The divine fire illuminates us without burning us, radiates without consuming us.

Book: The Silent Life, by Thomas Merton.

The bush that burns without being consumed is human nature inflamed with the divine fire.

Book: The Silent Life, by Thomas …

Through Christ, humanity finds again the original perfection destined by God to human nature.

Book: The Silent Life, by Thomas Merton.

…

Holiness is life lived in fullness and in union with the living God.

Book: The Silent Life, by Thomas Merton.

The flame of God is the flame of pure life, of the Absolute Reality.

Book: The Silent Life, by Thomas Merton.

…

A person cannot be happy for very long if they do not maintain contact with the source of life, hidden …

Whoever lives in exile from their inner abode – that which one has as most intimate – ceases to be …

When the inner voice is not heard, a person cannot achieve spiritual peace.

Book: The Silent Life, by Thomas Merton.

We need a certain amount of silence and of solitude in order to hear the voice of the true “I”.

Book: …

Where there is life, there has to be development.

Book: The Silent Life, by Thomas Merton.

The narrow door does not open to those who have no human sympathy and who are incapable of transcendental affection.

Book: …

Solitaries often express improper undue severity and rigor towards others.

Book: The Silent Life, by Thomas Merton.

No one learns to be good without contact with human weakness.

Book: The Silent Life, by Thomas Merton.

It is not recommended for the solitary to become rigid.

Book: The Silent Life, by Thomas Merton.

If the heart becomes hardened, the spiritual path is impeded.

Book: The Silent Life, by Thomas Merton.