--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thomas Merton said, “To be a saint means…" description: "\"“Thomas Merton said, “To be a saint means to be myself.”\" — Stephen Adly Guirgis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71f/stephen-adly-guirgis-13751_saint_thomas-merton-said-to-be-a-saint-means-t_346504.jpg" --- # Thomas Merton said, “To be a saint means to be myself. ![“Thomas Merton said, “To be a saint means to be myself.” quote by Stephen Adly Guirgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71f/stephen-adly-guirgis-13751_saint_thomas-merton-said-to-be-a-saint-means-t_346504.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71f/stephen-adly-guirgis-13751_saint_thomas-merton-said-to-be-a-saint-means-t_346504.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71f/stephen-adly-guirgis-13751_saint_thomas-merton-said-to-be-a-saint-means-t_346504.jpg) > ““Thomas Merton said, “To be a saint means to be myself.”” [Stephen Adly Guirgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-adly-guirgis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being a saint means being true to oneself, not an external ideal. **In simple terms:** Saints are authentic selves. Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity. Themes self‑acceptance spirituality identity Mood introspective thoughtful Type theatrical philosophical When to use this quote - therapy - creative writing - spiritual practice Key Concepts Existentialism personal truth Questions to Reflect On - What does authenticity mean to you? - How to balance self‑truth with community? A Different Perspective Authenticity can clash with societal expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) ## Related quotes > [“Thomas Merton who said: “The will of God is not a ‘fate’ to which we must submit, but a creative act in our life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/thomas-merton-who-said-the-will-of-god-is-not-a-fate-to-which-we-must/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“Thomas Merton once said that some of the most violent people he met were social activists, in what they did to themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-knitter/thomas-merton-once-said-that-some-of-the-most-violent-people-he-met/) [Paul F. 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If a just God sits in Heaven, it can fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-adly-guirgis/the-synthesis-of-love-and-justice-can-produce-only-mercy-and/) [Stephen Adly Guirgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-adly-guirgis/) [Explore all 49 Stephen Adly Guirgis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-adly-guirgis/) ## More Saint quotes > [Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn't seek the glory of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/whoever-does-not-seek-the-cross-of-christ-doesn-t-seek-the-glory-of/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [I knew a girl so ugly, she had a face like a saint-a Saint Bernard!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/i-knew-a-girl-so-ugly-she-had-a-face-like-a-saint-a-saint-bernard/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [Pray to Saint Philomena, What ever you ask from her, She will obtain for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-gregory-xvi/pray-to-saint-philomena-what-ever-you-ask-from-her-she-will-obtain/) [Pope Gregory XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-gregory-xvi/) > [Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/pray-hope-and-don-t-worry/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [God has often given His people favor in the sight of heathen masters (as Joseph and Daniel), and has magnified the sufficiency of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/god-has-often-given-his-people-favor-in-the-sight-of-heathen-masters/) [Arthur W. 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(I'm pretty much a fuckin' saint).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-edwards/everything-about-me-sounds-wonderful-and-kind-i-m-pretty-much-a/) [Helen Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-edwards/) > [It takes all sorts to make a world - saints as well as soldiers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-anderson/it-takes-all-sorts-to-make-a-world-saints-as-well-as-soldiers/) [Anthony Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-anderson/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. 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I was very lucky because she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-stern/i-was-in-the-south-of-france-in-saint-tropez-and-i-met-her-when-it/) [Bert Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-stern/) > [Some of God's noblest sons, I think, will be selected from those that know how to take wealth, with all its temptations, and maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/some-of-god-s-noblest-sons-i-think-will-be-selected-from-those-that/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Admired as a saint, defined by my rank. 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