Skip to content

Once you have grace," I said to him, "you are free…

“Once you have grace," I said to him, "you are free. Without it, you cannot help doing the things you know you should not do, and that you know you don't really want to do. But once you have grace, you are free. When you are baptized, there is no power in existence that can force you to commit a…” quote by Thomas Merton
Download Open image
“Once you have grace," I said to him, "you are free. Without it, you cannot help doing the things you know you should not do, and that you know you don't really want to do. But once you have grace, you are free. When you are baptized, there is no power in existence that can force you to commit a sin-nothing that will be able to drive you to it against your own conscience. And if you merely will it, you will be free forever, because the strength will be given you, as much as you need, and as often as you ask, and as soon as you ask, and generally long before you ask for it, too.”

Thomas Merton

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Grace liberates the soul from compulsive wrongdoing, granting freedom to act according to conscience when divine aid is sought.

In simple terms: Grace gives freedom from unwanted actions.

Key Takeaway

Seek grace to act freely.

Themes

spirituality freedom morality

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

spiritual philosophical

When to use this quote

  • baptism
  • personal struggle
  • ethical decision making
  • spiritual practice

Key Concepts

grace conscience divine assistance

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does grace change your sense of responsibility?
  • Can you act ethically without grace?
A Different Perspective

Grace may be interpreted as internal resolve, not external power.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Thomas Merton

Explore all 851 Thomas Merton quotes

More Able quotes

Browse all 17,257 Able quotes