Thomas a Kempis > Quotes

“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 a 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 a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

“A book has but one voice, but it does not instruct everyone alike.”
― Thomas a Kempis

“Wherever you go, there you are.”
― Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

“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 a Kempis

“The more humble and obedient to God a man is, the more wise and at peace he will be in all that he does.”
― Thomas a Kempis, The Inner Life

“In omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro.”
― Thomas a Kempis

“Everywhere I have sought rest and not found it, except sitting in a corner by myself with a little book.”
― Thomas a 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 a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

“A wise lover values not so much the gift of the lover as the love of the giver.”
― Thomas a Kempis

“All men desire peace, but very few desire those things that make for peace.”
― Thomas a Kempis

“At the Day of Judgement we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done.”
― Thomas a Kempis

“Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of its trouble, attempts what is above its strength, pleads no excuse for impossibility, for it thinks all things are lawful for itself and all things are possible”
― Thomas a Kempis

“Love is a great thing, yea, a great and thorough good.
By itself it makes that which is heavy light;
and it bears evenly all that is uneven.
It carries a burden which is no burden;
it will not be kept back by anything low and mean;
It desires to be free from all wordly affections,
and not to be entangled by any outward prosperity,
or by any adversity subdued.
Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of trouble,
attempts what is above its strength,
pleads no excuse of impossibility.
It is therefore able to undertake all things,
and it completes many things and warrants them to take effect,
where he who does not love would faint and lie down.
Though weary, it is not tired;
though pressed it is not straightened;
though alarmed, it is not confounded;
but as a living flame it forces itself upwards and securely passes through all.
Love is active and sincere, courageous, patient, faithful, prudent, and manly.”
― Thomas a 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 a 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 a Kempis

“For a small reward, a man will hurry away on a long journey; while for eternal life, many will hardly take a single step.”
― Thomas a Kempis

“Grant me prudently to avoid him that flatters me, and to endure patiently him that contradicts me.”
― Thomas a Kempis

“Everywhere I have searched for peace and nowhere found it, except in a corner with a book.”
― Thomas a Kempis

“Jesus has now many lovers of the heavenly kingdom but few bearers of His cross.”
― Thomas a Kempis, Imitation Of Christ

“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 a Kempis

“Love is a mighty power, a great and complete good; Love alone lightens every burden, and makes the rough places smooth. It bears every hardship as though it were nothing, and renders all bitterness sweet and acceptable. The love of Jesus is noble, and inspires us to great deeds; it moves us always to desire perfection. Love aspires to high things, and is held back by nothing base. Love longs to be free, a stranger to every worldly desire, lest its inner vision become dimmed, and lest worldly self-interest hinder it or ill-fortune cast it down. Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger, nothing higher, nothing wider, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller or better in heaven or earth; for love is born of God, and can rest only in God above all created things.

Love flies, runs, leaps for joy; it is free and unrestrained. Love gives all for all, resting in One who is highest above all things, from whom every good flows and proceeds. Love does not regard the gifts, but turns to the Giver of all good gifts. Love knows no limits, but ardently transcends all bounds. Love feels no burden, takes no account of toil, attempts things beyond its strength; love sees nothing as impossible, for it feels able to achieve all things. Love therefore does great things; it is strange and effective; while he who lacks love faints and fails.”
― Thomas a Kempis, The Inner Life

“A sure way of retaining the grace of heaven is to disregard outward appearances, and diligently to cultivate such things as foster amendment of life and fervour of soul, rather than to cultivate those qualities that seem most popular.”
― Thomas a Kempis, The Inner Life

“If thou art willing to suffer no adversity, how wilt thou be the friend of Christ?”
― Thomas a Kempis

“As iron cast into fire loses its rust and becomes glowing white, so he who turns completely to God is stripped of his sluggishness and changed into a new man.”
― Thomas a Kempis

“We would be well on the way to perfection if we could weed out one vice from ourselves each year. ( Thomas a Kempis)”
― Thomas a Kempis

“Those who attempt to search into the majesty of God will be overwhelmed with His Glory!”
― Thomas a Kempis

“Let all your thoughts be with the Most High, and direct your humble prayers unceasingly to Christ. If you cannot contemplate high and heavenly things, take refuge in the Passion of Christ, and love to dwell within His Sacred Wounds. For if you devoutly seek the Wounds of Jesus and the precious marks of His Passion, you will find great strength in all troubles.”
― Thomas a Kempis, The Inner Life

“In the Cross is salvation; in the Cross is life; in the Cross is protection against our enemies; in the Cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness; in the Cross is strength of mind; in the Cross is joy of spirit; in the Cross is excellence of virtue; in the Cross is perfection of holiness. There is no salvation of soul, nor hope of eternal life, save in the Cross.”
― Thomas a Kempis, The Inner Life

“If you wish to stand and progress as you ought, hold yourself an exile and a pilgrim on the earth.”
― Thomas a Kempis

“He has great tranquillity of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men. He will easily be content and pacified, whose conscience is pure. You are not holier if you are praised, nor the more worthless if you are found fault with. What you are, that you are; neither by word can you be made greater than what you are in the sight of God.”
― Thomas a Kempis

“Sic Transit Gloria Mundi (Thus passes the glory of the world).”
― Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

“Bear patiently your exile and the dryness of your mind. The time will come when I will make you forget these painful moments and you will enjoy inward quietness. I will open the Bible for you and you will be thrilled by your new understanding of my truth.”
― Thomas a Kempis

“I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it.”
― Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ

“If you desire to know or learn anything to your advantage, then take delight in being unknown and unregarded.
A true understanding and humble estimate of oneself is the highest and most valuable of all lessons. To take no account of oneself, but always to think well and highly of others is the highest wisdom and perfection.”
― Thomas a Kempis, The Inner Life

“My Son, take it not sadly to heart, if any think ill of thee, and say of thee what thou art unwilling to hear.”
― Thomas a Kempis

“O quam salubre, quam iucundum et suave est sedere in solitudine et tacere et loqui cum Deo!”
― Thomas a Kempis

“All that is in the world is vanity except to love God and serve him only.”
― Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

“Never be entirely idle; but either be reading, or writing, or praying, or meditating, or endeavoring something for the public good.”
― Thomas a Kempis

“It is a hard thing to break through a habit and a yet harder thing to go contrary to our own will. Yet if thou overcome not slight and easy obstacles how wilt thou overcome greater ones Withstand thy will at the beginning and unlearn an evil habit lest it lead thee little by little into worse difficulties. Oh if thou knewest what peace to thyself thy holy life should bring ...and what joy to others methinketh thou wouldst be more zealous for spiritual profit.”
― Thomas a Kempis

“Go where thou wilt, seek what thou wilt, and thou shalt not find a higher way above, nor a safer way below, than the way of the holy Cross."
- Thomas A Kempis (The Following of Christ)”
― Thomas a Kempis