Authors:

Thomas a Kempis Quotes - Page 3

All Quotes Acceptance Adversity Affection Anxiety Art Balance Being Thankful Charity Christ Confidence Conscience Death Desire Discipline Diversity Duty Earth Evil Failing Faith Feelings Fighting Giving Glory God Grace Grief Happiness Heart Heaven Helping Others Honor Humility Inspirational Jesus Joy Judging Judgment Justice Labor Liberty Life Love Morning Obedience Overcoming Pain Passion Peace Perfection Praise Prayer Purity Purpose Salvation Silence Simplicity Sin Sleep Sorrow Soul Study Suffering Temptation Understanding Victory Virtue Weakness
Occasions do not make a man either strong or weak but they show what he is.

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

Thomas a Kempis
Strong, Men, Weak

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

Thomas a Kempis
Men, Frail, Frailty

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

Thomas a Kempis
Soon Enough, Justice, Diversity
Thomas a Kempis (1913). “The Imitation of Christ”

We must imitate Christ's life and his ways if we are to be truly enlightened and set free from the darkness of our own hearts. Let it be the most important thing we do, then, to reflect on the life of Jesus Christ.

Thomas a Kempis
Jesus, Heart, Darkness

Do not try to find a place free from temptations and troubles. Rather, seek a peace that endures even when you are beset by various temptations and tried by much adversity.

Thomas a Kempis
Adversity, Temptation, Trying

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?

Thomas a Kempis
Adversity, Heaven, Suffering

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!

Thomas a Kempis
Giving, Justice, Preparation

If you can win complete mastery over self, you will easily master all else. To triumph over self is the perfect victory.

Thomas a Kempis
Winning, Self, Discipline

Constantly choose rather to want less, than to have more.

Thomas a Kempis
Want

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.

Thomas a Kempis
Spiritual, Love Is, Heaven
Thomas a Kempis (2013). “The Imitation of Christ; Or, the Ecclesiastical Music”, p.120, Cambridge University Press

We would willingly have others perfect, and yet we amend not our own faults. We would have others severely corrected and will not be corrected ourselves. The large liberty of others displeases us, and yet we will not have our own desires denied us. We will have others kept under by strict laws, but in no sort will ourselves be restrained. And thus it appears how seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same balance with ourselves.

Thomas a Kempis
Law, Perfect, Balance

Temptations discover what you are.

Thomas a Kempis
Temptation

If you can talk and it's convenient to talk, try to say things that edify.

Thomas a Kempis
Trying, Ifs, Convenient

He will be with you also, all the way, that faithful God. Every morning when you awaken to the old and tolerable pain, at every mile of the hot uphill dusty road of tiring duty, on to the judgment seat, the same Christ there as ever, still loving you, still sufficient for you, even then. And then, on through all eternity.

Thomas a Kempis
Faith, Morning, Pain

A disciple once complained, "You tell us stories, but you never reveal their meaning to us." The master replied, "How would you like it if someone offered you fruit and then chewed it up for you before giving it to you?" If your heart is straight with God, then every creature will be to you a mirror of life and a book of holy doctrine.

Thomas a Kempis
Book, Heart, Mirrors

I can take credit for only two things: pride and sin.

Thomas a Kempis
Pride, Two, Credit

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

Thomas a Kempis
Simple, Men, Wings

If you carry your cross joyfully, it will carry you.

Thomas a Kempis
Crosses, Ifs

Whoever finds Jesus, finds a rich treasure, and a good above every good. He who loses Jesus loses much indeed, and more than the whole world. Poorest of all is he who lives without Jesus, and richest of all is he who stands in favor with Jesus.

Thomas a Kempis
Faith, Jesus, World

All men desire peace, but very few desire those things that make for peace.

Thomas a Kempis
Peace, Men, Desire

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.

Thomas a Kempis
Humble, Understanding, Desire

Man considers the actions, but God weighs the intentions.

Thomas a Kempis
Men, Action, Intention
Thomas a Kempis, James Jones (1842). “The Following of Christ...”, p.118

What else does anxiety about the future bring you but sorrow upon sorrow?

Thomas a Kempis
Anxiety, Sorrow, Doe

Every man naturally desires knowledge; but what good is knowledge without fear of God? Indeed a humble rustic who serves God is better than a proud intellectual who neglects his soul to study the course of the stars.

Thomas a Kempis
Stars, Humble, Men
Thomas (à Kempis), Thomas A. Kempis, Aloysius Croft, Harold Bolton (2003). “The Imitation of Christ”, p.2, Courier Corporation

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

Thomas a Kempis
Greed, Joy, Materialism

You May Also Like: