--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For the sinful self is not my real self…" description: "\"For the sinful self is not my real self, it is not the self YOU have wanted for me, only the self that I have wanted : And I no longer want this false ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66d/thomas-merton-231_father_for-the-sinful-self-is-not-my-real-self_2429773.jpg" --- # For the sinful self is not my real self, it is not the… ![“For the sinful self is not my real self, it is not the self YOU have wanted for me, only the self that I have wanted : And I no longer want this false self. But now, Father, I come to You in your own Son's self ... and it is He Who Presents me to You.” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66d/thomas-merton-231_father_for-the-sinful-self-is-not-my-real-self_2429773.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66d/thomas-merton-231_father_for-the-sinful-self-is-not-my-real-self_2429773.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66d/thomas-merton-231_father_for-the-sinful-self-is-not-my-real-self_2429773.jpg) > “For the sinful self is not my real self, it is not the self YOU have wanted for me, only the self that I have wanted : And I no longer want this false self. But now, Father, I come to You in your own Son's self ... and it is He Who Presents me to You.” [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. The false persona we adopt to please others must be abandoned to embrace our authentic spiritual identity. **In simple terms:** Drop the fake self, find your true self. Key Takeaway Seek genuine self‑knowledge and spiritual honesty. Themes identity spirituality authenticity Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal counseling - spiritual retreats - creative writing Key Concepts self‑concept theology psychology Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of your self are performed for others? - How does letting go of the false self change your relationships? A Different Perspective True self may be hard to recognize amid societal expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Real self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-self/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) ## Related quotes > [“19The wrong things the sinful self does are clear: being sexually unfaithful, not being pure, taking part in sexual sins,20worshiping gods, doing witchcraft, hating,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobbie-wolgemuth/19the-wrong-things-the-sinful-self-does-are-clear-being-sexually/) Bobbie Wolgemuth > [“The most important thing to remember, the guiding principle, is to try to keep your son's self esteem intact while he is in school.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-kindlon/the-most-important-thing-to-remember-the-guiding-principle-is-to-try/) Dan Kindlon > [He who, having lost his parents or being abandoned, by them without ,just cause, gives himself to a ,man , is called a son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/he-who-having-lost-his-parents-or-being-abandoned-by-them-without/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [“It was a kind of duty you owed yourself that when anybody said come on son do this or do that you should stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-hood/it-was-a-kind-of-duty-you-owed-yourself-that-when-anybody-said-come/) [Ann Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-hood/) > [“The nobleman fell to his knees. 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