--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is therefore of supreme importance…" description: "\"“It is therefore of supreme importance that we consent to live not for ourselves but for others. When we do this we will be able first of all to face a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae4/thomas-merton-231_acceptance_it-is-therefore-of-supreme-importance-th_285110.jpg" --- # It is therefore of supreme importance that we consent to… ![“It is therefore of supreme importance that we consent to live not for ourselves but for others. When we do this we will be able first of all to face and accept our own limitations. As long as we secretly adore ourselves, our own deficiencies will remain to torture us with an apparent defilement…” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae4/thomas-merton-231_acceptance_it-is-therefore-of-supreme-importance-th_285110.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae4/thomas-merton-231_acceptance_it-is-therefore-of-supreme-importance-th_285110.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae4/thomas-merton-231_acceptance_it-is-therefore-of-supreme-importance-th_285110.jpg) > ““It is therefore of supreme importance that we consent to live not for ourselves but for others. When we do this we will be able first of all to face and accept our own limitations. As long as we secretly adore ourselves, our own deficiencies will remain to torture us with an apparent defilement. But if we live for others, we will gradually discover that no expects us to be 'as gods'. We will see that we are human, like everyone else, that we all have weaknesses and deficiencies, and that these limitations of ours play a most important part in all our lives. It is because of them that we need others and others need us. We are not all weak in the same spots, and so we supplement and complete one another, each one making up in himself for the lack in another.”” [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. Living for others reveals our shared humanity and helps us accept our own flaws, fostering mutual support and growth. **In simple terms:** Helping others lets us accept our limits. Key Takeaway Embrace service to understand yourself. Themes interdependence humility self‑acceptance community growth Mood reflective compassionate Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - team projects - counseling - family caregiving - peer mentoring Key Concepts Existentialism Christian mysticism social psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does serving others change your view of your own flaws? - What balance is needed between self‑care and self‑service? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on others can neglect self‑care and personal boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Consent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consent/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Live for others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-for-others/) ## Related quotes > [“But if we live for others, we will gradually discover that no one expects us to be "as gods." We will see that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/but-if-we-live-for-others-we-will-gradually-discover-that-no-one/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“G0d is of no importance unless He is of supreme importance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/g0d-is-of-no-importance-unless-he-is-of-supreme-importance/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [Environment is of supreme importance. It is greater than will power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/environment-is-of-supreme-importance-it-is-greater-than-will-power/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [God is either of no importance, or of supreme importance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/god-is-either-of-no-importance-or-of-supreme-importance/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [It is for this reason that rationality is of supreme importance to the well-being of the human species...even more, in those less fortunate times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/it-is-for-this-reason-that-rationality-is-of-supreme-importance-to/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [If you can impress any man with an absorbing conviction of the supreme importance of some moral or religious doctrine; if you can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-thomas-buckle/if-you-can-impress-any-man-with-an-absorbing-conviction-of-the/) [Henry Thomas Buckle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-thomas-buckle/) > [“It is therefore not of small moment whether we are trained from adulthood in one set of habits or another; on the contrary it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/it-is-therefore-not-of-small-moment-whether-we-are-trained-from/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Whoever is acquainted with the cruel injustice and unjust subordination frequently manifested in the family, whoever sees matters of lasting and supreme importance relative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-franklin-thwing/whoever-is-acquainted-with-the-cruel-injustice-and-unjust/) Charles Franklin Thwing > [God is of no importance unless He is of supreme importance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/god-is-of-no-importance-unless-he-is-of-supreme-importance/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [The attitude of gratitude is of supreme importance during times of struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/the-attitude-of-gratitude-is-of-supreme-importance-during-times-of/) Senoraroy > [“And since nothing whatever happens to us outside our own brain; since nothing hurt us or gives us pleasure except within the brain, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/and-since-nothing-whatever-happens-to-us-outside-our-own-brain-since/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [A smile costs nothing in money, time, or effort but it is literally true that it can be of supreme importance in ones life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmet-fox/a-smile-costs-nothing-in-money-time-or-effort-but-it-is-literally/) [Emmet Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmet-fox/) > [“Every person's life is theirs by right. An individual's life can and must belong only to himself, not to any society or community, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/every-person-s-life-is-theirs-by-right-an-individual-s-life-can-and/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [The greatest temptations are not those that solicit our consent to obvious sin, but those that offer us great evils masking as the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-greatest-temptations-are-not-those-that-solicit-our-consent-to/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [They who will live for others shall have great troubles, but they shall seem to them small. Those who will live for themselves shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/they-who-will-live-for-others-shall-have-great-troubles-but-they/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) ## 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 Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. 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