Thomas a Kempis famous quotes

In the Cross is salvation; in the Cross is life; in the Cross is protection against our enemies; in the Cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness; in the Cross is strength of mind; in the Cross is joy of spirit; in the Cross is excellence of virtue; in the Cross is perfection of holiness. There is no salvation of soul, nor hope of eternal life, save in the Cross.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Perfection #Joy #Soul

First keep peace with yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Peace #Firsts

He who loves with purity considers not the gift of the lover, but the love of the giver.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Love #Gratitude #Buddhist

Jesus has many who love the kingdom of God, but few who bear a cross. He has many who desire His comfort, but few who desire His suffering. All want to rejoice with him, but few are willing to suffer for Him. He writes; there are many who admire his miracles, but there are few who follow in the humiliation of the cross.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Jesus #Writing #Miracle

If God were our one and only desire we would not be so easily upset when our opinions do not find outside acceptance.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Godly #Acceptance #Upset

Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Men #Wings #Two

What else does anxiety about the future bring you but sorrow upon sorrow?
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Anxiety #Sorrow #Doe

Activate yourself to duty by remembering your position, who you are, and what you have obliged yourself to be.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Remember #Duty #Position

Man sees your actions, but God your motives.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Men #Action #Motive

Love wakes much and sleeps little and, in sleeping, does not sleep. It faints is not weary; it is restricted in its liberty and is great freedom. It sees reasons to fear and does not fear, but, like an ember or a spark of fire, flames always upward, by the fervor of its love, toward God, and through the special help of grace is delivered from all perils and dangers
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Sleep #Flames #Fire

When comfort is withdrawn, do not be cast down, but humbly and patiently await the visitation of God. He is able and powerful to give you more grace and more spiritual comfort than you first had.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Spiritual #Powerful #Giving

Occasions do not make a man either strong or weak but they show what he is.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Strong #Men #Weak

If you cannot mould yourself entirely as you would wish, how can you expect other people to be entirely to your liking?
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Diversity #People #Wish

Be assured that if you knew all, you would pardon all.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Forgiveness #Pardon

All men commend patience, although few are willing to practice it.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Patience #Men #Practice

Let temporal things serve thy use, but the eternal be the object of thy desire.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Priorities #Desire #Use

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

#Men #Roots #Needs

Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of trouble, attempts what is above its strength.... It is therefore able to undertake all things, and it completes many things, and warrants them to take effect, where he who does not love would faint and lie down.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Love #Lying #Thinking

Nothing, how little so ever it be, if it is suffered for God's sake, can pass without merit in the sight of God.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Sight #Sake #Merit

Who has a harder fight than he who is striving to overcome himself.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Art #Fighting #Overcoming

If your heart were sincere and upright, every creature would be unto you a looking-glass of life and a book of holy doctrine.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Book #Heart #Glasses

Habit is overcome by habit.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Overcoming #Habit

He will be with you also, all the way, that faithful God. Every morning when you awaken to the old and tolerable pain, at every mile of the hot uphill dusty road of tiring duty, on to the judgment seat, the same Christ there as ever, still loving you, still sufficient for you, even then. And then, on through all eternity.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Faith #Morning #Pain

By two wings a man is lifted up from things earthly: by simplicity and purity.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Men #Wings #Two

A sure way of retaining the grace of heaven is to disregard outward appearances, and diligently to cultivate such things as foster amendment of life and fervour of soul, rather than to cultivate those qualities that seem most popular.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Heaven #Soul #Grace

If you wish to live in peace and harmony with others, you must learn to discipline yourself in many ways.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Spiritual #Discipline #Wish

When anger enters the mind, wisdom departs.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Inspirational Life #Mind

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

#Love #Flow

Let all your thoughts be with the Most High, and direct your humble prayers unceasingly to Christ. If you cannot contemplate high and heavenly things, take refuge in the Passion of Christ, and love to dwell within His Sacred Wounds. For if you devoutly seek the Wounds of Jesus and the precious marks of His Passion, you will find great strength in all troubles.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Jesus #Prayer #Passion

