The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

Citation of Books Detail

Click here to return to the main list

Author QuotedMartin Buber
Title QuotedI and Thou
Date (Year/Month/Day)1958/04/20
Imprint 
QuotationBuber's I and Thou, in an execrable translation, very difficult to follow at first. An important book, in which I am confronted with the hollowness and falsity of my own life - yet the comfort that right here, this writing is an "I-Thou" writing - isn't it? But so much other writing which is nothing but a closed door. I close the door on Thee by giving Thee too many standard names, and hiding Thee with concepts - Then inviting everyone to stand in front of the door I have closed in their face.
Quotation SourceA Search for Solitude: Pursuing the Monk's True Life. The Journals of Thomas Merton, Volume 3, 1952-1960.; Edited by Lawrence S. Cunningham. / San Francisco : Harper Collins. 1996, p. 192-93
Letter to 
Notes 
Link to Merton's Copy  

(If there is a link above showing up as a number, click it to open another window with a full text version.)