--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thomas Merton asked, “What am I?” and…" description: "\"“Thomas Merton asked, “What am I?” and answered, “I am myself a word spoken by God.” How we perceive ourselves, who we think ourselves to be, determine..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/stuart-briscoe-25271_spoken_thomas-merton-asked-what-am-i-and-answer_1953681.png" --- # Thomas Merton asked, “What am I?” and answered, “I am… ![“Thomas Merton asked, “What am I?” and answered, “I am myself a word spoken by God.” How we perceive ourselves, who we think ourselves to be, determines the direction of our lives and shapes our relationships. To” quote by Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/stuart-briscoe-25271_spoken_thomas-merton-asked-what-am-i-and-answer_1953681.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/stuart-briscoe-25271_spoken_thomas-merton-asked-what-am-i-and-answer_1953681.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/stuart-briscoe-25271_spoken_thomas-merton-asked-what-am-i-and-answer_1953681.png) > ““Thomas Merton asked, “What am I?” and answered, “I am myself a word spoken by God.” How we perceive ourselves, who we think ourselves to be, determines the direction of our lives and shapes our relationships. To”” [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage reflects on how our self‑identification, shaped by divine or existential language, directs our life path and relationships. **In simple terms:** How we define ourselves shapes our lives. Key Takeaway Explore and redefine your self‑concept. Themes identity spirituality purpose Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal counseling - spiritual retreats - creative writing Key Concepts existentialism theology psychology Questions to Reflect On - What words do you use to describe yourself? - How does self‑definition affect your relationships? A Different Perspective It assumes a religious framework. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“I have spoken to God so rarely that I do not think he would know who I was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-spoken-to-god-so-rarely-that-i-do-not-think-he-would-know-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A closed-ended question, however, is one which could be answered with a one-word answer or a simple "yes" or "no." It can bring a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/a-closed-ended-question-however-is-one-which-could-be-answered-with-a/) [Susan C. 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Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“Thomas Merton wrote, “there is always a temptation to diddle around in the contemplative life, making itsy-bitsy statues.” There is always an enormous temptation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/thomas-merton-wrote-there-is-always-a-temptation-to-diddle-around-in/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“Thomas Merton said, “To be a saint means to be myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-adly-guirgis/thomas-merton-said-to-be-a-saint-means-to-be-myself/) [Stephen Adly Guirgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-adly-guirgis/) > [“Many books have been written on Thomas Merton already.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/many-books-have-been-written-on-thomas-merton-already/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) ## More by Stuart Briscoe > [“It is right and proper that Christian men should rejoice in whatever manner they feel is compatible with their experience of Christ and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/it-is-right-and-proper-that-christian-men-should-rejoice-in-whatever/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [If we want to live healthy relationships, according to biblical standards, it is done in the fullness of the Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/if-we-want-to-live-healthy-relationships-according-to-biblical/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [To believe in God starts with a conclusion about Him, develops into confidence in Him, and then matures into a conversation with Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/to-believe-in-god-starts-with-a-conclusion-about-him-develops-into/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [“TO READ: Exodus 14:5-31 STAND STILL AND GET MOVING But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/to-read-exodus-14-5-31-stand-still-and-get-moving-but-moses-told-the/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > ["Slightly lower than the angels" is a whole lot better than slightly higher than the apes. Let's get the order straight. God, angelic beings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/slightly-lower-than-the-angels-is-a-whole-lot-better-than-slightly/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [If people concentrated on their responsibilities, others would have their rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/if-people-concentrated-on-their-responsibilities-others-would-have/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [The spirit of Christmas needs to superseded by the Spirit of Christ. 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The Christian is to be distinctly different—set apart by God for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/holy-in-greek-always-had-in-it-the-idea-of-difference-and-separation/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [“Paul never thought of himself as having chosen God—it was the other way: God had chosen him. This”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/paul-never-thought-of-himself-as-having-chosen-god-it-was-the-other/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [“Christianity stands or falls on this tenet of the faith. If Christ is risen, he is all he said he was—the Messiah, the Son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/christianity-stands-or-falls-on-this-tenet-of-the-faith-if-christ-is/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) [Explore all 23 Stuart Briscoe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) ## More Spoken quotes > [Everything comes home, my mother used to say; every word spoken, every shadow cast, every footprint in the sand. It can't be helped; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/everything-comes-home-my-mother-used-to-say-every-word-spoken-every/) [Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [What's hard, it seems, is living up to the words spoken by Jesus Christ, who preached naught but love and mercy and justice and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weber/what-s-hard-it-seems-is-living-up-to-the-words-spoken-by-jesus-christ/) [Steven Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weber/) > [“Some words are invisible—namely spoken words—but that only means I read them with my ears. But people are rude, and they often speak to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/some-words-are-invisible-namely-spoken-words-but-that-only-means-i/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I like people. That's me. I like people on the street, and I also happen to like other people who have power. But I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-polson/i-like-people-that-s-me-i-like-people-on-the-street-and-i-also-happen/) [John Polson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-polson/) > [Everyone I have spoken with so far recognises the need for the IRA to respond positively and every has said sooner is better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-reiss/everyone-i-have-spoken-with-so-far-recognises-the-need-for-the-ira-to/) [Mitchell Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-reiss/) > [In this business, there is an insane amount of pressure, spoken and unspoken, to be thin. If you look at some of the television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-raver/in-this-business-there-is-an-insane-amount-of-pressure-spoken-and/) [Kim Raver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-raver/) > [“A truth spoken before its time is dangerous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/a-truth-spoken-before-its-time-is-dangerous/) Greek Proverb > [The only problem was that I couldn't communicate with Dario. He speaks Italian and I don't. We had a translator the whole time. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-hunter/the-only-problem-was-that-i-couldn-t-communicate-with-dario-he-speaks/) [Kim Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-hunter/) > [If you see me or another model in a bar, wait until you are spoken to before you speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-hart/if-you-see-me-or-another-model-in-a-bar-wait-until-you-are-spoken-to/) [Jessica Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-hart/) > [“There is a weird power in a spoken word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/there-is-a-weird-power-in-a-spoken-word/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [In God's world, for those who are in earnest, there is no failure. No work truly done, no word earnestly spoken, no sacrifice freely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-robertson/in-god-s-world-for-those-who-are-in-earnest-there-is-no-failure-no/) [Frederick William Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-robertson/) > [No scene is ever about the words being spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-close/no-scene-is-ever-about-the-words-being-spoken/) [Del Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-close/) > [The way we tell our stories on stage is that we use spoken word to convey action, and in movies, we use visual images…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/the-way-we-tell-our-stories-on-stage-is-that-we-use-spoken-word-to/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [“If the words, But you’re a woman. Let me take point, were ever spoken, that person was history.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laken-cane/if-the-words-but-you-re-a-woman-let-me-take-point-were-ever-spoken/) [Laken Cane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laken-cane/) Browse all 258 Spoken quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Thomas Merton asked, “What am I?” and answered, “I am myself a word spoken by God.” How we perceive ourselves, who we think ourselves to be, determines the direction of our lives and shapes our relationships. 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