and submerged in Him and transformed into Him.”

SoulProblemSpiritualJoyValuesLostAnswersPerfectImpossibleHumilityKeysPerfectionDisappearSelfishnessYour SoulSpiritual LifeTransformedInseparableOverestimateSubmergedBlessednessTrue HumilityLonger Life
Book:New Seeds of Contemplation
Create image

“Nonviolence seeks to ‘win’ not by destroying or even by humiliating the adversary, but by convincing [the adversary] that there is a higher and more certain common good than can be attained by bombs and blood. Nonviolence, ideally speaking, does not try to overcome the adversary by winning over [them], but to turn [them] from an adversary into a collaborator by winning [them] over.”

TryingDoeCertainTurnsWinningCommonBloodHigherOvercomingBombsDestroyingNonviolenceConvincingAdversariesCommon GoodHumiliatingCollaborators
Book:The Nonviolent Alternative
Create image

“Each one of us has some kind of vocation. We are all called by God to share in His life and in His Kingdom. Each one of us is called to a special place in the Kingdom. If we find that place we will be happy. If we do not find it, we can never be completely happy. For each one of us, there is only one thing necessary: to fulfill our own destiny, according to God's will, to be what God wants us to be.”

IfsWantKindDestinyOne ThingShareSpecialGods WillKingdomsVocationWant USpecial PlacesCalled By God
Book:No Man Is an Island
Create image