Thomas à Kempis Quotes

“If God were our one and only desire we would not be so easily upset when our opinions do not find outside acceptance.”

“A wise lover values not so much the gift of the lover as the love of the giver.”

“Jesus has now many lovers of the heavenly kingdom but few bearers of His cross.”

“Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of its trouble, attempts what is above its strength, pleads no excuse for impossibility, for it thinks all things are lawful for itself and all things are possible”

“Grant me prudently to avoid him that flatters me, and to endure patiently him that contradicts me.”

“As iron cast into fire loses its rust and becomes glowing white, so he who turns completely to God is stripped of his sluggishness and changed into a new man.”

“A pure, sincere, and stable spirit is not distracted though it be employed in many works; for that it works all to the honor of God, and inwardly being still and quiet, seeks not itself in any thing it doth.”

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

“Man proposes, but God disposes.”
Homo proponit, sed Deus disponit.

“If thou knewest the whole Bible by heart, and the sayings of all the philosophers, what would it profit thee without the love of God and without grace?”

“A sure way of retaining the grace of heaven is to disregard outward appearances, and diligently to cultivate such things as foster amendment of life and fervour of soul, rather than to cultivate those qualities that seem most popular.”

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

“Without the Way,
there is no going,
Without the Truth,
there is no knowing,
Without the Life,
there is no living.”

“If thou seek rest in this life, how wilt them 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.”

“Wherever you go, there you are.”

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

“A book has but one voice, but it does not instruct everyone alike.”

“Never be entirely idle; but either be reading, or writing, or praying, or meditating, or endeavoring something for the public good.”

“By two wings is man lifted above earthly things, even by
simplicity and purity. Simplicity ought to be in the intention,
purity in the affection.”

“Fight like a man. Habit is overcome by habit.”

“The Lord bestows his blessings there, where he finds the vessels empty.”

“If thou desire to profit, read with humility, simplicity, and faithfulness; nor even desire the repute of learning.”

“Dispose thyself to patience rather than to comfort, and to the bearing of the cross rather than to gladness.”

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

“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.”

“First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.”

“O Lord, self-renunciation is not the work of one day, nor children's sport; yea, rather in this word is included all perfection.”

“For they truly know their Lord in the breaking of bread, whose heart within them so vehemently burneth, whilst Thou, O blessed Jesus, dost walk and converse with them.”

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

“No man ruleth safely but that he is willingly ruled.”

“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.”

“How fast passes away the glory of this world.”
O quam cito transit gloria mundi.

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

“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 is truly great that is great in charity. He is truly great that is little in himself, and maketh no account of any height of honor. And he is truly learned that doeth the will of God, and forsaketh his own will.”

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

“Simplicity and purity are the two wings by which a man is lifted above all earthly things. Simplicity is in the intention — purity in the affection. Simplicity tends to God,— purity apprehends and tastes Him.”