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Contemplative Quotes 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 of…
- One of the first things to learn if you want to be a contemplative is to mind your own business. Nothing is more suspicious, in…
- In general, it can be said that no contemplative life is possible without ascetic self-discipline. One must learn to survive without the habit-forming luxuries which…
- The most dangerous man in the world is the contemplative who is guided by nobody. He trusts his own visions. He obeys the attractions of an interior…
- The true contemplative is one who has discovered the art of finding leisure even in the midst of his work, by working with such a…
- There is always a temptation to diddle around in the contemplative life, making itsy-bitsy statues.
- One of the strange laws of the contemplative life is that in it you do not sit down and solve problems: you bear with them…
- Contemplative living is living in true relationship with oneself, God, others and nature, free of the illusions of separateness.
- The Christian life, and especially the contemplative life, is a continual discovery of Christ in new and unexpected places.
- The Bible is not primarily a written or printed text to be scrutinized in private, in a scholar's study or a contemplative cell. It is…
- The only thing to seek in contemplative prayer is God; and we seek Him successfully when we realize that we cannot find Him unless He…
- As long as I continue to take myself seriously, how can I consider myself a saint? How can I consider myself a contemplative? For the…
More Contemplative Quotes
- Mathematics as an expression of the human mind reflects the active will, the contemplative reason, and the desire for aesthetic perfection. Its… — Richard Courant
- I confess that I have as vast contemplative ends, as I have moderate civil ends: for I have taken all knowledge to… — Francis Bacon
- Fishing has been styled 'a contemplative man's recreation,' ... and science is only a more contemplative man's recreation. — Henry David Thoreau
- The pipe draws wisdom from the lips of the philosopher, and shuts up the mouth of the foolish; it generates a style… — William Makepeace Thackeray
- Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep… — Thomas Merton
- Meditative state is the highest state of existence. So long as there is desire, no real happiness can come. It is only… — Swami Vivekananda
- Happiness lies in virtuous activity, and perfect happiness lies in the best activity, which is contemplative — Aristotle
- On the Left, on the Right, in the Middle; Authors, statesmen, thieves; so-called humanists and self-declared fascists; the adventurous and the contemplative,… — Andrea Dworkin
- One of the first things to learn if you want to be a contemplative is to mind your own business. Nothing is… — Thomas Merton
- Since I was introduced to the practice of God's presence, which in turn led me into the contemplative way, I have nearly… — Brian D. McLaren
- Contemplative and bookish men must of necessity be more quarrelsome than others, because they contend not about matter of fact, nor can… — John Donne
- I guess when we're happy, it's easier to go with the flow, and when that happiness or joy is interrupted, that's when… — Unknown Author