--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But the man who is not afraid to admit…" description: "\"But the man who is not afraid to admit everything that he sees to be wrong with himself, and yet recognizes that he may be the object of God's love pre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/thomas-merton-231_compassion_but-the-man-who-is-not-afraid-to-admit-e_872868.jpg" --- # But the man who is not afraid to admit everything that he… ![“But the man who is not afraid to admit everything that he sees to be wrong with himself, and yet recognizes that he may be the object of God's love precisely because of his shortcomings, can begin to be sincere. His sincerity is based on confidence, not in his own illusions about himself, but in…” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/thomas-merton-231_compassion_but-the-man-who-is-not-afraid-to-admit-e_872868.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/thomas-merton-231_compassion_but-the-man-who-is-not-afraid-to-admit-e_872868.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/thomas-merton-231_compassion_but-the-man-who-is-not-afraid-to-admit-e_872868.jpg) > “But the man who is not afraid to admit everything that he sees to be wrong with himself, and yet recognizes that he may be the object of God's love precisely because of his shortcomings, can begin to be sincere. His sincerity is based on confidence, not in his own illusions about himself, but in the endless, unfailing mercy of God.” [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledging personal flaws opens the way to genuine sincerity, grounded in trust in divine mercy rather than self‑deception. **In simple terms:** Admitting faults leads to true sincerity through God's mercy. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and trust divine compassion. Themes humility spirituality self‑awareness Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - counseling - spiritual direction - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts theology psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing divine love change self‑perception? - What practices help maintain humility? A Different Perspective Sincerity can be hindered by fear of judgment or denial of flaws. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Begin Sincerity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begin-sincerity-972041/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Confidence Illusions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence-illusions-972042/) [Endless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endless/) [God'S Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-s-love/) [God-s-love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-s-love-2/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Mercy of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy-of-god/) [Not afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-afraid/) [Shortcomings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortcomings/) [Sincere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sincere/) [Sincerity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sincerity/) [Sincerity Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sincerity-based-972040/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [True repentance has as its constituent elements not only grief and hatred of sin, but also an apprehension of the mercy of God in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mackergo-taylor/true-repentance-has-as-its-constituent-elements-not-only-grief-and/) [William Mackergo Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mackergo-taylor/) > [“A man becomes a saint not by conviction that he is better than sinners but by the realization that he is one of them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/a-man-becomes-a-saint-not-by-conviction-that-he-is-better-than/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Those who refuse His mercy satisfy His justice in another way. Without His mercy, they cannot love Him. Without love for Him they cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/those-who-refuse-his-mercy-satisfy-his-justice-in-another-way-without/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Nevertheless, the liturgy of Ash Wednesday is not focussed on the sinfulness of the penitent but on the mercy of God. The question of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/nevertheless-the-liturgy-of-ash-wednesday-is-not-focussed-on-the/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [For language to have meaning, there must be intervals of silence somewhere, to divide word from word and utterance from utterance. He who retires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/for-language-to-have-meaning-there-must-be-intervals-of-silence/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“The eyes of the saint make all beauty holy and the hands of the saint consecrate everything they touch to the glory of God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-eyes-of-the-saint-make-all-beauty-holy-and-the-hands-of-the-saint/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Every breath we draw is a gift of God's love; every moment of existence is a grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/every-breath-we-draw-is-a-gift-of-god-s-love-every-moment-of/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“The wise man has struggled to find You in his wisdom, and he has failed. The just man has striven to grasp You in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-wise-man-has-struggled-to-find-you-in-his-wisdom-and-he-has/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Confess your sins, worship God, and get on with your life. You can experience the mercy of God no matter what you’ve been through.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-mcgee/confess-your-sins-worship-god-and-get-on-with-your-life-you-can/) [Robert S. McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-mcgee/) > [“As we meditate on the undeserved mercy of God in forgiving our sins, we will freely grant forgiveness and kindness to our husbands and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-mahaney/as-we-meditate-on-the-undeserved-mercy-of-god-in-forgiving-our-sins/) [Carolyn Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-mahaney/) > [It is highly convenient to believe in the infinite mercy of God when you feel the need of mercy, but remember also his infinite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/it-is-highly-convenient-to-believe-in-the-infinite-mercy-of-god-when/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [“Humility teaches us that God is actively redeeming the world. And because He is, we can experience the relief of confessing our brokenness—whether it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-anderson/humility-teaches-us-that-god-is-actively-redeeming-the-world-and/) [Hannah Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-anderson/) > [But all the wickedness in the world which man may do or think is no more to the mercy of God than a live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-langland/but-all-the-wickedness-in-the-world-which-man-may-do-or-think-is-no/) [William Langland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-langland/) > [“So it falls out that in this world, in evil days like these, the Church walks onward like a wayfarer stricken by the world's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/so-it-falls-out-that-in-this-world-in-evil-days-like-these-the-church/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“The mercy of God's grace guides me in the right path.