quotes by Thomas à Kempis

"A book has but one voice, but it does not instruct everyone alike."
— Thomas à Kempis

"If God were our one and only desire we would not be so easily upset when our opinions do not find outside acceptance."
— Thomas à Kempis (The Imitation of Christ)

"At the Day of Judgement we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done."
— Thomas à Kempis

"In omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro."
— Thomas à Kempis

"Every time I catch myself trying to figure out other people's motives, I'll stop and ask myself: "What did I say or do that prompted the action? Why did I react to it as I did? Does what happened make a major difference to me, or am I making something big out of a trifle?"
'Leave off that excessive desire of knowing; therein is found much distraction There are many things the knowledge of which is of little or no profit to the soul.'"
— Thomas à Kempis

"Wherever you go, there you are."
— Thomas à Kempis (The Imitation of Christ)

"In omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro (transl. Everywhere I have searched for peace and nowhere found it, except in a corner with a book)"
— Thomas à Kempis

"By two wings is man lifted above earthly things, even by
simplicity and purity. Simplicity ought to be in the intention,
purity in the affection."
— Thomas à Kempis (The Imitation of Christ)

"Everywhere I have sought rest and not found it,
except sitting in a corner by myself with a little book.
"
— Thomas à Kempis

"Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be."
— Thomas à Kempis

"As long as you live, you will be subject to change, whether you will it or not - now glad, now sorrowful; now pleased, now displeased; now devout, now undevout; now vigorous, now slothful; now gloomy, now merry. But a wise man who is well taught in spiritual labor stands unshaken in all such things, and heeds little what he feels, or from what side the wind of instability blows."
— Thomas à Kempis (The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis. Translated by Rev. William Benham. Published by MobileReference)

"A barrage of words does not make the soul happy, but a good life gladdens the mind and a pure conscience generates a bountiful confidence in God."
— Thomas à Kempis

"O quam salubre, quam iucundum et suave est sedere in solitudine et tacere et loqui cum Deo!"
— Thomas à Kempis

"A wise lover values not so much the gift of the lover as the love of the giver."
— Thomas à Kempis

"At the day of Judgment we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done."
— Thomas à Kempis

"I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it."
— Thomas à Kempis (The Imitation of Christ)

"Jesus has now many lovers of the heavenly kingdom but few bearers of His cross."
— Thomas à Kempis (Imitation Of Christ)

"A book has but one voice, but it does not instruct everyone alike."
— Thomas à Kempis

"If thou art willing to suffer no adversity, how wilt thou be the friend of Christ?

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— Thomas à Kempis