Thomas a Kempis Quotes

All men are frail; but thou shouldst reckon none so frail as thyself.

Too many instances there are of daring men, who by presuming to sound the deep things of religion, have cavilled and argued themselves out of all religion.

To take no account of oneself, but always to think well and highly of others is the highest wisdom and perfection.

We are sometimes stirred by emotion and take it for zeal.

What thou art, that thou art; that God knoweth thee to be and thou canst be said to be no greater.

All earthly joy begins pleasantly, but at the end it gnaws and kills.

Thou art my glory and the exultation of y heart: thou art my hope and refuge in the day of my trouble.

Study, therefore, to withdraw the love of your soul from all things that are visible, and turn it to things that are invisible.

Occasions of adversity best discover how great virtue or strength each one hath. For occasions do not make a man frail, but they show what he is.

Cling, therefore, to Jesus in life and death; trust yourself to the glory of Him who alone can help you when all others fail.

Our own opinion of ourselves should be lower than that formed by others, for we have a better chance at our imperfections.

To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love.

Love is a great thing...which alone maketh every burden light.. Love is watchful, and while sleeping, still keeps watch; though fatigued, it is not weary; though pressed, it is not forced. Love is sincere, gentle, strong, patient, faithful, prudent, long-suffering, and manly. Love is humble and upright, not weak, not fickle, nor intent on vain things; sober chaste, steadfast, quiet, and guarded in all the senses.

At the least bear patiently, if thou canst not joyfully.

The good devout man first makes inner preparation for the actions he has later to perform. His outward actions do not draw him into lust and vice; rather it is he who bends them into the shape of reason and right judgement. Who has a stiffer battle to fight than the man who is striving to conquer himself.

Jesus has many who love the kingdom of God, but few who bear a cross. He has many who desire His comfort, but few who desire His suffering. All want to rejoice with him, but few are willing to suffer for Him. He writes; there are many who admire his miracles, but there are few who follow in the humiliation of the cross.

Wait for the Lord. Behave yourself manfully, and be of good courage. Do not be faithless, but stay in your place and do not turn back.

To be able to live peaceably with hard and perverse persons, or with the disorderly, or with such as go contrary to us, is a great grace.

A man of peace does more good than a very learned man.

Simplicity is the intention, purity in the affection; simplicity turns to God, purity unites with and enjoys him.

If you bear the cross unwillingly, you make it a burden, and load yourself more heavily; but you must bear it.

When anger enters the mind, wisdom departs.

Endeavor to be patient in bearing with the defects and infirmities of others, of what sort 'soever they be; for that thyself also has many failings which must be borned with by others.

You are a man, not God; you are human, not an angel. How can you expect to remain always in a constant state of virtue, when this was not possible even for an angel of Heaven, nor for the first man in the Garden?

Who is so wise as to have a perfect knowledge of all things? Therefore trust not too much to thine own opinion, but be ready also to hear the opinion of others. Thought thine own opinion be good, yet if for the love of God thou foregoest it, and followest that of another, thou shalt the more profit thereby.

Be Yourself -The man who is neither bent upon pleasing his fellows nor afraid of offending them will enjoy great peace.

He rides pleasantly enough whom the grace of God carries.

Set not thyself to attain much rest, but much patience.

He is truly great that is little in himself, and that maketh no account of any height of honors.

Whatsoever is done in charity, however small and of no reputation it be, bringeth forth good fruit.

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.

No one is qualified to converse in public except those contented to do without such conversation.

Man considers the actions, but God weighs the intentions.

Peace and happiness are what you covet, but these are only to be obtained by labor.

It is better to feel repentance, than to be able to define it.

Many deceive themselves, imagining they'll find happiness in change.

Do not let your peace depend on what people say of you... True peace and joy is to be found in [Jesus] alone.

How seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same balance with ourselves.

Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature.

Do not read to satisfy curiosity or to pass the time, but study such things as move your heart to devotion.

If you want to learn something that will really help you, learn to see yourself as God sees you and not as you see yourself in the distorted mirror of your own self-importance.

We are often moved with passion and think it to be zeal.

Renounce all things, and thou shalt find all things; give up thy lust, and thou shalt find rest.

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.

No man ruleth safely but he that is willingly ruled.

Ah, Lord God, thou holy lover of my soul, when thou comest into my heart, all that is within me shall rejoice.

Man proposes, but God disposes.

Permit no hour to go by without it due improvement.