Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

57 Motivational Quotes By Anthony De Mello That Will Prompt You To Say 'Bring It On'

Famous As: Authored books related to spirituality, lectures and spiritual conferences
Born On: September 4, 1931
Died On: June 2, 1987
Born In: India
Died At Age: 55

When it comes to supporting a disturbed mind, religious leaders and psychotherapists seem to be comforting, Anthony ‘Tony’ De Mello was both. Being raised in a Catholic family, Anthony always dreamed of joining Jesuit order. His dream of priesthood was fulfilled when he was ordained in 1961. His thoughts and sayings still serve as a guiding light when life turns rough. In 1972, he founded the ‘Institute of Pastoral Counselling’, which was later named ‘Sadhana’.  ‘Awareness’, ‘Wellsprings’, ‘Sadhana - A way to God’, ‘One Minute Wisdom’ and ‘The Song of the Bird’, are some of his acclaimed books. Anthony was a great orator and his background in Psychotherapy, made him a great public speaker. His retreats were exalted from his prayers and teachings; they gave people a sense of comfort and motivated them. His quotes still bring solace to disturbed minds and crippled hearts. His quotes and thoughts are sure to uplift your spirits. Read On!

These things will destroy the human race: politics without principle, progress without compassion, wealth without work, learning without silence, religion without fearlessness, and worship without awareness.

These things will destroy the human race: politics without principle, progress without compassion, wealth without work, learning without silence, religion without fearlessness, and worship without awareness.

Anthony De Mello
You see persons and things not as they are but as you are.

You see persons and things not as they are but as you are.

Anthony De Mello
People mistakenly assume that their thinking is done by their head; it is actually done by the heart which first dictates the conclusion, then commands the head to provide the reasoning that will defend it.

People mistakenly assume that their thinking is done by their head; it is actually done by the heart which first dictates the conclusion, then commands the head to provide the reasoning that will defend it.

Anthony De Mello
When you are guilty, it is not your sins you hate but yourself.

When you are guilty, it is not your sins you hate but yourself.

Anthony De Mello
Wisdom tends to grow in proportion to one's awareness of one's ignorance.

Wisdom tends to grow in proportion to one's awareness of one's ignorance.

Anthony De Mello
If what you seek is Truth, there is one thing you must have above all else.” “I know. An overwhelming passion for it.” “No. An unremitting readiness to admit you may be wrong.

If what you seek is Truth, there is one thing you must have above all else.” “I know. An overwhelming passion for it.” “No. An unremitting readiness to admit you may be wrong.

Anthony De Mello
When you get rid of your fear of failure, your tensions about succeeding... you can be yourself. Relaxed. You'll no longer be driving with your brakes on.

When you get rid of your fear of failure, your tensions about succeeding... you can be yourself. Relaxed. You'll no longer be driving with your brakes on.

Anthony De Mello
When you come to see you are not as wise today as you thought you were yesterday, you are wiser today.

When you come to see you are not as wise today as you thought you were yesterday, you are wiser today.

Anthony De Mello
Don't ask the world to change....you change first.

Don't ask the world to change....you change first.

Anthony De Mello
There is only one cause of unhappiness: the false beliefs you have in your head, beliefs so widespread, so commonly held, that it never occurs to you to question them.

There is only one cause of unhappiness: the false beliefs you have in your head, beliefs so widespread, so commonly held, that it never occurs to you to question them.

Anthony De Mello
People who want a cure, provided they can have it without pain, are like those who favour progress, provided they can have it without change.

People who want a cure, provided they can have it without pain, are like those who favour progress, provided they can have it without change.

Anthony De Mello
Every word, every image used for God is a distortion more than a description.

Every word, every image used for God is a distortion more than a description.

Anthony De Mello
The one who would be constant in happiness must frequently change.

The one who would be constant in happiness must frequently change.

Anthony De Mello
Enlightenment is: absolute cooperation with the inevitable.

Enlightenment is: absolute cooperation with the inevitable.

Anthony De Mello
You have to understand, my dears, that the shortest distance between truth and a human being is a story.

