The very contradictions in my life are in some ways signs of God's mercy to me. — Thomas Merton Compassion Copy Share Image
Every breath we draw is a gift of God's love; every moment of existence is a grace. — Thomas Merton Breath Copy Share Image
“Go into the desert not to escape other men but in order to find them in God.” — Thomas Merton Desert Copy Share Image
Because of their enmity you will be left alone. They will cast you out and forsake you. — Thomas Merton Copy Share Image
Prayer and love are really learned in the hour when prayer becomes impossible and your heart turns to stone. — Thomas Merton Copy Share Image
For if I am to love truly and freely, I must be able to give something that is truly my own to… — Thomas Merton Copy Share Image
“For it seems to me that the first responsibility of a man of faith is to make his faith really part of… — Thomas Merton Faith Copy Share Image
A tree gives glory to God by being a tree. For in being what God means it to be it is obeying… — Thomas Merton Giving Copy Share Image
It is my belief, that we should not be too sure of having found Christ in ourselves until we have found him… — Thomas Merton Awareness Copy Share Image
A gentle sense of humor will be alert to detect anything that savors of a pious 'act' on the part of the… — Thomas Merton Comedy Copy Share Image
I see no contradiction between Buddhism and Christianity ... I intend to become as good a Buddhist as I can. — Thomas Merton Buddhism Copy Share Image
“Ultimately the only way that I can be myself is to become identified with Him in Whom is hidden the reason and… — Thomas Merton Existence Copy Share Image
To become attached to the experience of peace is to threaten the true and essential and vital union of our soul with… — Thomas Merton Darkness Copy Share Image
“To allow oneself to be carried away By a multitude of conflicting concerns, To surrender to too many demands, ...To commit oneself… — Thomas Merton Peace Copy Share Image
…it is of the very essence of Christianity to face suffering and death not because they are good, not because they have… — Thomas Merton Christianity Copy Share Image
For the birds there is not a time that they tell, but the point vierge between darkness and light, between being and… — Thomas Merton Bird Copy Share Image
Very well, then: why are you attached to any one book, or to the words and ways of one saint when he… — Thomas Merton Copy Share Image
There is no greater disaster in the spiritual life than to be immersed in unreality, for life is maintained and nourished in… — Thomas Merton Disaster Copy Share Image
Let me rest in Your will and be silent. Then the light of Your joy will warm my life. Its fire will… — Thomas Merton Amen Copy Share Image
Not only does silence give us a chance to understand ourselves better, to get a truer and more balanced perspective on our… — Thomas Merton Copy Share Image
“Unnatural, frantic, anxious work, work done under pressure of greed or fear or any other inordinate passion, cannot properly speaking be dedicated… — Thomas Merton Fear Copy Share Image
Merely to resist evil with evil by hating those who hate us and seeking to destroy them, is actually no resistance at… — Thomas Merton Copy Share Image
“I have my own way to walk and for some reason or other Zen is right in the middle of it wherever… — Thomas Merton Asphyxiation Copy Share Image
“Cracking the safe (excerpt) A poor man must swing For stealing a belt buckle But if a rich man steals a whole… — Thomas Merton Character Copy Share Image
Paradoxically, I have found peace because I have always been dissatisfied. My moments of depression and despair turn out to be renewals,… — Thomas Merton Cliche Copy Share Image
“Leaving Things Alone (excerpt) The wise man, then, when he must govern, knows how to do nothing. Letting things alone, he rests… — Thomas Merton Nature Copy Share Image
Contemplation in the age of Auschwitz and Dachau, Solovky and Karaganda is something darker and more fearsome than contemplation in the age… — Thomas Merton Age Copy Share Image
“The Inner Law He whose law is within himself Walks in hiddenness. His acts are not influenced By approval or disapproval. He… — Thomas Merton Copy Share Image
In the spiritual life there is no such thing as an indifference to love or hate. — Thomas Merton Hate Copy Share Image
In the end, it's the reality of personal realtionships that save everything. — Thomas Merton Copy Share Image
I can only become perfectly free by serving the will of God. — Thomas Merton Catholic Copy Share Image
Our whole life is a meditation of our last decision - the only decision that matters. — Thomas Merton Decision Copy Share Image
Wheels of fire, cosmic, rich, full-bodied honest victories over desperation. — Thomas Merton Copy Share Image
We cannot achieve greatness unless we lose all interest in being great. — Thomas Merton Copy Share Image
