Thomas a Kempis Quotes

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.

In Jesus and for Him, enemies and friends alike are to be loved.

Know all and you will pardon all.

There is no man in this world without some manner of tribulation or anguish, though he be king or pope.

If thou hadst simplicity and purity, thou wouldst be able to comprehend all things without error, and behold them without danger. The pure heart safely pervades not only heaven, but hell.

We usually know what we can do, but temptation shows us who we are.

Of two evils we must always choose the least.

No confict is so severe as his who labors to subdue himself.

The more spiritual a man desires to be, the more bitter does his present life become to him; because he sees more clearly and perceives more sensibly the defects of human corruption.

Scruples, temptations, and fears, and cutting perplexities of the heart, are often the lot of the most excellent persons.

What difference does it make to you what someone else becomes, or says, or does? You do not need to answer for others, only for yourself.

Love is watchful. Sleeping, it does not slumber. Wearied, it is not tired. Pressed, it is not straitened. Alarmed, it is not confused, but like a living flame, a burning torch, it forces its way upward and passes unharmed through every obstacle.

Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.

Activate yourself to duty by remembering your position, who you are, and what you have obliged yourself to be.

I would far rather feel remorse than know how to define it.

The highest in God's esteem are the lowest in their own.

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

Learned arguments do not make a man holy and righteous, whereas a good life makes him dear to God.

Gladly we desire to make other men perfect, but we will not amend our own fault.

Old custom is hard to break and scarce any man will be led otherwise than seemeth good unto himself.

The reflections on a day well spent furnish us with joys more pleasing than ten thousand triumphs.

For nothing, how little soever, that is suffered for God's sake, can pass without merit in the sight of God.

If thou hadst a good conscience thou wouldst not greatly fear death.

Occasions do not make a man either strong or weak but they show what he is.

Be thankful for the smallest blessing, and you will be worthy to receive greater.

Love is a great thing, yea, a great and thorough good. By itself it makes what is heavy light; and bears evenly all that is uneven.

Grace is the mastery of truth, the teacher of discipline, the light of the heart, the comforter of affliction, the banisher of sorrow, the nurse of devotion.

If thou wilt receive profit, read with humility, simplicity and faith, and seek not at any time the fame of being learned.

Who has a harder fight than he who is striving to overcome himself.

Sweet shall be your rest if your heart does not reproach you.

Wheresoever we seek our own, there we fall from love.

At the day of judgment we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done.

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.

How should thy patience be crowned in heaven if none adversity should befall to thee in earth? If thou wilt suffer none adversity how mayest thou be the friend of Christ?

The better you understand yourself the less cause you will find to love yourself.

Endeavor to be always patient of the faults and imperfections of others; for thou hast many faults and imperfections of thine own that require forbearance. If thou art not able to make thyself that which thou wishest, how canst thou expect to mold another in conformity to thy will?

God evaluates by this criterion: How much love you invest in what you do is more important than how you do. The one who loves much is actually the one who does much.

When comfort is withdrawn, do not be cast down, but humbly and patiently await the visitation of God. He is able and powerful to give you more grace and more spiritual comfort than you first had.

Habit is overcome by habit.

Thou wilt always rejoice in the evening, if thou spend the day profitably.

Christ willed to suffer and be despised and do you dare complain of the same? Christ had adversaries and backbiters; and do you wish to have all men your friends and benefactors? When shall your patience attain her crown if no adversity befalls you? If you are willing to suffer naught that is against you, how will you be the friend of Christ?

Out of two evils, the less is always to be chosen.

A lover of Jesus and of the truth can lift himself above himself in spirit.

If your heart were sincere and upright, every creature would be unto you a looking-glass of life and a book of holy doctrine.

It is thy duty often times to do what thou wouldst not; thy duty too, to leave undone that thou wouldst do.

Trust not to friends and kindred, neither do thou put off the care of thy soul's welfare til hereafter; for men will sooner forget thee than thou art aware of.

Love is a great thing, a good above all others, which alone maketh every burden light.

My God, Sweetness beyond words, make bitter all the carnal comfort that draws me from love of the eternal and lures me to its evil self by the sight of some delightful good in the present. Let it not overcome me, my God. Let not flesh and blood conquer me. Let not the world and its brief glory deceive me, nor the devil trip me by his craftiness. Give me courage to resist, patience to endure, and constancy to persevere. Give me the soothing unction of Your spirit rather than all the consolations of the world, and in place of carnal love, infuse into me the love of Your name.