All men desire peace, but very few desire those things that make for peace.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Men #Desire

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 a Kempis

#Wise #Peace #Humble

A book has but one voice, but it does not instruct everyone alike.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Book #Voice #Doe

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 a Kempis

#Men #Journey #Long

It is much safer to be subject than it is to command. Many live in obedience more from necessity than from love. Such become discontented and dejected on the slightest pretext; they will never gain peace of mind unless they subject themselves wholeheartedly for the love of God.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Mind #Gains #God Love

Love feels no burden, regards not labors, strives toward more than it attains, argues not of impossibility, since it believes that it may and can do all things.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Love #Believe #May

Remember always your end, and that lost time does not return.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Return #Doe #Remember

He that seeketh anything else but simply God and the salvation of his soul, will find nothing but trouble and sorrow.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Soul #Sorrow #Trouble

God often gives in one brief moment that which He has for a long time denied.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Long #Giving #Moments

We must imitate Christ's life and his ways if we are to be truly enlightened and set free from the darkness of our own hearts. Let it be the most important thing we do, then, to reflect on the life of Jesus Christ.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Jesus #Heart #Darkness

Love is a great thing, a good above all others, which alone maketh every burden light.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Love #Light #Burden

Be Yourself -The man who is neither bent upon pleasing his fellows nor afraid of offending them will enjoy great peace.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Being Yourself #Men #Offending

Set not thyself to attain much rest, but much patience.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Be Patient #Patient #Thyself

Pass no rash condemnation on other peoples words or actions.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Tolerance #Action #Condemnation

I have sought for happiness everywhere, but I have found it nowhere except in a little corner with a little book.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Book #Littles #Found

If you carry your cross joyfully, it will carry you.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Crosses

We usually know what we can do, but temptation shows us who we are.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Temptation #Who We Are #Shows

It thou seek rest in this life, how wilt thou then attain to the everlasting rest? Dispose not thyself for much rest, but for great patience. Seek true peace--not in earth, but in heaven; not in men, nor in any other creature, but in God alone.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Men #Heaven #Earth

Learn to humble yourself, you are but earth and clay.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Inspirational #Humble #Earth

Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of trouble, attempts what is above its strength, pleads no excuse of impossibility; for it thinks all things lawful for itself, and all things possible.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Love #Thinking #No Excuses

The acknowledgment of our weakness is the first step in repairing our loss.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Inspirational #Loss #Firsts

Know all and you will pardon all.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Forgiveness #Pardon

Whatever you do, do it with intelligence, and keep the end in view.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Views #Intelligence #Ends

Let this be thy whole endeavor, this thy prayer, this thy desire,-that thou mayest be stripped of all selfishness, and with entire simplicity follow Jesus only.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Jesus #Prayer #Simplicity

Out of sight, out of mind. The absent are always in the wrong.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Sight #Mind #Of Sight Out Of Mind

A life without 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

#Inspirational #Done #Sound

To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Inspirational #Life #Motivational

Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Life #Relationship #Teacher

Whatsoever is done in charity, however small and of no reputation it be, bringeth forth good fruit.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Helping Others #Done #Charity

Do not let your peace depend on the hearts of men; whatever they say about you, good or bad, you are not because of it another man, for as you are, you are.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Heart #Acceptance #Men

Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing more courageous, nothing higher, nothing wider, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller nor better in heaven and earth; because love is born of God, and cannot rest but in God, above all created things.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Love Is #Heaven #Earth

If thou hadst a good conscience thou wouldst not greatly fear death.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Fear Of Death #Conscience

Love alone makes heavy burdens light and bears in equal balance things pleasing and displeasing. Love bears a heavy burden and does not feel it, and love makes bitter things tasteful and sweet.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Sweet #Love Is #Light

