Anthony de Mello Quotes


The seeker says, "I do not know." That takes honesty. The master says, "I do not know." That takes a mystic's mind that knows things through non-knowing. The disciple says, "I know." That takes ignorance, in the form of borrowed knowledge.


Citations

De Mello, Anthony. One Minute Wisdom. Doubleday, 1988, p. 57.

Related Quotes

This seemingly abstruse philosophical statement actually found its way into one of the major political debates of the 21st Century when the Secretary of Defense was defending the management of the Iraq War and the interpretation of intelligence. See {586062}.


The papyrus appears to be an instruction booklet for government officials. The Egyptians thought that thinking and the intellect is done by the heart. In this context we would say, “Don’t let your head get big ….”


Anthony de Mello
Anthony de Mello
  • Born: September 4, 1931
  • Died: June 2, 1987
  • Nationality: American
  • Profession: Jesuit Priest, Author

Anthony de Mello, also known as Tony de Mello, was an Indian Jesuit priest and psychotherapist. A spiritual teacher, writer, and public speaker, de Mello wrote several books on spirituality and hosted numerous spiritual retreats and conferences. He continues to be known for his storytelling which drew from the various mystical traditions of both East and West and for introducing many people in the West to mindfulness-based practices he sometimes called "awareness prayer."