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
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
What else does anxiety about the future bring you but sorrow upon sorrow?
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Future
He is truly great who hath a great charity.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Charity
How seldom we weigh our neighbors in the same balance as ourselves.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Hypocrisy
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
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
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
Adversities do not make a man frail. They show what sort of man he is.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Adversity
Few spirits are made better by the pain and languor of sickness; as few great pilgrims become eminent saints.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Sickness
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
For the multitude of worldly friends profiteth not, nor may strong helpers anything avail, nor wise counselors give profitable counsel, nor the cunning of doctors give consolation, nor riches deliver in time of need, nor a secret place to defend, if Thou, Lord, do not assist, help, comfort, counsel, inform, and defend.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: God, Divinity, Faith
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 loveth, flieth, runneth, and rejoiceth. He is free, and cannot be held in. He giveth all for all, and hath all in all, because he resteth in one highest above all things, from whom all that is good flows and proceeds.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Charity, Giving
He that well and rightly considereth his own works will find little cause to judge hardly of another.
—Thomas a Kempis
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
All men command patience, although few be willing to practice it.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Patience
The loftier the building the deeper the foundation must be.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Planning
A humble knowledge of oneself is a surer road to God than a deep searching of the sciences.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Identity, Faith, God, Self-Knowledge, Divinity, Awareness
Know all and you will pardon all.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Forgiveness
Choose rather to want less, than to have more.
—Thomas a Kempis
No one doth safely rule but he that hath learned gladly to obey.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Obedience
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
The life of a faithful Christian man is a guide to paradise.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Influence
Remember, your prerogative is to govern, and not to serve the things of this world.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Memory
No conflict is so severe as his who labors to subdue himself.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Self-Control
Life without a purpose is a languid, drifting thing; every day we ought to review our purpose, saying to ourselves, ‘This day let me make a sound beginning, for what we have hitherto done is naught!’
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Purpose
Whatever you do, do it with intelligence, and keep the end in view.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Intelligence, Goals
The reflections on a day well spent furnish us with joys more pleasing than ten thousand triumphs.
—Thomas a Kempis
Topics: Reflection
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
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 Theoretical Physicist
- Ludwig van Beethoven German Composer
- Anne Frank German Holocaust Victim
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