--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For me to be a saint means to be myself…" description: "\"For me to be a saint means to be myself. Therefore the problem of sanctity and salvation is in fact the problem of finding out who I am and of discover..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/thomas-merton-231_discovering_for-me-to-be-a-saint-means-to-be-myself_2221977.jpg" --- # For me to be a saint means to be myself. Therefore the… ![“For me to be a saint means to be myself. Therefore the problem of sanctity and salvation is in fact the problem of finding out who I am and of discovering my true self.” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/thomas-merton-231_discovering_for-me-to-be-a-saint-means-to-be-myself_2221977.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/thomas-merton-231_discovering_for-me-to-be-a-saint-means-to-be-myself_2221977.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/thomas-merton-231_discovering_for-me-to-be-a-saint-means-to-be-myself_2221977.jpg) > “For me to be a saint means to be myself. Therefore the problem of sanctity and salvation is in fact the problem of finding out who I am and of discovering my true self.” [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. Sanctity is about authentic self‑discovery, not external standards. **In simple terms:** Finding true self is the path to holiness. Key Takeaway Seek authenticity. Themes self‑knowledge spirituality identity Mood introspective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - spiritual practice - therapy - career decisions Key Concepts existentialism self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - What does being “myself” truly mean? - How can you align daily actions with your authentic self? A Different Perspective True self may conflict with societal expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Salvation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salvation/) [Sanctity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctity/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [True self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-self/) [Who i am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-i-am/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [It is true to say that for me sanctity consists in being myself and for you sanctity consists of being yourself and that, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-true-to-say-that-for-me-sanctity-consists-in-being-myself-and/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [For me to be a saint means to be myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/for-me-to-be-a-saint-means-to-be-myself/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Discovering vocation does not mean scrambling toward some prize just beyond my reach but accepting the treasure of true self I already possess. Vocation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/discovering-vocation-does-not-mean-scrambling-toward-some-prize-just/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [There is only one problem on which all my existence, my peace, my happiness depend: to discover myself in discovering God. If I find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/there-is-only-one-problem-on-which-all-my-existence-my-peace-my/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [When they call you a saint, it means basically that you are not to be taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/when-they-call-you-a-saint-it-means-basically-that-you-are-not-to-be/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [“Thomas Merton said, “To be a saint means to be myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-adly-guirgis/thomas-merton-said-to-be-a-saint-means-to-be-myself/) [Stephen Adly Guirgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-adly-guirgis/) > [We must have a real living determination to reach holiness. ''I will be a saint'' means I will despoil myself of all that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/we-must-have-a-real-living-determination-to-reach-holiness-i-will-be/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Christianity has its own superstition, anyway: Why you turn three times, what this saint means, why you pray to the patron saint of lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciaran-hinds/christianity-has-its-own-superstition-anyway-why-you-turn-three-times/) [Ciaran Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciaran-hinds/) > [I am not a perfect saint, by any means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-becker/i-am-not-a-perfect-saint-by-any-means/) [Jason Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-becker/) > [The simplest and most effective way to sanctity is to disappear into the background of ordinary every day routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-simplest-and-most-effective-way-to-sanctity-is-to-disappear-into-2/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Saints are what they are not because their sanctity makes them admirable to others, but because the gift of sainthood makes it possible for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/saints-are-what-they-are-not-because-their-sanctity-makes-them/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [It is not humility to insist on being someone that you are not. 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Perfection is found in the purity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/business-is-not-the-supreme-virtue-and-sanctity-is-not-measured-by/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [People have no idea what one saint can do: for sanctity is stronger than the whole of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/people-have-no-idea-what-one-saint-can-do-for-sanctity-is-stronger/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## More by Thomas Merton > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. 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