God is able to do more than man can understand.
– Thomas a Kempis
God
He who loves with purity considers not the gift of the lover, but the love of the giver.
– Thomas a Kempis
Love | Purity
At the Day of Judgment we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done; not how well we have spoken, but how holy we have lived.
– Thomas a Kempis
Holiness
Carry the cross patiently, and with perfect submission; and in the end it shall carry you.
– Thomas a Kempis
Submission | The Cross
Thy peace shall be in much patience.
– Thomas a Kempis
Peace | Patience
We should have much more peace if we would not busy ourselves with the sayings and doings of others.
– Thomas a Kempis
Peace | Gossip
God walks with the humble; he reveals himself to the lowly; he gives understanding to the little ones; he discloses his meaning to pure minds, but hides his grace from the curious and the proud.
– Thomas a Kempis
Humility
Never be entirely idle; but either be reading, or writing, or praying or meditating or endeavoring something for the public good.
– Thomas a Kempis
Idleness | Meditation
He that well and rightly considereth his own works will find little cause to judge hardly of another.
– Thomas a Kempis
Service | Judging
He will easily be content and at peace, whose conscience is pure.
– Thomas a Kempis
Conscience | Peace
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
Service | Knowledge
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.
– Thomas a Kempis
Faithful | Patience
Who has a harder fight than he who is striving to overcome himself.
– Thomas a Kempis
Humility | Perseverance | Overcoming
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?
– Thomas a Kempis
Patience | Humility
How seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same balance with ourselves.
– Thomas a Kempis
Hypocrisy
Sweet shall be your rest if your heart does not reproach you.
– Thomas a Kempis
Conscience | Rest | The Heart
Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.
– Thomas a Kempis
Anger
A lover of Jesus and of the truth can lift himself above himself in spirit.
– Thomas a Kempis
Truth
No one can obtain from the Pope a dispensation for never dying.
– Thomas a Kempis
Death
Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.
– Thomas a Kempis
God | Faith
In judging of others, a man laboreth in vain, often erreth and easily sinneth; but in judging and examining himself, he always laboreth fruitfully.
– Thomas a Kempis
Hypocrisy | Judging
What else does anxiety about the future bring you but sorrow upon sorrow?
– Thomas a Kempis
Anxiety | The Future
A wise and good man will turn examples of all sorts to his own advantage. The good he will make his patterns, and strive to equal or excel them. The bad he will by all means avoid.
– Thomas a Kempis
Perseverance | Struggles
So fixed are our spirits in slothfulness and cold indifference that we seldom overcome so much as one evil habit.
– Thomas a Kempis
Laziness | Apathy | Habits
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.
– Thomas a Kempis
Grace | Comfort | Worldliness
Do not be influenced by the importance of the writer, and whether his learning be great or small, but let the love of pure truth draw you to read. Do not inquire, Who said this? but pay attention to what is said.
– Thomas a Kempis
Books | Truth | Learning
First keep peace with yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.
– Thomas a Kempis
Peace
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.
– Thomas a Kempis
Holiness | Purity | The Heart
All men commend patience, although few are willing to practice it.
– Thomas a Kempis
Patience | Men
That learning which thou gettest by thy own observation and experience, is far beyond that which thou gettest by precept; as the knowledge of a traveler exceeds that which is got by reading.
– Thomas a Kempis
Learning | Reading
For a small reward, a man will hurry away on a long journey; while for eternal life, many will hardly take a single step.
– Thomas a Kempis
Heaven | Eternal Life | Rewards
The acknowledgment of our weakness is the first step in repairing our loss.
– Thomas a Kempis
Humility | Weakness
All the glory and beauty of Christ are manifested within, and there He delights to dwell; His visits there are frequent, His condescension amazing, His conversation sweet, His comforts refreshing; and the peace that He brings passeth all understanding.
