Thomas a Kempis Quotes

He is truly great who is little in his own eyes and makes nothing of the highest

If we live in peace ourselves, we in turn may bring peace to others. A peaceable man does more good than a learned one.

All men commend patience, although few are willing to practice it.

A book has but one voice, but it does not instruct everyone alike.

Trust not to your feelings for whatever they might be now, they will quickly be changed towards some other thing.

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.

We feel and weigh soon enough what we suffer from others: but how much others suffer from us, of this we take no heed.

Happy is the man who renounces everything which may bring a stain or burden upon his conscience

I have often heard, that it is safer to hear and to take counsel, than to give it.

Our dependence upon God ought to be so entire and absolute that we should never think it necessary, in any kind of distress, to have recourse to human consolations.

Pass no rash condemnation on other peoples words or actions.

O Lord, you know what is best for me. Let this or that be done, as you please. Give what you will, how much you will, and when you will.

Love is swift, sincere, pious, joyful, generous, strong, patient, faithful, prudent, long-suffering, courageous, and never seeking its own; for wheresoever a person seeketh his own, there he falleth from love.

Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing more courageous, nothing higher, nothing wider, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller nor better in heaven and earth; because love is born of God, and cannot rest but in God, above all created things.

He who knows himself well is mean and abject in his own sight, and takes no delight in the vain praise of men.

Love alone makes heavy burdens light and bears in equal balance things pleasing and displeasing. Love bears a heavy burden and does not feel it, and love makes bitter things tasteful and sweet.

The humble live in continuous peace, while in the hearts of the proud are envy and frequent anger.

O Lord, Thou knowest that which is best for us; let this or that be done, as Thou shalt please. Give what Thou wilt, how much Thou wilt, and when Thou wilt. Deal with me as thou thinkest best. Place me where Thou wilt, and deal with me in all things just as Thou wilt. Behold, I am Thy servant, prepared for all things: I desire not to live unto myself, but unto Thee; and oh, that I could do it worthily and perfectly!

Seek not to know who said this or that, but take note of what has been said.

It is no little wisdom for you to keep yourself in silence and in good peace when evil words are spoken to you, and to turn your heart to God and not to be troubled with the judgment of others.

I have sought for happiness everywhere, but I have found it nowhere except in a little corner with a little book.

Set me free from evil passions, and heal my heart of all inordinate affections; that being inwardly cured and thoroughly cleansed, I may be made fit to love, courageous to suffer, steady to persevere.

Love Him, and keep Him for thy Friend, who, when all go away, will not forsake thee, nor suffer thee to perish at the last.

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

And when he is out of sight, quickly also he is out of mind.

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.

Have therefore zeal to better thyself and then mayst thou have zeal to thy neighbor.

Whoever puts his confidence in men or in any creature is very foolish.

Love is active and sincere, courageous, patient, faithful, prudent and manly.

No one is so good that he is immune from temptation. We will never be entirely free from it. . . . There is no order so holy, no place so secret where there will be no temptation.

Oh how swiftly the glory of the world passes away! If only the lives of these men had been as admirable as their learning, their study and reading would have been to good purpose! But how many in this world care little for the service of God, and perish in their vain learning. Because they choose to be great rather than humble, they perish in their own conceit.

Therefore, a man ought to root himself so firmly in God that he will not need the consolations of men.

Temptations discover what you are.

The more humble and obedient to God a man is, the more wise and at peace he will be in all that he does.

Restrain an inordinate desire for knowledge, in which is found much anxiety and deception. Learned men always wish to appear so, and desire recognition of their wisdom. But there are many matters, knowledge of which brings little or no advantage to the soul.

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.

Be at peace with yourself first and then you will be able to bring peace to others.

The measure of every man’s virtue is best revealed in time of adversity - adversity that does not weaken a man but rather shows what he is.

If God were our one and only desire we would not be so easily upset when our opinions do not find outside acceptance.

Oh, how quickly the world's glory passes away.

A man that is well ordered in his soul needeth little the unkind demeanor of worldly people nor yet their proud behavior.

Blessed are the simple, for they shall have much peace.

In judging others a man laboreth in vain; he often erreth, and easily falleth into sin; but in judging and examining himself he always laboreth to good purpose.

Of what use is a long life, if we amend so little? Alas, a long life often adds to our sins rather than to our virtue!

Always be thou prepared, and so live that death may never find thee unprepared.

For the multitude of worldly friends profiteth not, nor may strong helpers anything avail, nor wise counselors give profitable counsel, nor the cunning of doctors give consolation, nor riches deliver in time of need, nor a secret place to defend, if Thou, Lord, do not assist, help, comfort, counsel, inform, and defend.

For man plans, but God arranges.

Intelligence must follow faith, never precede it, and never destroy it.