You have to understand, my dears, that the shortest distance between truth and a human being is a story.

Anthony De Mello
Thought can organize the world so well that you are no longer able to see it.

Thought can organize the world so well that you are no longer able to see it.

Anthony De Mello
The greatest learning of the ages lies in accepting life exactly as it comes to us.

The greatest learning of the ages lies in accepting life exactly as it comes to us.

Anthony De Mello
The world is right because I feel good.
p. 83, Awareness, copyright 1990

The world is right because I feel good. p. 83, Awareness, copyright 1990

Anthony De Mello
As the Arabs say,

As the Arabs say, "The nature of rain is the same, but it makes thorns grow in the marshes and flowers in the gardens.

Anthony De Mello
The Rose does not preen herself to catch my eye. She blooms because she blooms. A saint is a saint until he knows he is one.

The Rose does not preen herself to catch my eye. She blooms because she blooms. A saint is a saint until he knows he is one.

Anthony De Mello
Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They are the currency of human contact.

Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They are the currency of human contact.

Anthony De Mello
You are so proud of your intelligence,

You are so proud of your intelligence," said the master. "You are like a like a condemned man, proud of the vastness of his prison cell.

Anthony De Mello
Don’t try to make them happy, you’ll only get in trouble. Don’t try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and it irritates the pig.

Don’t try to make them happy, you’ll only get in trouble. Don’t try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and it irritates the pig.

Anthony De Mello
A thought is a screen, not a mirror; that is why you live in a thought envelope, untouched by Reality.

A thought is a screen, not a mirror; that is why you live in a thought envelope, untouched by Reality.

Anthony De Mello
If what you said was true, where was the need to shout?

If what you said was true, where was the need to shout?

Anthony De Mello
What is love?

What is love?"; "The total absence of fear," said the Master; "What is it we fear?"; "Love," said the Master.

Anthony De Mello
Sinners often speak the truth. And saints have led people astray. Examine what is said, not the one who says it.

Sinners often speak the truth. And saints have led people astray. Examine what is said, not the one who says it.

Anthony De Mello
As one man said,

As one man said, "I got a pretty good education. It took me years to get over it." That's what spirituality is all about, you know: unlearning. Unlearning all the rubbish they taught you.

Anthony De Mello
Do not speak unless you can improve on the silence.

Do not speak unless you can improve on the silence.

Anthony De Mello
Certainty is the culprit. The spiritual person knows uncertainty—a state of mind unknown to the religious fanatic.

Certainty is the culprit. The spiritual person knows uncertainty—a state of mind unknown to the religious fanatic.

Anthony De Mello
To be properly wicked, you do not have to break the Law. Just observe it to the letter.

To be properly wicked, you do not have to break the Law. Just observe it to the letter.

Anthony De Mello
This truth I firmly hold, all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding;
my life has been a gift, a blessing to the world.

This truth I firmly hold, all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding; my life has been a gift, a blessing to the world.

Anthony De Mello
If you find me charming, it means that right now you’re in a good mood, nothing more.

If you find me charming, it means that right now you’re in a good mood, nothing more.

Anthony De Mello
There are two ways to wash dishes: One is to wash them in order to make them clean; the other is to wash them in order to wash them.

There are two ways to wash dishes: One is to wash them in order to make them clean; the other is to wash them in order to wash them.

Anthony De Mello
We see people and things not as they are, but as we are.

We see people and things not as they are, but as we are.

Anthony De Mello
The important religious distinction is not between those who worship and those who do not worship but between those who love and those who don’t.

The important religious distinction is not between those who worship and those who do not worship but between those who love and those who don’t.

Anthony De Mello
The trouble with your ideals is that if you live up to all of them, you become impossible to live with.

The trouble with your ideals is that if you live up to all of them, you become impossible to live with.

Anthony De Mello
To fight evil with activity is like fighting darkness with one's hands. So what you need is light, not fit.

To fight evil with activity is like fighting darkness with one's hands. So what you need is light, not fit.

