Beauty Quote by Thomas Merton
“Then it was as if I suddenly saw the secret beauty of their hearts, the depths of their hearts where neither sin nor desire nor self-knowledge can reach, the core of their reality, the person that each one is in God's eyes. If only they could see themselves as they really are. If only we could see each other that way all the time, there would be no more war, no more hatred, no more cruelty, no more greed . . . I suppose the big problem would be that we would fall down and worship each other.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Heart of the Matter,” 1965
Seeing others as God sees them—pure, beyond sin or desire—could end conflict, but worshipping each other might create new problems.
In simple terms: Viewing everyone as inherently good could stop war, yet may create new issues.
Key Takeaway
Practice seeing others with compassion and humility.
Themes
compassion
spirituality
peace
humanity
Mood
inspirational
reflective
Type
spiritual
ethical
When to use this quote
- conflict resolution
- interfaith dialogue
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
theology
ethical philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance ideal compassion with realistic human behavior?
- What practices foster seeing others as they truly are?
A Different Perspective
Human flaws may still cause strife despite idealistic views.
![“It is a glorious destiny to be a member of the human race, now I realize what we all are . If only they [people] could all see themselves as they really are I suppose the big problem would be that we would fall down and worship each other At the center of our being is a point of nothingness which…” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/615/thomas-merton-231_big-problem_it-is-a-glorious-destiny-to-be-a-member_1795511.jpg)
