Thomas à Kempis - Man Quotes

26 Sourced Quotes

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

Thomas à Kempis
Therefore, a man ought to root himself so firmly in God that he will not need the consolations of men.

Thomas à Kempis
Remain tranquil and prepare to bear still greater trials. All is not lost even though you be troubled oftener or tempted more grievously. You are a man, not God. You are flesh, not an angel. How can you possibly expect to remain always in the same state of virtue when the angels in heaven and the first man in paradise failed to do so? I am He who rescues the afflicted and brings to My divinity those who know their own weakness.

Thomas à Kempis
The end of all is death and man's life passeth away suddenly as a shadow.

Thomas à Kempis
Every man naturally desires knowledge; but what good is knowledge without fear of God? Indeed a humble rustic who serves God is better than a proud intellectual who neglects his soul to study the course of the stars.

Thomas à Kempis
There is no man in this world without some manner of tribulation or anguish, though he be king or pope.

Thomas à Kempis
The measure of every man's virtue is best revealed in time of adversity - adversity that does not weaken a man but rather shows what he is.

Thomas à Kempis
No man doth safely rule, but he that hath learned gladly to obey.

Thomas à Kempis
As iron put into the fire loseth its rust and becometh clearly red-hot, so he that wholly turneth himself unto God puts off all slothfulness, and is transformed into a new man.

Thomas à Kempis
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 à Kempis
Happy is the man who renounces everything which may bring a stain or burden upon his conscience.

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
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
For a small reward, a man will hurry away on a long journey; while for eternal life, many will hardly take a single step.

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
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
In judging of others, a man laboreth in vain, — often erreth and easily sinneth; but in judging and examining himself, he always laboreth fruitfully.

Thomas à Kempis
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 à Kempis
Man considers the actions, but God weighs the intentions.

Thomas à Kempis
Today the man is here; tomorrow he is gone. And when he is 'out of sight', quickly also is he out of mind.

Thomas à Kempis
No man ruleth safely but that he is willingly ruled.

Thomas à Kempis
A wise and good man will turn examples of all sorts to his own advantage. The good he will make his patterns, and strive to equal or excel them. The bad he will by all means avoid.

Thomas à Kempis
A man is hindered and distracted in proportion as he draws outward things to himself.

Thomas à Kempis
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.

Thomas à Kempis
The more humble and obedient to God a man is, the more wise and at peace he will be in all that he does.

Thomas à Kempis
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.

Thomas à Kempis