---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is true to say that for me sanctity…"
description: "\"It is true to say that for me sanctity consists in being myself and for you sanctity consists of being yourself and that, in the last analysis, your sa..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a95/thomas-merton-231_analysis_it-is-true-to-say-that-for-me-sanctity-c_1289106.jpg"
---

#  It is true to say that for me sanctity consists in being…

![“It is true to say that for me sanctity consists in being myself and for you sanctity consists of being yourself and that, in the last analysis, your sanctity will never be mine and mine will never be yours, except in the communism of charity and grace. For me to be a saint means to be myself…” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a95/thomas-merton-231_analysis_it-is-true-to-say-that-for-me-sanctity-c_1289106.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a95/thomas-merton-231_analysis_it-is-true-to-say-that-for-me-sanctity-c_1289106.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a95/thomas-merton-231_analysis_it-is-true-to-say-that-for-me-sanctity-c_1289106.jpg)

> “It is true to say that for me sanctity consists in being myself and for you sanctity consists of being yourself and that, in the last analysis, your sanctity will never be mine and mine will never be yours, except in the communism of charity and grace. 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 authentic self‑recognition, not imitation, and true holiness emerges through mutual charity and grace.

**In simple terms:** Being yourself is true holiness.

Key Takeaway

Seek authentic self, share grace.

Themes

identity spirituality authenticity community charity

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

philosophical spiritual inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal growth
- spiritual counseling
- community service
- interfaith dialogue

Key Concepts

self‑realization interdependence grace

Questions to Reflect On

- What does “being myself” mean to you?
- How can charity bridge personal and shared holiness?

A Different Perspective

Sanctity cannot be imposed; it requires personal discovery.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Analysis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analysis/) [Being yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-yourself/) [Charity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) [Communism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communism/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [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/)

## Related quotes

> [For me to be a saint means to be myself. Therefore the problem of sanctity and salvation is in fact the problem of finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/for-me-to-be-a-saint-means-to-be-myself-therefore-the-problem-of/)

[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/)

> [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. It is as much as saying that you know better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-not-humility-to-insist-on-being-someone-that-you-are-not-it-is/)

[Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/)

> [“The simplest and most effective way to sanctity is to disappear into the background of ordinary everyday routine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-simplest-and-most-effective-way-to-sanctity-is-to-disappear-into/)

[Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/)

> [Business is not the supreme virtue, and sanctity is not measured by the amount of work we accomplish. 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/)

> [In an age where there is much talk about "being yourself," I reserve to myself the right to forget about being myself, since in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/in-an-age-where-there-is-much-talk-about-being-yourself-i-reserve-to/)

[Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/)

> [And let me make this very clear - unlike President Obama, I will not raise taxes on the middle class. As president, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/and-let-me-make-this-very-clear-unlike-president-obama-i-will-not/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [The Rosary, especially prayed in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, is a powerful means of spiritual grace. In all of our efforts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-vose-daily/the-rosary-especially-prayed-in-the-presence-of-the-blessed-sacrament/)

Thomas Vose Daily

> [Many Americans believe marriage is between a man and a woman, and we need to celebrate marriage as the best way to provide stability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lankford/many-americans-believe-marriage-is-between-a-man-and-a-woman-and-we/)

[James Lankford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lankford/)

> [We are in a new Civil War, and just like the last, it is a struggle for the sanctity of the Union - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/we-are-in-a-new-civil-war-and-just-like-the-last-it-is-a-struggle-for/)

[Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/)

> [I keep my sanctity and respect intact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sana-khan/i-keep-my-sanctity-and-respect-intact/)

[Sana Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sana-khan/)

> [Sanctity and genius are as rebellious as vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/sanctity-and-genius-are-as-rebellious-as-vice/)

[George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/)

> [The sanctity of law can be maintained only so long as it is the expression of the will of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhagat-singh/the-sanctity-of-law-can-be-maintained-only-so-long-as-it-is-the/)

[Bhagat Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhagat-singh/)

