Thomas à Kempis (1379–1471,) also Thomas Hemerken or Hämmerlein, was a German religious clergyman and writer.
Named after his birthplace Kempen, near Cologne, Kempis entered the Augustinian convent of Agnietenberg near Zwolle in the Netherlands, took holy orders in 1413, was chosen sub-prior in 1429, devoted his life to copying manuscripts and to directing novices, and died as Superior.
Kempis wrote sermons, ascetical treatises, pious biographies, letters and hymns, and above all, the influential devotional work Imitatio Christ (c.1415–24; The Imitation of Christ.) Often considered the most influential work in Christian literature after the Holy Bible, over 1,800 editions were published by 1779. Renowned for its simple language and style, Imitatio Christi emphasizes the spiritual rather than the materialistic life, encourages the rewards of being Christ-centered, and supports Communion as a means to strengthen faith.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Thomas a Kempis
The highest in God’s esteem are the lowest in their own.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Self Respect, Self-Esteem
He has great tranquillity of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Blame
No conflict is so severe as his who labors to subdue himself.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Self-Control
Adversities do not make a man frail. They show what sort of man he is.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Adversity
Remember, your prerogative is to govern, and not to serve the things of this world.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Memory
He will easily be content and at peace, whose conscience is pure.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Conscience
He who loves with purity considers not the gift of the lover, but the love of the giver.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Gifts
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
Permit no hour to go by without it due improvement.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Quality
Occasions of adversity best discover how great virtue or strength each one hath.—For occasions do not make a man frail, but show what he is.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Temptation
He does much who loves God much, and he does much who does his deed well, and he does his deed well who does it rather for the common good than for his own will.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: God
Of what use is a long life, if we amend so little?. Alas, a long life often adds to our sins rather than to our virtue!
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Age
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
Topics: Self-Knowledge
The better you understand yourself the less cause you will find to love yourself.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Identity
A wise lover values not so much the gift of the lover as the love of the giver.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Gifts
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: Realization, Acceptance, Peace, Awareness
A man that is well ordered in his soul needeth little the unkind demeanor of worldly people nor yet their proud behavior.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Behavior
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
Topics: Influence
As iron put into the fire loseth its rust and becometh clearly red-hot, so he that wholly turneth himself unto God puts off all slothfulness, and is transformed into a new man.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Adversity
Activate yourself to duty by remembering your position, who you are, and what you have obliged yourself to be.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Duty
Wherever you go, you will always bear yourself about with you, and so you will always find yourself.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Spirituality, Spirit
He that well and rightly considereth his own works will find little cause to judge hardly of another.
—Thomas a Kempis
It is much safer to obey, than to govern.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Obedience
The acknowledgment of our weakness is the first step toward repairing our loss.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Loss, Weakness
A humble knowledge of oneself is a surer road to God than a deep searching of the sciences.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Divinity, Self-Knowledge, Identity, Faith, God, Awareness
Everywhere I have sought rest and not found it, except sitting in a corner by myself with a little book.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Books, Reading
Peace and happiness are what you covet, but these are only to be obtained by labor.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Peace
There is no man in this world without some manner of tribulation or anguish, though he be king or pope.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Opportunities, Acceptance, Reality
The life of a faithful Christian man is a guide to paradise.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Influence
If your heart were sincere and upright, every creature would be unto you a looking-glass of life and a book of holy doctrine.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Heart
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
Scruples, temptations, and fears, and cutting perplexities of the heart, are often the lot of the most excellent persons.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Fear
When out of sight, quickly also out of mind.
—Thomas a Kempis
Many deceive themselves, imagining they’ll find happiness in change.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Change
What else does anxiety about the future bring you but sorrow upon sorrow?
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Future
Few spirits are made better by the pain and languor of sickness; as few great pilgrims become eminent saints.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Sickness
It is vanity to desire a long life and to take no heed of a good life.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Life and Living
No one is qualified to converse in public except those contented to do without such conversation.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Conversation
By two wings a man is lifted up from things earthly: by simplicity and purity.
—Thomas a Kempis
It is no little wisdom for a man to keep himself in silence and in good peace when evil words are spoken to him, and to turn his heart to God and not to be troubled with man’s judgment.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Judging, Judges, Judgment
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