--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To consider persons and events and…" description: "\"To consider persons and events and situations only in the light of their effect on me is to live on the doorstep of hell. Selfishness is doomed to frus..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c0/thomas-merton-231_all-things_to-consider-persons-and-events-and-situa_2986222.jpg" --- # To consider persons and events and situations only in the… ![“To consider persons and events and situations only in the light of their effect on me is to live on the doorstep of hell. Selfishness is doomed to frustration centered as it is upon a lie. To live exclusively for myself, I must make all things bend themselves to my will as if I were a god.” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c0/thomas-merton-231_all-things_to-consider-persons-and-events-and-situa_2986222.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c0/thomas-merton-231_all-things_to-consider-persons-and-events-and-situa_2986222.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c0/thomas-merton-231_all-things_to-consider-persons-and-events-and-situa_2986222.jpg) > “To consider persons and events and situations only in the light of their effect on me is to live on the doorstep of hell. Selfishness is doomed to frustration centered as it is upon a lie. To live exclusively for myself, I must make all things bend themselves to my will as if I were a god.” [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 only for personal gain leads to selfishness and frustration, akin to hell. **In simple terms:** Selfishness brings frustration. Key Takeaway Prioritize others over self‑interest. Themes ethics selfishness spirituality Mood reflective serious Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - volunteering - community service - relationship building Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How to balance self‑care with altruism? - What boundaries are healthy? A Different Perspective Self‑sacrifice can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Frustration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustration/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) ## Related quotes > [To consider persons and events and situations only in the light of their effect upon myself is to live on the doorstep of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-consider-persons-and-events-and-situations-only-in-the-light-of/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“We had not written or phoned or called or even sent a lousy card. We were young: we had our troubles. 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