Anthony De Mello
It isn't falling in that causes you to drown, it's staying in.

It isn't falling in that causes you to drown, it's staying in.

Anthony De Mello
A story is the shortest distance between a human being and truth.

A story is the shortest distance between a human being and truth.

Anthony De Mello
I lack the Lord’s own gentleness of heart, for I see deliberate malice where he sees ignorance and weakness.

I lack the Lord’s own gentleness of heart, for I see deliberate malice where he sees ignorance and weakness.

Anthony De Mello
Have you ever attempted to organize something like peace? The moment you do, you have power conflicts and group wars within the organization. The only way to have peace is to let it grow wild.

Have you ever attempted to organize something like peace? The moment you do, you have power conflicts and group wars within the organization. The only way to have peace is to let it grow wild.

Anthony De Mello
I leave you free to be yourself: to think your thoughts, indulge your tastes, follow your inclinations, behave in ways that you decide are to your liking.

I leave you free to be yourself: to think your thoughts, indulge your tastes, follow your inclinations, behave in ways that you decide are to your liking.

Anthony De Mello
There was an exhausted woodcutter who kept wasting time and energy chopping wood with a blunt ax because he did not have the time, he said, to stop and sharpen the blade.

There was an exhausted woodcutter who kept wasting time and energy chopping wood with a blunt ax because he did not have the time, he said, to stop and sharpen the blade.

Anthony De Mello
Of what use is it to be tolerant of others if you are convinced that you are right and everyone who disagrees with you is wrong? That isn’t tolerance but condescension.

Of what use is it to be tolerant of others if you are convinced that you are right and everyone who disagrees with you is wrong? That isn’t tolerance but condescension.

Anthony De Mello
U krivu sam.
Da me bolje poznajete vidjeli biste kako sam �esto u krivu. Što biste drugo mogli o�ekivati
od jedne budale?

U krivu sam. Da me bolje poznajete vidjeli biste kako sam �esto u krivu. Što biste drugo mogli o�ekivati od jedne budale?

Anthony De Mello
What’s the earthly use of putting a man on the moon when we cannot live on the earth?

What’s the earthly use of putting a man on the moon when we cannot live on the earth?

Anthony De Mello
True tolerance only arises from a keen awareness of the abysmal ignorance of everyone as far as truth is concerned.

True tolerance only arises from a keen awareness of the abysmal ignorance of everyone as far as truth is concerned.

Anthony De Mello
Repentance brings an intense desire for God, deep gratitude, and a growth in self-awareness that increases our freedom to love.

Repentance brings an intense desire for God, deep gratitude, and a growth in self-awareness that increases our freedom to love.

Anthony De Mello
Said a disciple, 'I don't trade my love for money.'

Said the Master, 'isn't itas bad - or worse - that you trade it for love?

Said a disciple, 'I don't trade my love for money.' Said the Master, 'isn't itas bad - or worse - that you trade it for love?

Anthony De Mello
SERENITY “Are there ways for gauging one’s spiritual strength?” “Many.” “Give us one.” “Find out how often you become disturbed in the course of a single day.

SERENITY “Are there ways for gauging one’s spiritual strength?” “Many.” “Give us one.” “Find out how often you become disturbed in the course of a single day.

Anthony De Mello
Like the little girl who says to a little boy, “Are you a Presbyterian?” And he says, “No, we belong to another abomination!

Like the little girl who says to a little boy, “Are you a Presbyterian?” And he says, “No, we belong to another abomination!

Anthony De Mello
And how about you? Do you want to understand and play the game of life or fool around with miracles?

And how about you? Do you want to understand and play the game of life or fool around with miracles?

Anthony De Mello
The secret is to renounce nothing, cling to nothing, enjoy everything and allow it to pass, to flow.

The secret is to renounce nothing, cling to nothing, enjoy everything and allow it to pass, to flow.

Anthony De Mello
What we need is not just  action  that will bring about change but  sight that will bring about love.

What we need is not just action that will bring about change but sight that will bring about love.

Anthony De Mello