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-mercy-of-god-s-grace-guides-me-in-the-right-path/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## More by Thomas Merton > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If nothing that can be seen can either be God or represent Him to us as He is, then to find God we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-nothing-that-can-be-seen-can-either-be-god-or-represent-him-to-us/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [It is almost impossible to overestimate the value of true humility and its power in the spiritual life. For the beginning of humility is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-almost-impossible-to-overestimate-the-value-of-true-humility/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [We are not perfectly free until we live in pure hope. For when our hope is pure, it no longer trusts exclusively in human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/we-are-not-perfectly-free-until-we-live-in-pure-hope-for-when-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The desire to kill is like the desire to attack another with an ingot of red -hot iron: I have to pick up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-desire-to-kill-is-like-the-desire-to-attack-another-with-an-ingot/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [To enter into the realm of contemplation one must in a certain sense die: but this death is in fact the entrance to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-enter-into-the-realm-of-contemplation-one-must-in-a-certain-sense/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The mission of Christian humility in social life is not merely to edify, but to keep minds open to many alternatives. The rigidity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-mission-of-christian-humility-in-social-life-is-not-merely-to/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Peace cannot be built on exclusivism, absolutism, and intolerance. But neither can it be built on vague liberal slogans and pious programs gestated in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/peace-cannot-be-built-on-exclusivism-absolutism-and-intolerance-but/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Things that are good are good, and if one is responding to that goodness one is in contact with a truth from which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/things-that-are-good-are-good-and-if-one-is-responding-to-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Love winter when the plant says nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/love-winter-when-the-plant-says-nothing/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“The wisdom of the flesh is a judgement that the ordinary ends of our natural appetites are the goods to which the whole of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-wisdom-of-the-flesh-is-a-judgement-that-the-ordinary-ends-of-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I will no longer wound myself with the thoughts and questions that have surrounded me like thorns: that is a penance You do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-will-no-longer-wound-myself-with-the-thoughts-and-questions-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men--you may make some money and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-you-write-for-god-you-will-reach-many-men-and-bring-them-joy-if/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Contemplation means rest, suspension of activity, withdrawal into the mysterious interior solitude in which the soul is absorbed in the immense and fruitful silence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/contemplation-means-rest-suspension-of-activity-withdrawal-into-the/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) [Explore all 851 Thomas Merton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) [Segun Magbagbeola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/segun-magbagbeola/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) [Talib al Habib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-al-habib/) > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But the man who is not afraid to admit everything that he sees to be wrong with himself, and yet recognizes that he may be the object of God's love precisely because of his shortcomings, can begin to be sincere. His sincerity is based on confidence, not in his own illusions about himself, but in the endless, unfailing mercy of God.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Merton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/but-the-man-who-is-not-afraid-to-admit-everything-that-he-sees-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/but-the-man-who-is-not-afraid-to-admit-everything-that-he-sees-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/thomas-merton-231_compassion_but-the-man-who-is-not-afraid-to-admit-e_872868.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/thomas-merton-231_compassion_but-the-man-who-is-not-afraid-to-admit-e_872868.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/thomas-merton-231_compassion_but-the-man-who-is-not-afraid-to-admit-e_872868.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But the man who is not afraid to admit everything that he sees to be wrong with himself, and yet recognizes…” — Thomas Merton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas Merton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But the man who is not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/but-the-man-who-is-not-afraid-to-admit-everything-that-he-sees-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/but-the-man-who-is-not-afraid-to-admit-everything-that-he-sees-to-be/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```