## 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 Analysis quotes

> [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/my-mind-rebels-at-stagnation-give-me-problems-give-me-work-give-me/)

[Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/)

> [Combining the experience of a seasoned university president with the analysis of a respected legal scholar, Derek Bok explores what he concludes are 'signs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-h-t-rhodes/combining-the-experience-of-a-seasoned-university-president-with-the/)

Frank H. T. Rhodes

> [International friendly games are not worth the lives of the silk worms who perish to make the pennants. They do not even have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-baker/international-friendly-games-are-not-worth-the-lives-of-the-silk/)

[Danny Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-baker/)

> [Demographically, I'm a hippie from San Francisco and I'm not culturally inclined to be sympathetic to states' rights. My cultural heritage is FDR and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/demographically-i-m-a-hippie-from-san-francisco-and-i-m-not/)

[Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/)

> [Democracy is not being well served as we're accustomed to. There is less information, there's less investigation, there's less analysis, there's less accountability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-greenspon/democracy-is-not-being-well-served-as-we-re-accustomed-to-there-is/)

Edward Greenspon

> [As long as the human race is able to concern itself with more than mere survival, soccer will have its place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-morris/as-long-as-the-human-race-is-able-to-concern-itself-with-more-than/)

[Desmond Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-morris/)

> [The capitalistic social order, therefore, is an economic democracy in the strictest sense of the word. In the last analysis, all decisions are dependent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-capitalistic-social-order-therefore-is-an-economic-democracy-in/)

[Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/)

> [“You will do one of two things as soon as you’ve exhausted what you can determine mathematically in the case: (1) Refine your hypothesis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-cheng/you-will-do-one-of-two-things-as-soon-as-you-ve-exhausted-what-you/)

[Victor Cheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-cheng/)

> [Atheism Explained is a gem. It is clear, informative, well-argued, provocative, often witty, and unfailingly interesting. David Ramsay Steele ranges over so many issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-shearmur/atheism-explained-is-a-gem-it-is-clear-informative-well-argued/)

Jeremy Shearmur

> [Class is entirely intangible, and the way it affects things isn't subject to scientific analysis, and it's not supposed to be real but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-walton/class-is-entirely-intangible-and-the-way-it-affects-things-isn-t/)

[Jo Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-walton/)

> [I've always made my decisions based on two factors: intellectual analysis and my gut. And when they meet, that's a go from me. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ovitz/i-ve-always-made-my-decisions-based-on-two-factors-intellectual/)

[Michael Ovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ovitz/)

> [Analysis of opponents is something I like doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bright/analysis-of-opponents-is-something-i-like-doing/)

[Millie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bright/)

> [What matters supremely, therefore, is not, in the last analysis, the fact that I know God, but the larger fact which underlies it -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/what-matters-supremely-therefore-is-not-in-the-last-analysis-the-fact/)

[J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/)

> [We are well aware that he spent many hours recently tape recording various messages... we need to do a little more analysis of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-hoon/we-are-well-aware-that-he-spent-many-hours-recently-tape-recording/)

[Geoff Hoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-hoon/)

[Browse all 1,547 Analysis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analysis/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It is true to say that for me sanctity consists in being myself and for you sanctity consists of being yourself and that, in the last analysis, your sanctity will never be mine and mine will never be yours, except in the communism of charity and grace. 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.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas Merton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-true-to-say-that-for-me-sanctity-consists-in-being-myself-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Analysis"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-true-to-say-that-for-me-sanctity-consists-in-being-myself-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a95/thomas-merton-231_analysis_it-is-true-to-say-that-for-me-sanctity-c_1289106.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a95/thomas-merton-231_analysis_it-is-true-to-say-that-for-me-sanctity-c_1289106.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a95/thomas-merton-231_analysis_it-is-true-to-say-that-for-me-sanctity-c_1289106.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is true to say that for me sanctity consists in being myself and for you sanctity consists of being…” — 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": "It is true to say that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-true-to-say-that-for-me-sanctity-consists-in-being-myself-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-true-to-say-that-for-me-sanctity-consists-in-being-myself-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
