We are not meant to resolve all contradictions but to live with them and rise above them and see them in the light of exterior and objective values which make them trivial by comparison.
Meaning
Merton notes that inner contradictions become unsolvable problems when we prefer analysis to silence. Some tensions are meant to be carried, not cured. Next time you feel pulled two ways, stop debating yourself and sit quietly for a few minutes with a larger value in view.
Source: Thoughts in Solitude (1956)
About the author
Thomas Merton (1915–1968) was an American Trappist monk, writer and poet. He is best known for his autobiography The Seven Storey Mountain and for his writing on contemplation, peace and interfaith dialogue.
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