Dangerous Quote by Thomas Merton
“It is both dangerous and easy to hate man as he is because he is not what he ought to be. If we do not first respect what he is we will never suffer him to become what he ought to be: in our impatience we do away with him altogether.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton, 1948
We must first accept people as they are before we can help them become their best selves.
In simple terms: Accept before trying to change.
Key Takeaway
Respect first, then guide.
Themes
acceptance
growth
patience
Mood
reflective
empathetic
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- counseling
- leadership
- parenting
- community building
Key Concepts
human nature
ethical responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you show respect to those you wish to help?
- What barriers arise when you try to change others?
A Different Perspective
Changing people without respect can cause rebellion.
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
