Thinking about monastic ideals is not the same as living up to them, b…

Thomas Merton
439 citations
Thinking about monastic ideals is not the same as living up to them, but at any rate such thinking has an important place in a monk's life, because you cannot begin to do anything unless you have some idea what you are trying to do.
Life Thought
35

More Author Quotes

The very contradictions in my life are in some ways signs of God's mercy to me. ✨ Thomas Merton (2015). Choosing to Love the World: On Contemplation, p.148, Sounds True
To desire Him to be merciful to us is to acknowledge Him as God. To seek His pity when we deserve no pity is to ask Him to be just with a justice so holy that it knows no evil and shows mercy to ever … ▶
Love is perfect in proportion to it's freedom. ✨ Thomas Merton (2005). No Man is an Island, p.139, Shambhala Publications
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 … ▶
I came with the notion of perhaps saying something for monks and to monks of all religions because I am supposed to be a monk. ... My dear brothers, WE ARE ALREADY ONE. BUT WE IMAGINE THAT WE ARE NOT … ▶

Thinking about monastic ideals is not the same as living up to them, but at any rate such thinking has an important place in a monk's life, because you cannot begin to do anything unless you have some idea what you are trying to do.

More Author Quotes

Most Cited Authors

The Best Quotes

Most Liked Authors

Curated Author Quotes