Thomas Merton Quotes

The heart beats louder and the soul hears quicker in silence and solitude.

Solitude is such a potential thing. We hear voices in solitude, we never hear in the hurry and turmoil of life; we receive counsels and comforts, we get under no other condition.

Contemplation seems to be about the only luxury that costs nothing.

I enjoy my own thoughts sometimes.

All of our great traditions, religious, contemplative and artistic, say that you must a learn how to be alone - and have a relationship with silence. It is difficult, but it can start with just the tiniest quiet moment.

The teaching arises out of the stillness. But when I'm alone, there's only the stillness, and that is my favorite place.

Cultivating quietness is a missing discipline today...the quietness needed to nurture an inner life hid in Christ.

Solitude is the great teacher, and to learn its lessons you must pay attention to it.

I mean, I can't say that I've had many deep thoughts because I traveled alone, but it's good to be with myself in the quiet.

Instead of yielding to idle conversation it might profit one to cultivate silence and contemplation.

It is important from time to time to slow down, to go away by yourself, and simply be.

I aspire only to silence.

Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom.

Being alone & actually sitting with our own thoughts can lead to such growth and realizations that are rare in our everyday busy lives.

Alone let him constantly meditate in solitude on that which is salutary for his soul, for he who meditates in solitude attains supreme bliss.

When you walk 10 hours, 11 hours a day by yourself, you are doing a walking meditation.

I've found throughout the years that I needed a place where I can go with no TV, no computer, no phone and just have no distractions and just be able to sit and think and just not be disturbed.

All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.

When from our better selves we have too long been parted by the hurrying world, and droop. Sick of its business, of its pleasures tired, how gracious, how benign is solitude.

Sit with silence a lot - real silence, where nothing is happening - because you learn so much in those moments of quiet.

I do say all I've ever written about is being alone. And most people take that as, 'Oh, that's so sad.' And I always say, 'No. No, all I ever write about is being alone, and sometimes that's a beautiful, beautiful thing.'

I love to sit on my own and think, not to be photographed all the time.

I use solitude as a judge and as a person - a lot.

Quiet time and solitude are vital to helping me keep perspective. I consider myself fortunate to have so much quiet built into my profession. I spend long hours by myself at my easel. And while I work, I think-of the future, of my loved ones, of God's goodness and the many exciting opportunities that surround me. I ponder the challenges I face, the needs of others, the direction my life is going.

I like the idea of going to one of those retreats where you don't speak - like, silence for five days.