The Lord has many lovers of His crown but few lovers of His Cross.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Crowns #Lovers #Lord

Trust not to friends and kindred, neither do thou put off the care of thy soul's welfare til hereafter; for men will sooner forget thee than thou art aware of.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Art #Men #Scary

The reflections on a day well spent furnish us with joys more pleasing than ten thousand triumphs.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Happiness #Time #Reflection

Always be thou prepared, and so live that death may never find thee unprepared.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Death #May #Thee

Wheresoever we seek our own, there we fall from love.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Fall

Jesus has many lovers of His kingdom of heaven, but he has few bearers of His Cross. Many desire His consolation, but few desire His tribulation. He finds many comrades in eating and drinking, but He finds few hands who will be with Him in His abstinence and fastingBut those who love Jesus purely for Himself, and not for their own profit or convenience, bless Him as heartily in temptation and tribulation and in all other adversities as they do in time of consolation. And if He never sent them consolation, they would still bless and praise Him.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Jesus #Drinking #Adversity

We are often moved with passion and think it to be zeal.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Passion #Thinking #Zeal

Would to God that we might spend a single day really well!
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Might #Wells

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

#Men #Action #Intention

Study to do another's will rather than thine own. Choose ever to have less rather than more. Seek ever the lower place and to be subject to all; ever wish and pray that the will of God may be perfectly done in thee and in all. Behold such a man enters the bounds of peace and calm.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Humility #Men #Wish

Without labor there is no rest, nor without fighting can the victory be won.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Fighting #Victory #Labor

A lover of Jesus and of the truth can lift himself above himself in spirit.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Jesus #Growth #Lovers

Whoever would fully and feelingly understand the words of Christ, must endeavor to conform his life wholly to the life of Christ.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Christ #Endeavor #Conform

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

#Speak #Easier #Should

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

#Men #May #He Man

If you bear the cross unwillingly, you make it a burden, and load yourself more heavily; but you must bear it.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Bears #Burden #Crosses

We would willingly have others perfect, and yet we amend not our own faults. We would have others severely corrected and will not be corrected ourselves. The large liberty of others displeases us, and yet we will not have our own desires denied us. We will have others kept under by strict laws, but in no sort will ourselves be restrained. And thus it appears how seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same balance with ourselves.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Law #Perfect #Desire

Christ was willing to suffer wrongs and to be despised, and do you dare to complain of anything?.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Suffering #Complaining #Christ

All His glory and beauty come from within, and there He delights to dwell, His visits there are frequent, His conversation sweet, His comforts refreshing; and His peace passing all understanding.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Sweet #Understanding #Delight

My child, it will be better for you if you accept my decisions without complaint. Do not ask me to defend my actions or to explain why one person is favored and another seems slighted. The answers to these questions go far beyond your comprehension.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Children #Decision #Answers

And when he is out of sight, quickly also he is out of mind.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Sight #Mind #Forgetfulness

O how quickly passes away the glory of the earth.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Passing Away #Earth #Glory

The only safe ruler is he who has learned to obey willingly.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Safe #Obedience #Rulers

How sweet it is to love, and to be dissolved, and as it were to bathe myself in thy love.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Love #Sweet

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 consolations.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Thinking #Kind #Should

If you seek Jesus in all things you will surely find Jesus. And if you seek yourself, you will surely find yourself, but only to your ruin.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Jesus #Finding Yourself #Ruins

If we live in peace ourselves, we in turn may bring peace to others. A peaceable man does more good than a learned one.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Wisdom #Men #May

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 a Kempis

#Heaven #Elements #Earth

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 a Kempis

#Men #Wings #Two

O Lord, self-renunciation is not the work of one day, nor children's sport; yea, rather in this word is included all perfection.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#Sports #Children #Self

God deceiveth thee not.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#God #Thee

God is able to do more than man can understand.
-- Thomas a Kempis

#God #Men #Able