Thomas Merton Quotes

Our faith comes in moments; our vice is habitual.

God isn't compatible with machinery and scientific medicine and universal happiness. You must make your choice. Our civilization has chosen machinery and medicine and happiness.

Themes of redemption, temptation, and faith don't necessarily apply directly to religion. A lot of people find faith in their lives outside of God and still deal with notions of temptation and redemption that aren't religious.

People agree to say that it is rationality and science which have eliminated what is called magic and religion. But ultimately, the ironic outcome of this techno-scientific development is a renewed need for the idea of God.

The end of Religion is not to teach us how to die, but how to live.

The bottom line is we are trying to do what's right. We don't just say we believe in God - we have active relationships with God.

Morality is but the vestibule of religion.

Tis certain that Morality is an indispensable Requisite of true Religion, and there can be none without it. But it would become the Pride and Ignorance of Pagans only, to magnify it, as the Whole of what is necessary.

God is that inner presence which makes us admire the beautiful and consoles us for not sharing the happiness of the wicked.

Love and religion! thought Clarissa, going back into the drawing room, tingling all over. How detestable, how detestable they are!

We must distinguish between spirituality in general terms, which aims to make us better people, and religion. Adopting a religion remains optional, but becoming a better human being is essential.

Religion is not in fault.

There is no true and abiding morality that is not founded in religion.

The best religion the world has ever known is the religion of the Bible. It builds up all that is good.

I don't see why religion and science can't cooperate. What's wrong with using a computer to count our blessings?

Morality must always precede and accompany religion, and yet religion is much more than morality.

I have felt that the Gita teaches us that what cannot be followed in day-to-day practice cannot be called religion.

All true religion must stand on true morality.

Religion is one of the most important forces in the world. Whether you are a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist, a Jew, or a Hindu, religion is a great force, and it can help one have command of one's own morality, one's own behavior, and one's own attitude.

A twinge of conscience is a glimpse of God.

Which is more misshapen,--religion without virtue, or virtue without religion?

Commitment is a word that cannot stand alone. We must always ask, "Committed to what?" . . . . let us be committed to . . . using Jesus Christ as our master teacher.

The true Christian ideal is not to be happy but to be holy.

No man's religion ever survives his morals.

The only impregnable citadel of virtue is religion; for there is no bulwark of mere morality, which some temptation may not overtop or undermine, and destroy.