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Comforting Quote by Thomas Merton

“What a thing it is to sit absolutely alone, in the forest, at night, cherished by this wonderful, unintelligible, perfectly innocent speech, the most comforting speech in the world, the talk that rain makes by itself all over the ridges, and the talk of the watercourses everywhere in the hollows!…” quote by Thomas Merton
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“What a thing it is to sit absolutely alone, in the forest, at night, cherished by this wonderful, unintelligible, perfectly innocent speech, the most comforting speech in the world, the talk that rain makes by itself all over the ridges, and the talk of the watercourses everywhere in the hollows! Nobody started it, nobody is going to stop it. It will talk as long as it wants this rain. As long as it talks I am going to listen.”

Thomas Merton

About This Quote

Source Essay: The Seven Storey Mountain, 1948

Solitude in nature offers a pure, unmediated communion with the world, where even rain speaks a comforting language.

In simple terms: Nature’s sounds bring peace.

Key Takeaway

Listen to natural rhythms.

Themes

solitude nature spirituality

Mood

contemplative serene

Type

poetic spiritual

When to use this quote

  • forest walks
  • meditation
  • rain listening
  • creative writing

Key Concepts

mindfulness ecology

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does silence affect your thoughts?
  • What does rain symbolize for you?
A Different Perspective

Modern life can distract from such deep listening, making it hard to sustain.

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