Thomas à Kempis Quotes

Now the time is most precious. Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.

We desire rules to be made restraining others, but by no means will we suffer ourselves to be restrained. Thus therefore doth it plainly appear how seldom we weigh our neighbour in the same balance with ourselves.

So long as we carry about with us this frail body, we cannot be without sin, we cannot live without weariness and trouble.

What is all flesh in Thy sight? For how shall the clay boast against Him that fashioned it?

. . . be able to live peaceably with the hard and perverse, or with the disorderly, or those who oppose us, this is a great grace and a thing much to be commended and most worthy of a man.

Thou dwellest among foes, and art attacked on the right hand and on the left. If therefore thou use not on all sides the shield of patience, thou wilt not remain long unwounded.

Dispose thyself to patience rather than to comfort, and to the bearing of the cross rather than to gladness.

A passionate man turneth even good into evil and easily believeth evil; a good, peaceable man converteth all things into good.

If thou think wholly upon thyself and upon God, what thou seest out of doors shall move thee little.

Seek a suitable time for thy meditation, and think frequently of the mercies of God to thee.

O Lord God, I see that patience is very necessary unto me; for many things in this life fall out contrary.

Thou art none the holier if thou art praised, nor the viler if thou art reproached. Thou art what thou art; and thou canst not be better than God pronounceth thee to be.

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

God protecteth and delivereth the humble man, He loveth and comforteth the humble man, to the humble man He inclineth Himself, on the humble He bestoweth great grace, and when he is cast down He raiseth him to glory: to the humble He revealeth His secrets, and sweetly draweth and inviteth him to Himself.

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.