“Of two evils, the less is always to be chosen.”
Book III. ch. 12.
The Imitation of Christ (c. 1418)
Quotes from book
The Imitation of Christ
Thomas à Kempis
Original title
Dē imitātiōne Christī
(Latin, 1441)
The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis is a Christian devotional book. It was first composed in Latin ca. 1418–1427. It is a handbook for spiritual life arising from the Devotio Moderna movement, of which Kempis was a member.The Imitation is perhaps the most widely read Christian devotional work next to the Bible, and is regarded as a devotional and religious classic. Its popularity was immediate, and it was printed 745 times before 1650. Apart from the Bible, no book had been translated into more languages than the Imitation of Christ at the time.The text is divided into four books, which provide detailed spiritual instructions: "Helpful Counsels of the Spiritual Life", "Directives for the Interior Life", "On Interior Consolation" and "On the Blessed Sacrament".
Book I, ch. 20.
The Imitation of Christ (c. 1418)
“And when he is out of sight, quickly also is he out of mind.”
Book I, ch. 23.
The Imitation of Christ (c. 1418)
“How fast passes away the glory of this world.”
O quam cito transit gloria mundi.
Book I, ch. 3.
These words are used in the crowning of the pope.
The Imitation of Christ (c. 1418)
“Man proposes, but God disposes.”
Homo proponit, sed Deus disponit.
Book I, ch. 19.
The Imitation of Christ (c. 1418)
“No man ruleth safely but that he is willingly ruled.”
Book I, ch. 20.
The Imitation of Christ (c. 1418)
“It is easier not to speak a word at all than to speak more words than we should.”
Book I, ch. 20.
The Imitation of Christ (c. 1418)
Book III. ch. 56.
The Imitation of Christ (c. 1418)
“First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.”
Book II, ch. 3.
The Imitation of Christ (c. 1418)
“The Lord bestows his blessings there, where he finds the vessels empty.”
Source: The Imitation of Christ
Source: Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), P. 545.
Source: The Imitation of Christ
Context: 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.
“All men desire peace, but very few desire those things that make for peace.”
Source: The Imitation of Christ
“At the Day of Judgement we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done; not how well we have spoken, but how holily we have lived.”
Certe adveniente die judicii, non quæretur a nobis quid legimus, sed quid fecimus; nec quam bene diximus, sed quam religiose viximus.
Book I, ch. 3; this is part of a longer passage:
A humble knowledge of oneself is a surer road to God than a deep searching of the sciences. Yet learning itself is not to be blamed, or is the simple knowledge of anything whatsoever to be despised, for true learning is good in itself and ordained by God; but a good conscience and a holy life are always to be preferred. But because many are more eager to acquire much learning than to live well, they often go astray, and bear little or no fruit. If only such people were as diligent in the uprooting of vices and the panting of virtues as they are in the debating of problems, there would not be so many evils and scandals among the people, nor such laxity in communities. At the Day of Judgement, we shall not be asked what we have read, but what we have done; not how eloquently we have spoken, but how holily we have lived. Tell me, where are now all those Masters and Doctors whom you knew so well in their lifetime in the full flower of their learning? Other men now sit in their seats, and they are hardly ever called to mind. In their lifetime they seemed of great account, but now no one speaks of them.
[Humili tui cognitio, certior viam est ad Deum, quam profunda scientiae inquisitio. Non est culpanda scientia, aut quelibet simplex rei notitia, quae bona est in se considerata, et a Deo ordinat: sed preferenda est semper bona conscientia, et virtuosa vita. Quia vero plures magis student scire, quam bene vivere: ideo saepe errant, et pene nullum, vel modicum fructum ferunt. O si tanta adhiberent diligentiam ad extirpanda vitia, et virtute inferendas, sicuti ad movenda questiones: non fierent tanta mala et scandala in populo nec tanta dissolutio in cenobiis ! Certe, adveniente die judicii, non quaeretur a nobis: quid legimus, sed quid fecimus: nec quam bene diximus, sed quam religiose viximus. Dic mihi: Ubi sunt modo omnes illi Domini et Magistri, quos bene novisti, dum adhuc viverent et studiis florerent? Iam eorum praebendas alii possident: et nescio, utrum de eis recogitent. In vita sua aliquid esse videbantur, et modo de illis tacetur.]
Book I, ch. 3.
Source: The Imitation of Christ (c. 1418)
“A wise lover values not so much the gift of the lover as the love of the giver.”
Source: The Imitation of Christ
Book I, ch. 16.
Source: The Imitation of Christ (c. 1418)