– Thomas a Kempis
Christ | Peace | Beauty
Let this be thy whole Endeavour, this thy prayer, this thy desire, that thou mayest be stripped of all selfishness, and with entire simplicity follow Jesus only.
– Thomas a Kempis
Selfishness | Humility
What thou art, that thou art.
– Thomas a Kempis
Life
He is truly great that is little in himself, and that maketh no account of any height of honors.
– Thomas a Kempis
Humility
If thou art willing to suffer no adversity, how wilt thou be the friend of Christ?
– Thomas a Kempis
Adversity
It is much safer to obey than to rule.
– Thomas a Kempis
Obedience
No man ruleth safely but that he is willingly ruled.
– Thomas a Kempis
Obedience
What most of all hinders heavenly consolation is that you are too slow in turning yourself to prayer.
– Thomas a Kempis
Prayer
God deceiveth thee not.
– Thomas a Kempis
God | Truth
Without the way, there is no going; without the truth, there is no knowing; without the life, there is no living.
– Thomas a Kempis
Jesus
If you cast away one cross, you will certainly find another, and perhaps a heavier.
– Thomas a Kempis
Service
A humble knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than a deep search after learning.
– Thomas a Kempis
Humility | Learning
Out of sight, out of mind. The absent are always in the wrong.
– Thomas a Kempis
Hypocrisy
Intelligence must follow faith, never precede it, and never destroy it.
– Thomas a Kempis
Faith
Habit is overcome by habit.
– Thomas a Kempis
Habits | Overcoming
He has great tranquility of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men.
– Thomas a Kempis
Humility
Of two evils, the less is always to be chosen.
– Thomas a Kempis
Good and Evil
If you bear the cross unwillingly, you make it a burden, and load yourself more heavily; but you must bear it.
– Thomas a Kempis
Suffering | Perseverance | The Cross
Influence never dies; every act, emotion, look and word makes influence tell for good or evil, happiness or woe, through the long future of eternity.
– Thomas a Kempis
Virtue | Eternity
The only safe ruler is he who has learned to obey willingly.
– Thomas a Kempis
Obedience
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.
– Thomas a Kempis
FaithStress
Love is swift, sincere, pious, pleasant, gentle, strong, patient, faithful, prudent, long-suffering, manly and never seeking her own; for whosoever a man seeketh his own, there he falleth from love.
– Thomas a Kempis
Love | Gentleness
Great tranquility of heart is his who cares for neither praise not blame.
– Thomas a Kempis
Humility | The Heart
A man is hindered and distracted in proportion as he draws outward things to himself.
– Thomas a Kempis
Selfishness
Man sees your actions, but God your motives.
– Thomas a Kempis
Service
All is vanity but to love and serve Him.
– Thomas a Kempis
Love | God
Few spirits are made better by the pain and languor of sickness; as few great pilgrims become eminent saints.
– Thomas a Kempis
Health
At the least bear patiently, if thou canst not joyfully.
– Thomas a Kempis
Patience | Joy
If thou canst not make thyself such an one as thou wouldst, how canst thou expect to have another in all things to thy liking?
– Thomas a Kempis
Hypocrisy
The highest and most profitable learning is the knowledge of ourselves. To have a low opinion of our own merits, and to think highly of others, is an evidence of wisdom.
– Thomas a Kempis
WisdomLearning
Set not thyself to attain much rest, but much patience.
– Thomas a Kempis
Patience
If thou desire to profit, read with humility, simplicity, and faithfulness; nor even desire the repute of learning.
– Thomas a Kempis
Books | Learning | Reading
We usually know what we can do, but temptation shows us who we are.
– Thomas a Kempis
Temptation
There is no man in this world without some manner of tribulation or anguish, though he be king or pope.
– Thomas a Kempis
Tribulation
What canst thou see elsewhere which thou canst not see here? Behold the heaven and the earth and all the elements; for of these are all things created.
– Thomas a Kempis
God
He rides pleasantly enough whom the grace of God carries.
