God is nearer to me than I am to myself.

What it means

We often picture God as far away and ourselves as close at hand. Eckhart reverses it. You do not have to travel to find what is already nearer than your own breath.

The source

"God is nearer to me than I am to myself." Meister Eckhart said it in Sermon 69 (Pfeiffer numbering). Translated by C. de B. Evans, 1924.

"God is nearer to me than I am to my own self"

C. de B. Evans, 1924, Sermon 69 (Pfeiffer numbering). Text read at archive.org.

Who said it

Meister Eckhart (c. 1260–1328). German Dominican friar and mystic who preached in the everyday German of his day about the birth of God in the soul.

Questions

What does "God is nearer to me than I am to myself." mean?

We often picture God as far away and ourselves as close at hand. Eckhart reverses it. You do not have to travel to find what is already nearer than your own breath.

Who said "God is nearer to me than I am to myself."?

Meister Eckhart (c. 1260–1328). Source: Sermon 69 (Pfeiffer numbering).

What is the original wording?

God is nearer to me than I am to my own self (C. de B. Evans, 1924). Translated by C. de B. Evans, 1924.

Is "God is nearer to me than I am to myself." on a shirt?

Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

"God is nearer to me than I am to myself." (Meister Eckhart, Sermon 69 (Pfeiffer numbering), trans. C. de B. Evans, 1924). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/god-is-nearer-to-me-than-i-am