Thomas Merton Quotes

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.

Happiness is neither within us, nor without us. It is in the union of ourselves with God.

The deepest and most enduring happiness is found only in God. Not from God, but in God.

The only unhappiness is not to love God.

True joy comes only from God and He shares this joy with those who walk in fellowship with Him.

Happiness can be found neither in ourselves nor in external things, but in God and in ourselves as united to him.

If you hope for happiness in the world, hope for it from God, and not from the world.

The happiness which God designs for his higher creatures is the happiness of being freely, voluntarily united to him.

There's no greater lifestyle and no greater happiness than that of having a continual conversation with God.

Whoever possesses God is happy.

Now God, who has made us, knows what we are and that our happiness lies in Him.

Religion is not an end in itself. One's union with God is the ultimate goal.

The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied.

You will not find what you want in the world, only in the Father.

Oh, the fullness, pleasure, sheer excitement of knowing God on earth!

The first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day is to have my soul happy in the Lord.

God is the Source of real love, joy, peace, wisdom and everything else we all need to be the people He has created us to be.

Prayer is more than thoughts and feelings expressed in words. It is the opening of mind and heart - our whole being to God our Abba Father. It is Divine Union.

The smile of God is the goal of your life.

To diminish envy, let us consider not what others possess, but what they enjoy; mere riches may be the gift of lucky accident or blind chance, but happiness must be the result of prudent preference and rational design; the highest happiness then can have no other foundation than the deepest wisdom; and the happiest fool is only as happy as he knows how to be.

The joy of Being, which is the only true happiness, cannot come to you through any form, possession, achievement, person, or event - through anything that happens. That joy cannot come to you - ever. It emanates from the formless dimension within you, from consciousness itself and thus is one with who you are.

I think it is possible on earth to build a young, new Jerusalem, a little, new heaven of this surpassing love. God, either send me more of this love, or take me quickly over the water, where I may be filled with his love.

The presence of God is the finest of rewards.

To know God's love is indeed heaven on earth.

An intimate encounter with Jesus is the most transforming experience of human existence. To know him as he is, is to come home. To have his life, joy, love, and presence cannot be compared. A true knowledge of Jesus is our greatest need and our greatest happiness.