– Thomas a Kempis
Grace
It is better to be affected with a true penitent sorrow for sin than to be able to resolve the most difficult cases about it.
– Thomas a Kempis
Sin | Repentance
It is easier not to speak a word at all than to speak more words than we should.
– Thomas a Kempis
Humility | Gossip
All men are frail, but thou shouldst reckon none so frail as thyself.
– Thomas a Kempis
Humility
Our own opinion of ourselves should be lower than that formed by others, for we have a better chance at our imperfections.
– Thomas a Kempis
Humility
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.
– Thomas a Kempis
Giving
Happy is the man who renounces everything which may bring a stain or burden upon his conscience.
– Thomas a Kempis
Conscience
It thou seek rest in this life, how wilt thou then attain to the everlasting rest? Dispose not thyself for much rest, but for great patience. Seek true peace – not in earth, but in heaven; not in men, nor in any other creature, but in God alone.
– Thomas a Kempis
Peace | Rest
Learn to break your own will. Be zealous against yourself.
– Thomas a Kempis
Humility | Zeal
For these attacks do not contribute to make us frail but rather show us to be what we are.
– Thomas a Kempis
Adversity
Man proposes, but God disposes.
– Thomas a Kempis
God
But because many endeavor to get knowledge rather than to live well, they are often deceived and reap little or no benefit from their labor.
– Thomas a Kempis
Service | Knowledge | Deception
If thou bear the cross cheerfully, it will bear thee.
– Thomas a Kempis
Holiness | Cheerfulness | The Cross
There is no creature so small and abject, that it representeth not the goodness of God.
– Thomas a Kempis
God
Blessed is the pilgrim, who in every place, and at all times of this his banishment in the body, calling upon the holy name of Jesus, calleth to mind his native heavenly land, where his blessed Master, the King of saints and angels, waiteth to receive him. Blessed is the pilgrim who seeketh not an abiding place unto himself in this world; but longeth to be dissolved, and be with Christ in heaven.
– Thomas a Kempis
Heaven
You are not holier if you are praised, nor the more worthless if you are found fault with.
– Thomas a Kempis
Humility
Everywhere I have sought rest and found it not except sitting apart in a nook with a little book.
– Thomas a Kempis
BooksRest
Do not let your peace depend on the hearts of men; whatever they say about you, good or bad, you are not because of it another man, for as you are, you are.
– Thomas a Kempis
Peace
Let not your peace rest in the utterances of men, for whether they put a good or bad construction on your conduct does not make you other than you are.
– Thomas a Kempis
Peace | Humility
The reflections on a day well spent furnish us with joys more pleasing than ten thousand triumphs.
– Thomas a Kempis
Joy
Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature. Simplicity is in the intention, purity in the affection; simplicity turns to God; purity unites with and enjoys him.
– Thomas a Kempis
Holiness | Purity
God alone satisfies.
– Thomas a Kempis
God
Constantly choose rather to want less, than to have more.
– Thomas a Kempis
Selfishness
He is truly great who hath a great charity.
– Thomas a Kempis
Charity
It is thy duty oftentimes to do what thou wouldst not; thy duty, too, to leave undone that thou wouldst do.
– Thomas a Kempis
Discretion
O how quickly passes away the glory of the earth.
– Thomas a Kempis
Life
Whoever would fully and feelingly understand the words of Christ, must endeavor to conform his life wholly to the life of Christ.
– Thomas a Kempis
Holiness
What you are, that you are; neither by word can you be made greater than what you are in the sight of God.
– Thomas a Kempis
Humility
Occasions do not make a man either strong or weak, but they show what he is.
– Thomas a Kempis
Character
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.
– Thomas a Kempis
Character | Strength
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.
– Thomas a Kempis
Humility
Why seekest thou rest, since thou art born to labor?
– Thomas a Kempis
Service
In Jesus and for Him, enemies and friends alike are to be loved.
– Thomas a Kempis
Jesus | Love | Enemies