Wherever you go, you will always bear yourself about with you, and so you will always find yourself.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Spirit, Spirituality
Caution is crediting, and reserve in speaking, and in revealing one’s self to but very few, are the best securities both of a good understanding with the world, and of the inward peace of our own minds.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Caution
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
Topics: Simplicity
The loftier the building the deeper the foundation must be.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Planning
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
Topics: Example
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
Topics: Prayer
Scruples, temptations, and fears, and cutting perplexities of the heart, are often the lot of the most excellent persons.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Fear
He has great tranquillity of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Blame
It is vanity to desire a long life and to take no heed of a good life.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Life and Living
Man proposes, but God disposes.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Purpose, God, Destiny
No conflict is so severe as his who labors to subdue himself.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Self-Control
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.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Friends and Friendship
All men command patience, although few be willing to practice it.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Patience
Without labor there is no rest, nor without fighting can the victory be won.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Labor
When a man is out of sight, it is not too long before he is out of mind.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Absence
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.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Love
The acknowledgment of our weakness is the first step toward repairing our loss.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Weakness, Loss
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
Topics: Awareness, Realization, Peace, Acceptance
There is no man in this world without some manner of tribulation or anguish, though he be king or pope.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Acceptance, Opportunities, Reality
By two wings a man is lifted up from things earthly: by simplicity and purity.
—Thomas a Kempis
Remember, your prerogative is to govern, and not to serve the things of this world.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Memory
The life of a faithful Christian man is a guide to paradise.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Influence
Never be entirely idle; but either be reading, or writing, or praying or meditating or endeavoring something for the public good.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Laziness
No man can ever lack this mortification of his vanity, that what he knows is but a very little in comparison of what he is ignorant of. Consider this, and instead of boasting thy knowledge of a few things, confess and be out of countenance for the many more which thou dost not understand.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Learning
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
Topics: Judgment
How seldom we weigh our neighbors in the same balance as ourselves.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Hypocrisy
He is truly great who hath a great charity.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Charity
Now is the time to be doing, now is the time to be stirring, now is the time to amend myself.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: The Present
Pass no rash condemnation on other peoples words or actions.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Tolerance
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?
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Virtue
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Georg Christoph Lichtenberg German Philosopher, Physicist
- Carl Zuckmayer German Playwright
- Eckhart Tolle German Spiritual Writer
- Gotthold Ephraim Lessing German Writer
- Heinrich Heine German Poet, Writer
- Erich Fromm German Social Philosopher
- Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi German Philosopher
- Werner Heisenberg German Physicist
- Ludwig van Beethoven German Composer
- Anne Frank German Holocaust Victim
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