Quote by Thomas Merton, letter to Czeslaw

I certainly do not consider myself permanently dedicated to a crusade for peace and I am beginning to see the uselessness and absurdity of getting too involved in a 'peace movement.' The chief reason why I have spoken out was that I felt I owed it to my conscience to do so. There are certain things that have to be clearly stated. I had in mind particularly the danger arising from the fact that some of the most belligerent people in this country are Christians, on the one hand fundamentalist Protestants and on the other certain Catholics. They both tend to appeal to the bomb to do a 'holy' work of destruction in the name of Christ and Christian truth. This is completely intolerable and the truth has to be stated. I cannot in conscience remain indifferent.

I certainly do not consider myself permanently dedicated to

Summary

In this quote, Thomas Merton reflects on his involvement in the peace movement. He acknowledges that he doesn't consider himself fully committed to it but felt compelled by his conscience to speak out against the dangers posed by certain belligerent Christians. Specifically, he points out the absurdity and intolerance of using violence, even in the name of Christ and Christian truth. Merton believes that remaining indifferent to such issues is not an option for him, hence prompting him to take a stand and speak the truth.

Topics

By Thomas Merton, letter to Czeslaw

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

Winny would spend all of his time practicing limbo. He got p

Winny would spend all of his time practicing limbo. He got pretty good. He could go under a rug.

Only the prepared speaker deserves to be confident.

Only the prepared speaker deserves to be confident.

Speeches (oratory)

Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work.

Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price.

In the fabric of space and in the nature of matter, as in a

In the fabric of space and in the nature of matter, as in a great work of art, there is, written small, the artist's signature.

Carl Sagan, Contact

Because wherever I am today, I still owe it to God and I owe

Because wherever I am today, I still owe it to God and I owe it to two men - the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X and of course, two very special women, my mother and my wife.

Louis Farrakhan

I have found no better expression than religious for confide

I have found no better expression than religious for confidence in the rational nature of reality, insofar as it is accessible to human reason. Whenever this feeling is absent, science degenerates into uninspired empiricism.

Albert Einstein

Nature Science Humannature

The multitude is always wrong.

The multitude is always wrong.

I'm more straightforward, and I speak up more than I did bef

I'm more straightforward, and I speak up more than I did before. When I was younger, I wouldn't speak up as much, but now that I'm a mom, things have changed.

Pointing is a metaphor we all know. We've done a lot of stud

Pointing is a metaphor we all know. We've done a lot of studies and tests on that, and it's much faster to do all kinds of functions, such as cutting and pasting, with a mouse, so it's not only easier to use but more efficient.

I used to design for my body, which was flat-chested with bi

I used to design for my body, which was flat-chested with big hips. That's why my clothes were tight on top with full skirts.

Society has always seemed to demand a little more from human

Society has always seemed to demand a little more from human beings than it will get in practice.

Most of my arguments with musicians through the years have h

Most of my arguments with musicians through the years have had more to do with their attitude about music, or their attitude about their own lives, or their personal responsibility. Music has never really been the big centerpiece of the fight.