For each one of us, there is only one thing necessary: to fulfill our own destiny, according to God’s will, to be what God wants us to be.
THOMAS MERTON
THOMAS MERTON
Thomas Merton on destiny
Thomas Merton76 quotes“For each one of us, there is only one thing necessary: to fulfill our own destiny, according to God’s will, to be what God wants us to be.”
More from Thomas Merton
When you see God in everyone, then they see God in you.
Thomas MertonThomas Merton The beginning of love is the will to let those we love be perfectly themselves.
Thomas MertonThomas Merton If you yourself are at peace, then there is at least some peace in the world.
Thomas MertonThomas Merton The greatest need of our time is to clean out the enormous mass of mental and emotional rubbish that clutters our minds.
Thomas MertonThomas Merton Love is not a matter of getting what you want. Quite the contrary. The insistence on always having what you want, on always being satisfied, on always being fulfilled, makes love impossible.
Thomas MertonThomas Merton Ours is a time of anxiety because we have willed it to be so. Our anxiety is not imposed on us by force from outside. We impose it on our world and upon one another from within ourselves.
Thomas MertonThomas Merton A life is either all spiritual or not spiritual at all. No man can serve two masters. Your life is shaped by the end you live for. You are made in the image of what you desire.
Thomas MertonThomas Merton We live on the brink of disaster because we do not know how to let life alone. We do not respect the living and fruitful contradictions and paradoxes of which true life is full.
Thomas MertonThomas Merton Fear narrows the little entrance of our heart. It shrinks up our capacity to love. It freezes up our power to give ourselves.
Thomas MertonThomas Merton 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.
Thomas MertonThomas Merton Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.
Thomas MertonThomas Merton 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.
Thomas MertonThomas Merton A man who fails well is greater than one who succeeds badly.
Thomas MertonThomas Merton Compassion is the keen awareness of the interdependence of all things.
Thomas MertonThomas Merton Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone – we find it with another.
Thomas MertonThomas Merton 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.
Thomas MertonThomas Merton
Original quotes
From our community writers
Forgiveness comes after understanding & understanding comes after acceptance.
Tom MetcafeTom Metcafe Someday your pen will write a revolution. Until then, write your pain.
Fareena AliyaFareena Aliya Time is precious. So are the people in your life. So love and be loved. Because tomorrow is never promised.
Jenny AJenny A Thank you for still being there for yourself. For being strong. For being resilient. Keep going.
Yohan AcostaYohan Acosta There will never be a day, I am not thankful for the fire you brought to my life that still warms me to the bones.
Mark AnthonyMark Anthony You could have shook my whole world luckily I became aware, and I took a turn.
Emma SchippersEmma Schippers Be strong enough to bloom even in the storm.
Safna SulaimanSafna Sulaiman There is magic in the minuscule.
Holly DuxburyHolly Duxbury
Meet the writers
More on destiny
You don’t find love, it finds you. It’s got a little bit to do with destiny, fate, and what’s written in the stars.
Anais NinAnais Nin One love, one heart, one destiny.
Bob MarleyBob Marley It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.
Tony RobbinsTony Robbins From my point of view, your life is already a miracle of chance waiting for you to shape its destiny.
Toni MorrisonToni Morrison You have a destiny to fulfill. There’s a calling on your life, an assignment that only you can accomplish.
Joel OsteenJoel Osteen Man must understand his universe in order to understand his destiny.
Never let other people’s opinions of you determine your destiny.
Les BrownLes Brown You can’t be passive and reach your destiny.
Joel OsteenJoel Osteen