Quotes by Thomas Kempis

• Of two evils we must always choose the least.
• Oh, how swiftly the glory of the world passes away!
• Remember that lost time does not return.
• What difference does it make to you what someone else becomes, or says, or does? You do not need to answer for others, only for yourself.
• Never be entirely idle; but either be reading, or writing, or praying or meditating or endeavoring something for the public good.
• A man is hindered and distracted in proportion as he draws outward things to himself.
• Gladly we desire to make other men perfect, but we will not amend our own fault.
• First keep peace with yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.
• But because many endeavor to get knowledge rather than to live well, they are often deceived and reap little or no benefit from their labor.
• Bear the Cross cheerfully and it will bear you.
• Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.
• Be assured that if you knew all, you would pardon all.
• At the Day of Judgment, we shall not be asked what we have read, but what we have done.
• An humble knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than a deep search after learning.
• Great tranquility of heart is his who cares for neither praise not blame.
• Activate yourself to duty by remembering your position, who you are, and what you have obliged yourself to be.
• What most of all hinders heavenly consolation is that you are too slow in turning yourself to prayer.
• Without the way, there is no going; without the truth, there is no knowing; without the life, there is no living.
• What else does anxiety about the future bring you but sorrow upon sorrow?
• All men commend patience, although few are willing to practice it.
• Occasions do not make a man either strong or weak but they show what he is.
• He who loves with purity considers not the gift of the lover, but the love of the giver.
• Who has a harder fight than he who is striving to overcome himself.
• The only safe ruler is he who has learned to obey willingly.
• The loftier the building, the deeper must the foundation be laid.
• Wait for the Lord. Behave yourself manfully, and be of good courage. Do not be faithless, but stay in your place and do not turn back.
• The acknowledgment of our weakness is the first step in repairing our loss.
• Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature.
• Out of sight, out of mind. The absent are always in the wrong.
• We usually know what we can do, but temptation shows us who we are.
• Of two evils, the less is always to be chosen.
• No man ruleth safely but he that is willingly ruled.
• Man proposes, but God disposes.
• 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.
• It is much safer to obey than to rule.
• Intelligence must follow faith, never precede it, and never destroy it.
• If you cannot mould yourself entirely as you would wish, how can you expect other people to be entirely to your liking?
• I would far rather feel remorse than know how to define it.
• How seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same balance with ourselves.
• How quickly passes away the glory of this world.
• He will easily be content and at peace, whose conscience is pure.
• Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.