Accusation Quote by Thomas Merton
“I am willing to admit that some people might live there for years, or even a lifetime, so protected that they never sense the sweet stench of corruption that is all around them - the keen, thin scent of decay that pervades everything and accuses with a terrible accusation the superficial youthfulness, the abounding undergraduate noise, that fills those ancient buildings.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Seven Storey Mountain, Thomas Merton, 1948
The quote warns that long‑term comfort can blind people to pervasive moral decay surrounding them.
In simple terms: Comfort can hide corruption.
Key Takeaway
Stay vigilant against hidden decay.
Themes
morality
awareness
comfort
corruption
youth
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic life
- corporate culture
- urban development
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
existentialism
social critique
ethical blindness
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you overlook decay in familiar settings?
- How can you cultivate awareness without cynicism?
A Different Perspective
Blindness can be self‑imposed, not just external.
