Meister Eckhart Quotes

A German philosopher, mystic, and theologian.
(1260 - 1328)

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. [Being]

A just person is one who is conformed and transformed into justice.

A man may go into the field and say his prayer and be aware of God, or, he may be in Church and be aware of God; but, if he is more aware of Him because he is in a quiet place, that is his own deficiency and not due to God, Who is alike present in all things and places, and is willing to give Himself everywhere so far as lies in Him. He knows God rightly who knows Him everywhere.

A question arises regarding the angels who dwell with us, serve us and protect us, whether their joys are equal to those of the angels in heaven, or whether they are diminished by the fact that they protect and serve us. No, they are certainly not; for the work of the angels is the will of God, and the will of God is the work of the angels; their service to us does not hinder their joy nor their working. If God told an angel to go to a tree and pluck caterpillars off it, the angel would be quite ready to do so, and it would be his happiness, if it were the will of God.

All God wants of man is a peaceful heart.

But he who is truly in the right state, is so in all circumstances, and among all persons; he who is not in a good state, it is not right with him in all places and among all persons.

Do exactly what you would do if you felt most secure.

Even though I never did an evil deed, yet, if I have the will to do evil, I have the sin as if I had done the deed; and I could, by a total will, do as great a sin as if I had killed the whole world, though I never actually did anything. Why, would the same not be possible to a good will? Yes, indeed, and even much more so. Surely, I can do all things with the will. I can bear the sorrow of all men and feed all the poor and do the work of all men and whatever else you may think of. If it be not the will that fails you, but only the power, then truly, before God, you have done it all, and no man can take it from you or even hinder you for a moment; for to will to do as soon as I can is the same before God as having done it.

Every creature is a word of God.

God expects but one thing of you, and that is that you should come out of yourself in so far as you are a created being made and let God be God in you. [Being]

God is at home, it's we who have gone out for a walk.

God wants nothing of you but the gift of a peaceful heart.

He is conscious only of God...To be conscious of knowing God is to know about God and self.

He who would be serene and pure needs but one thing, detachment.

I have a capacity in my soul for taking in God entirely. I am as sure as I live that nothing is so near to me as God. God is nearer to me than I am to myself; my existence depends on the nearness and the presence of God.

If God gave the soul his whole creation she would not be filled thereby but only with himself.

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "Thank You", that would suffice. [Forgiveness]

In silence man can most readily preserve his integrity.

Jesus might have said, "I became man for you. If you do not become God for me, you wrong me.".

Let God operate in thee; Hand the work over to Him and do not disquiet thyself as to whether or no He is working with nature or above nature, for His are both nature and grace.