Thomas Merton Quotes

The man who sweats under his mask, whose role makes him itch with discomfort, who hates the division in himself, is already beginning to be free.

Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.

We are so obsessed with doing that we have no time and no imagination left for being. As a result, men are valued not for what they are but for what they do or what they have – for their usefulness.

A man who fails well is greater than one who succeeds badly.

Compassion is the keen awareness of the interdependence of all things.

Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone – we find it with another.

Self-conquest is really self-surrender. Yet before we can surrender ourselves we must become ourselves. For no one can give up what he does not possess.

Gratitude takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder.

People may spend their whole lives climbing the ladder of success only to find, once they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall.

‎Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy.