Quotes about Reflection
It is a terrible thing to think of the grace that is wasted in this world
— Thomas Merton
To praise the contemplative life is not to reject every other form of life, but to seek a solid foundation for every other human striving. Without
— Thomas Merton
To enter into the realm of contemplation one must in a certain sense die: but this death is in fact the entrance into a higher life. It is a death for the sake of life, which leaves behind all that we can know or treasure as life, as thought, as experience, as joy, as being.
— Thomas Merton
Every one of us is shadowed by an illusory person of false self. I wind my experiences around myself and cover myself with glory like bandages in order to make myself perceptible to myself and to the world as if I were an invisible body that could only become visible when something visible covered its surface.
— Thomas Merton
If our life is poured out in useless words, we will never hear anything, will never become anything, and in the end, because have said everything before we had anything to say, we shall be left speechless at the moment of our greatest decision.
— Thomas Merton
The function of a university is to teach a [person] how to drink tea, not because anything is important, but because it is usual to drink tea, or for that matter anything else under the sun. And whatever you do, every act, however small, can teach you everything, provided you see who is acting." ? Thomas Merton, Thomas Merton On Prayer
— Thomas Merton
Let there always be quiet, dark churches in which men can take refuge.
— Thomas Merton
Even the desire of contemplation can be impure, when we forget that true contemplation means the complete destruction of all selfishness—the most pure poverty and cleanness of heart.
— Thomas Merton
The one thing that seems to me morally certain is that this was really a grace, and a great grace.
— Thomas Merton
Gerçek anlamda derin düÅŸünme; psikolojik bir hile deÄŸil, teolojik bir lütuftur.
— Thomas Merton
Hullo, Brother," I said. He recognized me, glanced at the suitcase and said: "This time have you come to stay?" "Yes, Brother, if you'll pray for me," I said. Brother nodded, and raised his hand to close the window. "That's what I've been doing," he said, "praying for you.
— Thomas Merton
your eyes must turn, again and again, to the House that hides the Sacramental Christ!
— Thomas Merton