--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do not look for rest in any pleasure…" description: "\"“Do not look for rest in any pleasure, because you were not created for pleasure: you were created for spiritual joy. And if you do not know the differ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/thomas-merton-231_joy_do-not-look-for-rest-in-any-pleasure-bec_1037657.jpg" --- # Do not look for rest in any pleasure, because you were not… ![“Do not look for rest in any pleasure, because you were not created for pleasure: you were created for spiritual joy. And if you do not know the difference between pleasure and spiritual joy you have not yet begun to live.” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/thomas-merton-231_joy_do-not-look-for-rest-in-any-pleasure-bec_1037657.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/thomas-merton-231_joy_do-not-look-for-rest-in-any-pleasure-bec_1037657.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/thomas-merton-231_joy_do-not-look-for-rest-in-any-pleasure-bec_1037657.jpg) > ““Do not look for rest in any pleasure, because you were not created for pleasure: you were created for spiritual joy. And if you do not know the difference between pleasure and spiritual joy you have not yet begun to live.”” [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. True fulfillment comes from spiritual joy, not fleeting pleasure; recognizing this distinction is essential to living fully. **In simple terms:** Spiritual joy, not pleasure, is life's purpose. Key Takeaway Seek deeper meaning beyond temporary pleasures. Themes spirituality purpose joy Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily meditation - life decisions - personal growth Key Concepts existentialism inner fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What distinguishes pleasure from spiritual joy? - How can you cultivate spiritual joy? A Different Perspective Pleasure can be a distraction from deeper fulfillment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Created Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/created-spiritual-1159843/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pleasure Created](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure-created-2406183/) [Pleasure Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure-spiritual-1704157/) [Rest Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rest-pleasure-2406182/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Spiritual joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-joy/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) ## Related quotes > [Do not look for rest in any pleasure, because you were not created for pleasure: you were created for joy. And if you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/do-not-look-for-rest-in-any-pleasure-because-you-were-not-created-for-2/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [ \[Angels\] guide us to become spiritual people for the pleasure of it... because the spiritual life itself has a great deal of beauty and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-moore/angels-guide-us-to-become-spiritual-people-for-the-pleasure-of-it/) [Thomas Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-moore/) > [“•I found pleasure in wine. I found pleasure in women. And I found pleasure in spiritual experience. Only the last one was permanent. ---A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sukhraj-s-dhillon/i-found-pleasure-in-wine-i-found-pleasure-in-women-and-i-found/) [Sukhraj S. Dhillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sukhraj-s-dhillon/) > [To create something and not to be attached to what you have created is a spiritual process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/to-create-something-and-not-to-be-attached-to-what-you-have-created/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [“Addressing the concept of man made additions to the faith - “These additions- standards, practices, and allegiances supposedly created for our spiritual benefit- have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-galisewski/addressing-the-concept-of-man-made-additions-to-the-faith-these/) [Ed Galisewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-galisewski/) > [“We were created to be Spiritual people. Our Christianity is either Supernatural or superficial.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pastor-rod-w-larkins/we-were-created-to-be-spiritual-people-our-christianity-is-either/) [Pastor Rod W. Larkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pastor-rod-w-larkins/) > [If we wish to serve God and love our neighbor well, we must manifest our joy in the service we render to Him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-drexel/if-we-wish-to-serve-god-and-love-our-neighbor-well-we-must-manifest/) [Katharine Drexel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-drexel/) > [“In Hinayana Buddhism, practice is classified in four ways. The best way is just to do it without having any joy in it, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/in-hinayana-buddhism-practice-is-classified-in-four-ways-the-best-way/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [“If the wickedness of people arouses indignation and insurmountable grief in you, to the point that you desire to revenge yourself upon the wicked,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/if-the-wickedness-of-people-arouses-indignation-and-insurmountable/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [Self-Esteem Creates Natural Highs. Knowing That You're Lovable Helps You To Love More. Knowing That You're Important Helps You To Make A Difference To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/self-esteem-creates-natural-highs-knowing-that-you-re-lovable-helps/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Spiritual joy is devotion, it's like a virus you know? It's a benevolent virus, but it spreads. It's infectious. Ram Dass was like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/surya-das/spiritual-joy-is-devotion-it-s-like-a-virus-you-know-it-s-a/) [Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/surya-das/) > [“For the only path leading out of the torments of hell to the everlasting joy of the Kingdom is that of the divine commandments:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archimandrite-zacharias-zacharou/for-the-only-path-leading-out-of-the-torments-of-hell-to-the/) [Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archimandrite-zacharias-zacharou/) > [“Contemplate for a moment hiking up a wild and rugged mountain. The mountain itself is a challenge, as well as the experience of beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-sanchez/contemplate-for-a-moment-hiking-up-a-wild-and-rugged-mountain-the/) [Steve Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-sanchez/) > [Spiritual joy is what you experience when you choose to give thanks to God no matter what happens-even when things go wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-george/spiritual-joy-is-what-you-experience-when-you-choose-to-give-thanks/) [Jim George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-george/) > [Gluttony should be destroyed by self-control; unchastity by desire for God and longing for the blessings held in store; avarice by compassion for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/gluttony-should-be-destroyed-by-self-control-unchastity-by-desire-for/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) ## 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 Joy quotes > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“When you finally realize your gifts and talents, joy and satisfaction come as you walk in your purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanya-richards-ross/when-you-finally-realize-your-gifts-and-talents-joy-and-satisfaction/) [Sanya Richards-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanya-richards-ross/) > [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [Safin, in his way, is very talented. It is a joy to watch them play; it is tennis of a very high quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-krajicek/safin-in-his-way-is-very-talented-it-is-a-joy-to-watch-them-play-it/) [Richard Krajicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-krajicek/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) [Daniel K Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-k-judd/) > [“Start the daily practice of joyful living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/start-the-daily-practice-of-joyful-living/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have touched with a sense of art some people-they felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cassatt/i-have-touched-with-a-sense-of-art-some-people-they-felt-the-love-and/) [Mary Cassatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cassatt/) > [“Reverend Veronica Goines sums this up as, “Peace is joy at rest, and joy is peace on its feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/reverend-veronica-goines-sums-this-up-as-peace-is-joy-at-rest-and-joy/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Be in a state of gratitude for everything that shows up in your life. Be thankful for the storms as well as the smooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/be-in-a-state-of-gratitude-for-everything-that-shows-up-in-your-life/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) [Browse all 15,003 Joy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Do not look for rest in any pleasure, because you were not created for pleasure: you were created for spiritual joy. And if you do not know the difference between pleasure and spiritual joy you have not yet begun to live.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Merton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/do-not-look-for-rest-in-any-pleasure-because-you-were-not-created-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Joy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/do-not-look-for-rest-in-any-pleasure-because-you-were-not-created-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/thomas-merton-231_joy_do-not-look-for-rest-in-any-pleasure-bec_1037657.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/thomas-merton-231_joy_do-not-look-for-rest-in-any-pleasure-bec_1037657.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/thomas-merton-231_joy_do-not-look-for-rest-in-any-pleasure-bec_1037657.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Do not look for rest in any pleasure, because you were not created for pleasure: you were created for…” — 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": "“Do not look for rest in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/do-not-look-for-rest-in-any-pleasure-because-you-were-not-created-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/do-not-look-for-rest-in-any-pleasure-because-you-were-not-created-for/#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 } } ] } ```