Thomas à Kempis Quotes

To account nothing of one’s self, and to think always kindly and highly of others, this is great and perfect wisdom.

Many things there are to know which profiteth little or nothing to the soul.

All therefore is vanity, save to love God and to serve Him only. .

I became the most humble and despised of men, that by My humility thou mightest overcome thy pride.

He that avoideth not small faults, by little and little falleth into greater.

He who knoweth himself well is vile in his own sight;

First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.

Many men have many opinions, and therefore little trust is to be placed in them.

If thou seek rest in this life, how wilt them then attain to the everlasting rest? Dispose not thyself for much rest, but for great patience. Seek true peace — not in earth, but in heaven; not in men, nor in any other creature, but in God alone.

The beginning of all temptations to evil is instability of temper and want of trust in God; for even as a ship without a helm is tossed about by the waves, so is a man who is careless and infirm of purpose tempted, now on this side, now on that. As fire testeth iron, so doth temptation the upright man.

If to-day thou art not ready, how shalt thou be ready to-morrow? To-morrow is an uncertain day; and how knowest thou that thou shalt have a to-morrow?

Happy is the man who hath the hour of his death always before his eyes, and daily prepareth himself to die.

And say not ‘I cannot bear these things from such a man, nor are things of this kind to be borne by me, for he hath done me grievous harm and imputeth to me what I had never thought: but from another I will suffer patiently, such things as I see I ought to suffer.’ Foolish is such a thought as this, for it considereth not the virtue of patience, nor by whom that virtue is to be crowned, but it rather weigheth persons and offences against self.

What will it avail thee to dispute profoundly of the Trinity, if thou be void of humility, and art thereby displeasing to the Trinity?

watch thou thyself in godly peace, and leave him who is unquiet to be unquiet as he will. Whatsoever he shall do or say, shall come unto him, for he cannot deceive Me. Trouble not thyself about the shadow of a great name, nor about the friendship of many, nor about the love of men towards thee. For these things beget distraction and great sorrows of heart.