---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The simplest and most effective way to…"
description: "\"“The simplest and most effective way to sanctity is to disappear into the background of ordinary everyday routine.”\" — Thomas Merton"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02e/thomas-merton-231_everyday-routine_the-simplest-and-most-effective-way-to-s_685274.jpg"
---

#  The simplest and most effective way to sanctity is to…

![“The simplest and most effective way to sanctity is to disappear into the background of ordinary everyday routine.” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02e/thomas-merton-231_everyday-routine_the-simplest-and-most-effective-way-to-s_685274.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02e/thomas-merton-231_everyday-routine_the-simplest-and-most-effective-way-to-s_685274.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02e/thomas-merton-231_everyday-routine_the-simplest-and-most-effective-way-to-s_685274.jpg)

> ““The simplest and most effective way to sanctity is to disappear into the background of ordinary everyday routine.””

[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.

True sanctity comes from blending into ordinary life, letting daily routine become a spiritual practice.

**In simple terms:** Spirituality thrives in everyday life.

Key Takeaway

Embrace routine as a path to holiness.

Themes

spirituality humility routine everyday life

Mood

contemplative inspirational

Type

philosophical practical

When to use this quote

- personal meditation
- daily chores
- community service
- simple living

Key Concepts

sanctity mindfulness ordinary practice

Questions to Reflect On

- Can routine become complacent?
- How to stay mindful while blending in?

A Different Perspective

Disappearing can lead to neglect of personal growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Everyday routine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyday-routine/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Ordinary Everyday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-everyday-583719/) [Sanctity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctity/) [Sanctity Disappear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctity-disappear-4439864/) [Simplest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simplest/) [Simplest Effective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simplest-effective-3314092/)

## Related quotes

> [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/)

> [“Direct, personal feedback really is the simplest and most effective form of motivation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/direct-personal-feedback-really-is-the-simplest-and-most-effective/)

[Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/)

> [In order to seek one's own direction, one must simplify the mechanics of ordinary, everyday life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/in-order-to-seek-one-s-own-direction-one-must-simplify-the-mechanics/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [The only thing that makes me interesting as a writer is that I'm just talking common sense. The most ordinary, everyday sort of common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/the-only-thing-that-makes-me-interesting-as-a-writer-is-that-i-m-just/)

[Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/)

> [Prayer is such an ordinary, everyday, mundane thing. Certainly, people who pray are no more saints than the rest of us. Rather, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberta-bondi/prayer-is-such-an-ordinary-everyday-mundane-thing-certainly-people/)

[Roberta Bondi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberta-bondi/)

> [Tea! Bless ordinary everyday afternoon tea!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/tea-bless-ordinary-everyday-afternoon-tea/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [Perhaps we could enjoy ordinary, everyday life more if we learned to celebrate the ordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/perhaps-we-could-enjoy-ordinary-everyday-life-more-if-we-learned-to/)

[Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/)

> [“But it’s how we handle the ‘ordinary, everyday small stuff’ that lays the groundwork for handling the ‘big stuff.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele-faber/but-it-s-how-we-handle-the-ordinary-everyday-small-stuff-that-lays/)

[Adele Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele-faber/)

> [Either we learn to find the Lord in the ordinary everyday life or else we shall never find him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josemaria-escriva/either-we-learn-to-find-the-lord-in-the-ordinary-everyday-life-or/)

[Josemaria Escriva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josemaria-escriva/)

> [Happiness is a matter of one's most ordinary everyday mode of consciousness being busy and lively and unconcerned with self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/happiness-is-a-matter-of-one-s-most-ordinary-everyday-mode-of/)

[Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/)

> [... the most ordinary everyday living is as delicate, as breath-taking, as difficult, takes as terrific physical and mental control and effort, as walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/the-most-ordinary-everyday-living-is-as-delicate-as-breath-taking-as/)

[Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/)

> [“grounded in the midst of outer chaos, disorder, or ordinary, everyday bustle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/grounded-in-the-midst-of-outer-chaos-disorder-or-ordinary-everyday/)

[Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/)

> [“The only cure for all social ills in our world today is the discovery and creation of more and more ordinary everyday heroes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeroninio-almeida/the-only-cure-for-all-social-ills-in-our-world-today-is-the-discovery/)

[Jeroninio Almeida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeroninio-almeida/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

