Thomas à Kempis quotes
Thomas à Kempis (1379–1471): German canon regular. The library holds 175 quotes by Thomas à Kempis, drawn from Imitation of Christ, Hill. The 60 below are the most quoted; search the library in the maker for the rest.
Often about: life, faith, peace, love, happiness, patience
The best-known Thomas à Kempis quotes
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Constantly choose rather to want less than to have more.
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Out of sight out of mind.
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That learning which thou gettest by thy own observation and experience is far beyond that which thou gettest by precept; as the knowledge of a traveller exceeds that which is got by reading.
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Men might live quiet and easy enough, if they would be careful not to give themselves trouble, and forbear meddling with what other people do and say, in which they are in no way concerned.
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It is an argument of great wisdom to do nothing rashly, nor to be obstinate and inflexible in our opinions.
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Happy he that can abandon everything by which his conscience is defiled or burdened.
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There can come no harm of supposing every other man better than yourself; but the supposing any man worse than yourself may be attended with very ill consequences.
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The loftier the building the deeper must the foundation be laid.
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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 consolation.
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Stand up bravely to afflictions, and quit thyself like a man.
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Is a man one whit the better because he is grown great in other men’s esteem?
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And when he is out of sight, quickly also is he out of mind.
Imitation of Christ, Book i. Chap. 23 -
All men commend patience, though few be willing to practise it.
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We should be sparing in our intimacies; because it so very often happens that the more perfectly men are understood, the less they are esteemed.
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No one is qualified to converse in public who is not highly contented without such conversation.
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True quietness of heart is gotten by resisting our passions, not by obeying them.
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Our charity indeed should be universal, and extend to all mankind; but it is by no means convenient that our friendships and familiarities should do so too.
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Speak not peace to thyself when beset on every side with numerous and restless enemies.
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If we would endeavour like brave men to stand in the battle, surely we should feel the assistance from Heaven.
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That intention which fixes upon God as its only end will keep men steady in their purposes, and deliver them from being the jest and scorn of fortune.
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He who loves with purity considers not the gift of the lover, but the love of the giver.
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It is harder work to resist vices and passions, than to toil in bodily labours.
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The wealth of both the Indies cannot redeem one single opportunity which you have once let slip.
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Scruples, temptations, and fears, and cutting perplexities of heart, are frequently the lot of the most excellent persons.
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To be provoked with every slanderous word argues a littleness of soul, a want of due regard to God.
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The acknowledgment of our weakness is the first step towards repairing our loss.
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We are all best affected to them who are of the same opinion as ourselves.
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None so wise but the advice of others may, at some time or other, be useful and necessary for him.
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The opinions of men are as many and as different as their persons; the greatest diligence and most prudent conduct can never please them all.
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Study to be quiet; contain yourself within your own business, and let the prying, censorious, the vain and the intriguing world follow their own devices.
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Men are much more prone (the greater is the pity) both to speak and believe ill than well of their neighbours.
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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.
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Humility is a virtue of so general, so exceeding good influence, that we can scarce purchase it too dear.
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Seek one good, one end, so zealously, that nothing else may come into competition or partnership with it.
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The enemy is more easily repulsed if we never suffer him to get within us, but, upon the very first approach, draw up our forces and fight him without the gate.
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If we cast off one burden, we are immediately pursued and oppressed by another.
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If your mind and its affections be pure, and sincere, and moderate, nothing shall have the power to enslave you.
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Man’s own judgment is the proper rule and measure of his actions.
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No, not even faith, or hope, or any other virtue, is accepted by God without charity and grace.
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When you find yourselves tempted, be sure to ask advice; and when you see another so, deal with him gently.
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Many men involve themselves deeper in temptations by being too solicitous to decline them.
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Praise is indeed the consequence and encouragement of virtue; but it is sometimes so unseasonably applied as to become its bane and corruption too.
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Impertinent and lavish talking is in itself a very vicious habit.
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If we bear what we must bear with murmuring and grudging, we do but gall our shoulders with the yoke, and render that a heavy unprofitable load which might be fruitful and glorious.
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Oh! the dulness and the hardness of the heart of man, which contemplates only the present, and does not rather provide for the future.
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It is proper and beneficial sometimes to be left to thyself.
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Grace pays its respects to true intrinsic worth, not to the mere signs and trappings of it, which often only show where it ought to be, not where it really is.
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Keep company with the humble, with the devout, and with the virtuous; and confer with them of things that edify.
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We will have others severely corrected, and will not be corrected ourselves.
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Simplicity is in the intention, purity in the affection; simplicity turns to God, purity unites with and enjoys him.
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We must not suppose ourselves always to have conquered a temptation when we have fled from it.
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Leave the great ones of the world to manage their own concerns, and keep your eyes and observations at home.
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We must sometimes cease to adhere to our own opinion for the sake of peace.
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They who sustain their cross shall likewise be sustained by it in return.
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Upon every occasion, be sure to make a conscience of what you do or say.
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In all straits the good behave themselves with meekness and patience.
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We take a pleasure in being severe upon others, but cannot endure to hear of our own faults.
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Too many instances there are of daring men, who by presuming to sound the deep things of religion, have cavilled and argued themselves out of all religion.
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God is always ready to strengthen those who strive lawfully.
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Occasions do not make a man frail, but they show what he is.
Where these quotes come from
- Imitation of Christ (3 quotes)
- Hill (1 quote)
Every quote comes from a public-domain edition. How the library was made .