Asceticism Quote by Thomas Merton
“But it certainly is a wonderful thing to wake up suddenly in the solitude of the woods and look up at the sky and see the utter nonsense of everything including all the solemn stuff given out by professional asses about the spiritual life; and simply to burst out laughing, and laugh and laugh, with the sky and the trees because God is not in words, and not in systems, and not in liturgical movements, and not in "contemplation" with a big "C," or in asceticism or in anything like that, not even in the apostolate.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton, 1948
Finding humor and awe in nature reveals spirituality beyond formal doctrine, showing that divine experience can be spontaneous and wordless.
In simple terms: Nature can spark joy and a sense of the divine without words.
Key Takeaway
Embrace spontaneous wonder in natural settings.
Themes
spirituality
humor
nature
skepticism
freedom
Mood
joyful
contemplative
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- hiking
- forest retreats
- meditation
- creative writing
Key Concepts
existentialism
transcendence
absurdism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does nature alter your sense of the sacred?
- Can humor coexist with reverence?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook deeper theological reflection for some.