## 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 Everyday routine quotes

> [..in that moment i realize how much i love the little everyday routines of my life..the details that are my life's special pattern, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/in-that-moment-i-realize-how-much-i-love-the-little-everyday-routines/)

[Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/)

> [Travel is a new experience that can transport you out of your everyday routine to create memories with the ones you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-chesky/travel-is-a-new-experience-that-can-transport-you-out-of-your/)

[Brian Chesky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-chesky/)

> [Men in general are too material and do not make enough human contacts. If we search for the fundamentals which actually motivate us we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-s-jordan/men-in-general-are-too-material-and-do-not-make-enough-human-contacts/)

[Edward S. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-s-jordan/)

> [Fascism is the result of the collapse of Europe's spiritual and social order catastrophes broke through the everyday routine which makes men accept existing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/fascism-is-the-result-of-the-collapse-of-europe-s-spiritual-and/)

[Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/)

> [It is EASy to Stay the Same But is Not Easy to CHANge. Most people choose To Stay The Same All their Lives cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/by-me/it-is-easy-to-stay-the-same-but-is-not-easy-to-change-most-people/)

[By ME](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/by-me/)

> [Recovery is a major part of being an athlete, FitAid helps meet the demands of that critical part of my game. Also, I'm following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevon-looney/recovery-is-a-major-part-of-being-an-athlete-fitaid-helps-meet-the/)

[Kevon Looney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevon-looney/)

> [You cannot merely expect culture to be a natural occurrence; it has to be taught and made a part of your everyday routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/you-cannot-merely-expect-culture-to-be-a-natural-occurrence-it-has-to/)

[Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

> [“The Poetry of Love We see the world with the eyes of a small child. We visualize the beauty of the world with an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katerina-kostaki/the-poetry-of-love-we-see-the-world-with-the-eyes-of-a-small-child-we/)

[Katerina Kostaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katerina-kostaki/)

> [“Do you want any breakfast, Sam?” my mom asks. I never eat breakfast at home, but my mom still asks me every day—when she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/do-you-want-any-breakfast-sam-my-mom-asks-i-never-eat-breakfast-at/)

[Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/)

> [Wondering why logging onto Face book has become part of the everyday routine?… Do I really have nothing better to do!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serenity-karma/wondering-why-logging-onto-face-book-has-become-part-of-the-everyday/)

[Serenity Karma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serenity-karma/)

> [If there is something occurring that is so bad that it could be considered a crime against humanity, it has to be transmitted with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nachtwey/if-there-is-something-occurring-that-is-so-bad-that-it-could-be/)

[James Nachtwey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nachtwey/)

> [The career of politics grants a feeling of power. The knowledge of influencing men, of participating in power over them, and above all, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weber/the-career-of-politics-grants-a-feeling-of-power-the-knowledge-of/)

[Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/)

> [This is the great challenge: to maintain passion for the everyday routine and the endlessly repeated act, to derive deep gratification from the mundane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keller/this-is-the-great-challenge-to-maintain-passion-for-the-everyday/)

[Thomas Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keller/)

> [“What is this power of words? In our everyday routine, we use words to carry out all our transactions. If someone praises us then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harsha-yardi/what-is-this-power-of-words-in-our-everyday-routine-we-use-words-to/)

[Harsha Yardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harsha-yardi/)

> [“That was true, Iris would sometimes think, about marriage: it was only a boat, too. A wooden boat, difficult to build, even more difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-waldman/that-was-true-iris-would-sometimes-think-about-marriage-it-was-only-a/)

[Ayelet Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-waldman/)

[Browse all 26 Everyday routine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyday-routine/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The simplest and most effective way to sanctity is to disappear into the background of ordinary everyday routine.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas Merton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-simplest-and-most-effective-way-to-sanctity-is-to-disappear-into/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Everyday routine"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-simplest-and-most-effective-way-to-sanctity-is-to-disappear-into/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02e/thomas-merton-231_everyday-routine_the-simplest-and-most-effective-way-to-s_685274.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02e/thomas-merton-231_everyday-routine_the-simplest-and-most-effective-way-to-s_685274.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02e/thomas-merton-231_everyday-routine_the-simplest-and-most-effective-way-to-s_685274.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The simplest and most effective way to sanctity is to disappear into the background of ordinary everyday…” — 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 simplest and most effective way...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-simplest-and-most-effective-way-to-sanctity-is-to-disappear-into/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-simplest-and-most-effective-way-to-sanctity-is-to-disappear-into/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
