--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We do not want to be beginners [at…" description: "\"We do not want to be beginners [at prayer]. but let us be convinced of the fact that we will never be anything but beginners, all our life!\" — Thomas M..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/thomas-merton-231_beginners_we-do-not-want-to-be-beginners-at-prayer_583117.jpg" --- # We do not want to be beginners \[at prayer\]. but let us be… ![“We do not want to be beginners [at prayer]. but let us be convinced of the fact that we will never be anything but beginners, all our life!” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/thomas-merton-231_beginners_we-do-not-want-to-be-beginners-at-prayer_583117.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/thomas-merton-231_beginners_we-do-not-want-to-be-beginners-at-prayer_583117.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/thomas-merton-231_beginners_we-do-not-want-to-be-beginners-at-prayer_583117.jpg) > “We do not want to be beginners \[at prayer\]. but let us be convinced of the fact that we will never be anything but beginners, all our life!” [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. We remain perpetual novices in prayer, never achieving mastery, but that humility is essential. **In simple terms:** Prayer is a lifelong learning process, never fully mastered. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and continual growth. Themes humility spirituality learning Mood humble hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - spiritual practice - daily meditation - religious study Key Concepts beginner's mind faith development Questions to Reflect On - How does accepting beginner status affect your spiritual journey? - What benefits arise from staying open to learning? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can hinder authentic practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beginners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginners/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“We do not want to be beginners (at prayer), but let us be convinced of the fact that we will never be anything but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-chambers/we-do-not-want-to-be-beginners-at-prayer-but-let-us-be-convinced-of-2/) Sandra Chambers > [We do not want to be beginners. But let us be convinced of the fact that we will never be anything else but beginners,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/we-do-not-want-to-be-beginners-but-let-us-be-convinced-of-the-fact/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Thomas Merton says, “We do not want to be beginners. But let us be convinced of the fact that we will never be anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/thomas-merton-says-we-do-not-want-to-be-beginners-but-let-us-be/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“As Thomas Merton says, “We do not want to be beginners. But let us be convinced of the fact that we will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/as-thomas-merton-says-we-do-not-want-to-be-beginners-but-let-us-be/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [That's prayer to let God's Word speak deep within you and tell you, "You are my beloved. You don't have to take an eye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/that-s-prayer-to-let-god-s-word-speak-deep-within-you-and-tell-you/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [If you've got kids you know you've only got one prayer: "Let my kids outlive me." That's the bottom of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-weller/if-you-ve-got-kids-you-know-you-ve-only-got-one-prayer-let-my-kids/) [Peter Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-weller/) > [It is very much easier to work than to pray. Most of the missionaries are earnest workers. But are we all that we should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/griffith-john/it-is-very-much-easier-to-work-than-to-pray-most-of-the-missionaries/) [Griffith John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/griffith-john/) > [Things happen which would not happen without prayer. 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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 Beginners quotes > [The whole secret to mastering the game of golf - and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro - is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-whole-secret-to-mastering-the-game-of-golf-and-this-applies-to/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [“Personally, I believe in tools that close the gap between professionals and beginners, understanding that — push comes to shove — this is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-busche/personally-i-believe-in-tools-that-close-the-gap-between/) [Laura Busche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-busche/) > [Readers take in dialogue one thought at a time. A frequent mistake of beginners is to combine thoughts, which may be suitable for other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-stein/readers-take-in-dialogue-one-thought-at-a-time-a-frequent-mistake-of/) [Sol Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-stein/) > [Mr. Presley has no discernible singing ability. 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Every night onstage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-know-now-that-everybody-in-the-arts-is-forever-a-beginner/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [Starting out in a beginner class and really understanding the fundamentals of yoga is really important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariel-hemingway/starting-out-in-a-beginner-class-and-really-understanding-the/) [Mariel Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariel-hemingway/) > [I thought yoga was easy - I went out and I bought a yoga video tape. I bought the beginners' yoga tape. I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-regan/i-thought-yoga-was-easy-i-went-out-and-i-bought-a-yoga-video-tape-i/) [Brian Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-regan/) > [Amateurs look for challenges; professionals look for easy trades. Losers get high from the action; the pros look for the best odds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-elder/amateurs-look-for-challenges-professionals-look-for-easy-trades/) [Alexander Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-elder/) > [A fiery, good beginner always stands higher than a master in mediocrity...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/a-fiery-good-beginner-always-stands-higher-than-a-master-in-mediocrity/) [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) > [Indeed, being a beginner is very difficult right now. 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They call it the beginner's mind - the deep intention, the deepest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/i-would-not-be-happy-if-i-could-not-become-a-monk-they-call-it-the/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) [Browse all 220 Beginners quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginners/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We do not want to be beginners [at prayer]. but let us be convinced of the fact that we will never be anything but beginners, all our life!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Merton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/we-do-not-want-to-be-beginners-at-prayer-but-let-us-be-convinced-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beginners" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/we-do-not-want-to-be-beginners-at-prayer-but-let-us-be-convinced-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/thomas-merton-231_beginners_we-do-not-want-to-be-beginners-at-prayer_583117.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/thomas-merton-231_beginners_we-do-not-want-to-be-beginners-at-prayer_583117.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/thomas-merton-231_beginners_we-do-not-want-to-be-beginners-at-prayer_583117.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We do not want to be beginners [at prayer]. but let us be convinced of the fact that we will never be…” — 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": "We do not want to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/we-do-not-want-to-be-beginners-at-prayer-but-let-us-be-convinced-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/we-do-not-want-to-be-beginners-at-prayer-but-let-us-be-convinced-of/#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 } } ] } ```