Thomas à Kempis Quotes

175 Sourced Quotes

Many count the years since their conversion, but their lives often show little sign of improvement. If it is dreadful to die, it is perhaps more dangerous to live long. Happy is the man who keeps the hour of death always in mind, and daily prepares himself to die.

Thomas à Kempis
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?

Thomas à Kempis
Would that we had spent one whole day well in this world!

Thomas à Kempis
Dispose thyself to patience rather than to comfort, and to the bearing of the cross rather than to gladness.

Thomas à Kempis
Grant me prudently to avoid him that flatters me, and to endure patiently him that contradicts me.

Thomas à Kempis
Do not let your peace depend on what people say of you... True peace and joy is to be found in [Jesus] alone.

Thomas à Kempis
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.

Thomas à Kempis
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.

Thomas à Kempis
If thou art willing to suffer no adversity, how wilt thou be the friend of Christ?

Thomas à Kempis
If you want to learn something that will really help you, learn to see yourself as God sees you and not as you see yourself in the distorted mirror of your own self-importance,

Thomas à Kempis
O, how quickly the world's glory passes away.

Thomas à Kempis
If thou may not continually gather thyself together, do it sometime at least once a day, morning or evening.

Thomas à Kempis
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.

Thomas à Kempis
Love is swift, sincere, pious, pleasant, gentle, strong, patient, faithful, prudent, long-suffering, manly and never seeking her own; for wheresoever a man seeketh his own, there he falleth from love.

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

Thomas à Kempis
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?

Thomas à Kempis
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.

Thomas à Kempis
Thou wilt enjoy tranquillity if thy heart condemn thee not.

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

Thomas à Kempis
Count not thyself to have found true peace, if thou hast felt no grief; nor that then all is well if thou hast no adversary; nor that this is perfect, if all things fall out according to thy desire.

Thomas à Kempis
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.

Thomas à Kempis
Constantly choose rather to want less, than to have more.

Thomas à Kempis
Old custom is hard to break and scarce any man will be led otherwise than seemeth good unto himself.

Thomas à Kempis
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 traveler exceeds that which is got by reading.

Thomas à Kempis
Wherever you go, you will always bear yourself about with you, and so you will always find yourself.

Thomas à Kempis
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.

Thomas à Kempis
The more spiritual a man desires to be, the more bitter does this present life become to him, because he perceives better and sees more clearly the defects of human corruption.

Thomas à Kempis
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.

Thomas à Kempis
If thou wilt receive profit, read with humility, simplicity, and faith; and seek not at any time the fame of being learned.

Thomas à Kempis
Everywhere I have sought rest and not found it, except sitting in a corner by myself with a little book.

Thomas à Kempis