The Wisdom of Meister Eckhart

Truly, it is in darkness that one finds the light, so when we are in sorrow, then this light is nearest of all to us.

Whatever God does, the first outburst is always compassion.

Spirituality is not to be learned by flight from the world, or by running away from things, or by turning solitary and going apart from the world. Rather, we must learn an inner solitude wherever or with whomsoever we may be. We must learn to penetrate things and find God there.

Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.

A human being has so many skins inside, covering the depths of the heart. We know so many things, but we don't know ourselves! Why, thirty or forty skins or hides, as thick and hard as an ox's or bear's, cover the soul. Go into your own ground and learn to know yourself there.

The outward work will never be puny if the inward work is great.

The price of inaction is far greater than the cost of making a mistake.

We rarely find people who achieve great things without first going astray.

We must come into a transformed knowing, an unknowing which comes not from ignorance but from knowledge.

Wisdom consists in doing the next thing you have to do, doing it with your whole heart, and finding delight in doing it.

One must not always think so much about what one should do, but rather what one should be. Our works do not ennoble us; but we must ennoble our works.

We are all meant to be mothers of God...for God is always needing to be born. 

If the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is "thank you," it will be enough.

What happens to another, whether it be a joy or a sorrow, happens to me. 

If I had a friend and loved him because of the benefits which this brought me and because of getting my own way, then it would not be my friend that I loved but myself. I should love my friend on account of his own goodness and virtues and account of all that he is in himself. Only if I love my friend in this way do I love him properly.

There’s a place in the soul where you’ve never been wounded. 

Become aware of what is in you. Announce it, pronounce it, produce it, and give birth to it.

All God wants of man is a peaceful heart.

I need to be silent for a while, worlds are forming in my heart.  

There is no need to look for God here or there. He is no farther away than the door of your own heart. 

— Meister Eckhart