--- title: "8 Discovering Quotes By Thomas Merton" description: "8 Discovering quotes by Thomas Merton. Plus more from Thomas Merton and more Discovering sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/thomas-merton-231_accepting_discovering-vocation-does-not-mean-scram_125652.jpg" --- > [Discovering vocation does not mean scrambling toward some prize just beyond my reach but accepting the treasure of true self I already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/discovering-vocation-does-not-mean-scrambling-toward-some-prize-just/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/thomas-merton-231_accepting_discovering-vocation-does-not-mean-scram_125652.jpg) > [It is true that neither the ancient wisdoms nor the modern sciences are complete in themselves. They do not stand alone. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-true-that-neither-the-ancient-wisdoms-nor-the-modern-sciences/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/948/thomas-merton-231_ancient_it-is-true-that-neither-the-ancient-wisd_335025.jpg) > [A superficial freedom to wander aimlessly here or there, to taste this or that, to make a choice of distractions, is simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/a-superficial-freedom-to-wander-aimlessly-here-or-there-to-taste-this/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e3/thomas-merton-231_choice_a-superficial-freedom-to-wander-aimlessl_450377.jpg) > [It is true to say that for me sanctity consists in being myself and for you sanctity consists of being yourself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-true-to-say-that-for-me-sanctity-consists-in-being-myself-and/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a95/thomas-merton-231_analysis_it-is-true-to-say-that-for-me-sanctity-c_1289106.jpg) > [“Therefore there is only one problem on which all my existence, my peace and my happiness depend: to discover myself in discovering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/therefore-there-is-only-one-problem-on-which-all-my-existence-my/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/000/thomas-merton-231_god_therefore-there-is-only-one-problem-on-w_1348421.jpg) > [There is only one problem on which all my existence, my peace, my happiness depend: to discover myself in discovering God. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/there-is-only-one-problem-on-which-all-my-existence-my-peace-my/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/thomas-merton-231_depends_there-is-only-one-problem-on-which-all-m_1367931.jpg) > [Imagination has the creative task of making symbols, joining things together in such a way that they throw new light on each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/imagination-has-the-creative-task-of-making-symbols-joining-things/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c0/thomas-merton-231_art_imagination-has-the-creative-task-of-mak_1477948.jpg) > [For me to be a saint means to be myself. Therefore the problem of sanctity and salvation is in fact the problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/for-me-to-be-a-saint-means-to-be-myself-therefore-the-problem-of/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/thomas-merton-231_discovering_for-me-to-be-a-saint-means-to-be-myself_2221977.jpg) ## Other authors on Discovering ## More by Thomas Merton > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If nothing that can be seen can either be God or represent Him to us as He is, then to find God we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-nothing-that-can-be-seen-can-either-be-god-or-represent-him-to-us/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [It is almost impossible to overestimate the value of true humility and its power in the spiritual life. For the beginning of humility is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-almost-impossible-to-overestimate-the-value-of-true-humility/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [We are not perfectly free until we live in pure hope. For when our hope is pure, it no longer trusts exclusively in human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/we-are-not-perfectly-free-until-we-live-in-pure-hope-for-when-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The desire to kill is like the desire to attack another with an ingot of red -hot iron: I have to pick up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-desire-to-kill-is-like-the-desire-to-attack-another-with-an-ingot/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [To enter into the realm of contemplation one must in a certain sense die: but this death is in fact the entrance to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-enter-into-the-realm-of-contemplation-one-must-in-a-certain-sense/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-mission-of-christian-humility-in-social-life-is-not-merely-to/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Peace cannot be built on exclusivism, absolutism, and intolerance. But neither can it be built on vague liberal slogans and pious programs gestated in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/peace-cannot-be-built-on-exclusivism-absolutism-and-intolerance-but/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Things that are good are good, and if one is responding to that goodness one is in contact with a truth from which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/things-that-are-good-are-good-and-if-one-is-responding-to-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Love winter when the plant says nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/love-winter-when-the-plant-says-nothing/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“The wisdom of the flesh is a judgement that the ordinary ends of our natural appetites are the goods to which the whole of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-wisdom-of-the-flesh-is-a-judgement-that-the-ordinary-ends-of-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I will no longer wound myself with the thoughts and questions that have surrounded me like thorns: that is a penance You do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-will-no-longer-wound-myself-with-the-thoughts-and-questions-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men--you may make some money and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-you-write-for-god-you-will-reach-many-men-and-bring-them-joy-if/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Contemplation means rest, suspension of activity, withdrawal into the mysterious interior solitude in which the soul is absorbed in the immense and fruitful silence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/contemplation-means-rest-suspension-of-activity-withdrawal-into-the/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovering/thomas-merton/#itemlist", "name": "8 Discovering Quotes By Thomas Merton", "numberOfItems": 8, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Discovering vocation does not mean scrambling toward some prize just beyond my reach but accepting the treasure of true self I already possess. 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