Inspirational Quotes by Thomas Merton

“He goes on to make a profound psychological observation. If, he says, we find that we are unwilling or unable to give up some particular practice or observance for the sake of some other worthy and necessary task, and if we find that when we cannot keep to our plan of observance we are sad, angry, indignant, or otherwise disturbed, it means that we are seeking these things for their own sakes and that we are therefore losing sight of our true objective which is purity of heart. For in this case the practices we follow are not purifying our heart of its selfish passions, but strengthening those very passions in our soul.”

“No one can find God without having first been found by Him. A monk is a man who seeks God because he has been found by God.”

“How deluded we sometimes are by the clear notions we get out of books.”

“If you found God with great ease, perhaps it's not God that you have found.”

“We must slow down to a human tempo and we'll begin to have time to listen.”

“Our landlord, Mr. Duggan, ran a nearby saloon. He got in trouble with Father for helping himself to the rhubarb which we were growing in the garden. I remember the grey summer dusk in which this happened. We were at the supper table, when the bended Mr. Duggan was observed, like some whale in the sea of green rhubarb, plucking up the red stalks. Father rose to his feet and hastened out into the garden. I could hear indignant words. We sat at the supper table, silent, not eating, and when Father returned I began to question him, and to endeavour to work out the morality of the situation. And I still remember it as having struck me as a difficult case, with much to be said on both sides. In fact, I had assumed that if the landlord felt like it, he could simply come and harvest all our vegetables, and there was nothing we could do about it. I mention this with the full consciousness that someone will use it against me, and say that the real reason I became a monk in later years was that I had the mentality of a medieval serf when I was barely out of the cradle.”

“All theology is a kind of birthday Each one who is born Comes into the world as a question For which old answers Are not sufficient…”

“The madman runs to the East and his keeper runs to the East, both are running to the East. Their purposes differ.”

“El primero de estos factores es la doctrina; el segundo, el tiempo; el tercero, el terreno; el cuarto, el mando; y el quinto, la disciplina.”

“Reliance on intelligence alone results in rebelliousness. Exercise of humaneness alone results in weakness. Fixation on trust results in folly. Dependence on the strength of courage results in violence. Excessive sternness of command results in cruelty. When one has all five virtues together, each appropriate to its function, then one can be a military leader.”

“The nature of water is that it avoids heights and hastens to the lowlands. When a dam is broken, the water cascades with irresistible force. Now the shape of an army resembles water. Take advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness; attack him when he does not expect it; avoid his strength and strike his emptiness, and like water, none can oppose you.”

“L'excès de récompenses et de punitions montre que le commandement est au bout de ses ressources, et dans une grande détresse.”

“- ستعرض نفسك لهزيمة محتملة إن لم تحدد (أنت) مكان ووقت المعركة.”

“فقال: "إذا كانت كلمات الأوامر غير واضحة ومميزة وغير مفهومة فيقع اللوم على القائد"، ثم أكمل فأعطى أوامره: "درن لليسار"، لكن النساء انفجرن بالضحك ولم ينفذن الأمر.”

“A victorious army wins its victories before seeking battle; an army destined to defeat fights in the hope of winning.”

“- الحرب لا تكسب بالقوة بل بالخداع وعدم الاستعجال.”

“- حرب لا تستطيع كسبها حاول تجنبها والجأ للمفاوضات قدر الإمكان.”

“وتروي المخطوطات الصينية أن "سون أتزو وو" والمعروف اختصارا باسم "سون أتزو" كان مواطنا وجنديا في مملكة "تشي”

“• إذا كنا - في خضم مشاكلنا - مستعدين لانتهاز أي فرصة قد تتاح لنا، فيمكننا أن نُخرج أنفسنا من مأزقنا.”

“- حين يكون العدو في متناول اليد ومع ذلك يبقى هادئا فهو يعد لك مكيدة.”