---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only One Who can teach me to find God…"
description: "\"“The only One Who can teach me to find God is God, Himself, Alone.”\" — Thomas Merton"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/thomas-merton-231_god_the-only-one-who-can-teach-me-to-find-go_493058.jpg"
---

#  The only One Who can teach me to find God is God, Himself…

![“The only One Who can teach me to find God is God, Himself, Alone.” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/thomas-merton-231_god_the-only-one-who-can-teach-me-to-find-go_493058.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/thomas-merton-231_god_the-only-one-who-can-teach-me-to-find-go_493058.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/thomas-merton-231_god_the-only-one-who-can-teach-me-to-find-go_493058.jpg)

> ““The only One Who can teach me to find God is God, Himself, Alone.””

[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.

Only divine experience can truly reveal the divine, not human instruction alone.

**In simple terms:** God teaches God alone.

Key Takeaway

Seek personal spiritual encounter.

Themes

spirituality faith self-discovery

Mood

contemplative reflective

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal prayer
- meditation
- retreats
- quiet contemplation

Key Concepts

theology mysticism

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you create space for direct divine encounter?
- What limits reliance on others for spiritual insight?

A Different Perspective

Human teachings may mislead without direct experience.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/)

## Related quotes

> [“No one has to teach God's people to know God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hon/no-one-has-to-teach-god-s-people-to-know-god/)

[Henry Hon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hon/)

> [Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mcauley/teach-me-to-do-your-will-for-you-are-my-god/)

[Catherine McAuley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mcauley/)

> [What use, after all, is man, if not to teach God His lessons?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/what-use-after-all-is-man-if-not-to-teach-god-his-lessons/)

[Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/)

> [Instant obedience will teach you more about God than a lifetime of Bible discussions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/instant-obedience-will-teach-you-more-about-god-than-a-lifetime-of/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [“If you want to teach your children that they are the tools of God, you had better not teach them that they are God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-c-dennett/if-you-want-to-teach-your-children-that-they-are-the-tools-of-god-you/)

[Daniel C. Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-c-dennett/)

> [Once sure that the doctrine we teach is God's Word, once certain of this, we may build thereupon, and know that this cause shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/once-sure-that-the-doctrine-we-teach-is-god-s-word-once-certain-of/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [Africa, amongst the continents, will teach it to you: that God and the Devil are one, the majesty coeternal, not two uncreated but one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isak-dinesen/africa-amongst-the-continents-will-teach-it-to-you-that-god-and-the/)

[Isak Dinesen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isak-dinesen/)

> [God is a child who amuses himself, going from laughing to crying for no reason, each day reinventing the world to the chagrin of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-is-a-child-who-amuses-himself-going-from-laughing-to-crying-for/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“The Biblical writers did not learn grace from a textbook or in a classroom. They learned it from the school of hardship and difficulty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lautsbaugh/the-biblical-writers-did-not-learn-grace-from-a-textbook-or-in-a/)

Chris Lautsbaugh

> [We teach that God's love for His children is infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/we-teach-that-god-s-love-for-his-children-is-infinite/)

[Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/)

> [Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior, and my hope is in you all day long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/guide-me-in-your-truth-and-teach-me-for-you-are-god-my-savior-and-my/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I've met God across his long walnut desk with his diplomas hanging on the wall behind him, and God asks me, Why? Why did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/i-ve-met-god-across-his-long-walnut-desk-with-his-diplomas-hanging-on/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [Teach me, my God and king In all things thee to see And what I do in anything To do it as for thee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/teach-me-my-god-and-king-in-all-things-thee-to-see-and-what-i-do-in/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [Teach me, 0 God, not to torture myself, not to make a martyr out of myself through stifling reflection, but rather teach me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/teach-me-0-god-not-to-torture-myself-not-to-make-a-martyr-out-of/)

[Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/)

> [Reformed theology does NOT teach that God brings the ELECT kicking and screaming, against their will, into His kingdom. It teaches that God so-works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/reformed-theology-does-not-teach-that-god-brings-the-elect-kicking/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

## 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 God quotes

> [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/)

[Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/)

> [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/)

[Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/)

> [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/)

[Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/)

> [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/)

[Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/)

[Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/)

> [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/)

[Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/)

> [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/)

[Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/)

> [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/)

[Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/)

> [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/)

[Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/)

> [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

[Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The only One Who can teach me to find God is God, Himself, Alone.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas Merton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-only-one-who-can-teach-me-to-find-god-is-god-himself-alone/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "God"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-only-one-who-can-teach-me-to-find-god-is-god-himself-alone/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/thomas-merton-231_god_the-only-one-who-can-teach-me-to-find-go_493058.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/thomas-merton-231_god_the-only-one-who-can-teach-me-to-find-go_493058.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/thomas-merton-231_god_the-only-one-who-can-teach-me-to-find-go_493058.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The only One Who can teach me to find God is God, Himself, Alone.” — 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": "“The only One Who can teach...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-only-one-who-can-teach-me-to-find-god-is-god-himself-alone/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-only-one-who-can-teach-me-to-find-god-is-god-himself-alone/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
