120 Thomas a Kempis Quotes

Habit is overcome by habit.

He has great tranquility of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men.

Of two evils, the less is always to be chosen.

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

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.

The only safe ruler is he who has learned to obey willingly.

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.

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.

Great tranquility of heart is his who cares for neither praise not blame.

A man is hindered and distracted in proportion as he draws outward things to himself.

Man sees your actions, but God your motives.

All is vanity but to love and serve Him.

Few spirits are made better by the pain and languor of sickness; as few great pilgrims become eminent saints.

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

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?

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.

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

We usually know what we can do, but temptation shows us who we are.

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.

He rides pleasantly enough whom the grace of God carries.

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.

It is easier not to speak a word at all than to speak more words than we should.

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

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

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.

Happy is the man who renounces everything which may bring a stain or burden upon his 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.

Learn to break your own will. Be zealous against yourself.

For these attacks do not contribute to make us frail but rather show us to be what we are.

Man proposes, but God disposes.

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.

If thou bear the cross cheerfully, it will bear thee.

There is no creature so small and abject, that it representeth not the goodness of 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.

You are not holier if you are praised, nor the more worthless if you are found fault with.

Everywhere I have sought rest and found it not except sitting apart in a nook with a little book.

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.

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.

The reflections on a day well spent furnish us with joys more pleasing than ten thousand triumphs.

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.

God alone satisfies.

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

He is truly great who hath a great charity.

It is thy duty oftentimes to do what thou wouldst not; thy duty, too, to leave undone that thou wouldst do.

O how quickly passes away the glory of the earth.

Whoever would fully and feelingly understand the words of Christ, must endeavor to conform his life wholly to the life of Christ.

What you are, that you are; neither by word can you be made greater than what you are in the sight of God.

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

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.

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.

Why seekest thou rest, since thou art born to labor?

In Jesus and for Him, enemies and friends alike are to be loved.

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.

No conflict is so severe as his who labors to subdue himself.

Activate yourself to duty by remembering your position, who you are, and what you have obliged yourself to be.

Love feels no burden, regards not labors, strives toward more than it attains, argues not of impossibility, since it believes that it may and can do all things. Therefore it avails for all things, and fulfils and accomplishes much where one not a lover falls and lies helpless.

The loftier the building, the deeper must the foundation be laid.

I would far rather feel remorse than know how to define it.

Thou wilt enjoy tranquility if thy heart condemn thee not.

God often gives in one brief moment that which He has for a long time denied.

He that seeketh anything else but simply God and the salvation of his soul, will find nothing but trouble and sorrow.

He who loveth God with all his heart feareth not death, nor punishment, nor judgment, nor hell, because perfect love giveth sure access to God. But he who still delighteth in sin, no marvel if he is afraid of death and judgment.

No one doth safely rule but he that hath learned gladly to obey.

He that avoideth not small faults, by little and little falleth into greater.

Gladly we desire to make other men perfect, but we will not amend our own fault.

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.

Faith is required of thee, and a sincere life, not loftiness of intellect, nor deepness in the mysteries of God.

If you cannot mold yourself entirely as you would wish, how can you expect other people to be entirely to your liking?

And when he is out of sight, quickly also is he out of mind.

Know all and you will pardon all.