Thomas A Kempis Quotes

At the Day of Judgment, we shall not be asked what we have read, but what we have done.

Man proposes, but God disposes.

What else does anxiety about the future bring you but sorrow upon sorrow?

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.

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

Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.

He will easily be content and at peace, whose conscience is pure.

Be assured that if you knew all, you would pardon all.

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

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

Intelligence must follow faith, never precede it, and never destroy it.

Great tranquility of heart is his who cares for neither praise not blame.

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.

An humble knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than a deep search after learning.

Gladly we desire to make other men perfect, but we will not amend our own fault.

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

What most of all hinders heavenly consolation is that you are too slow in turning yourself to prayer.

Never be entirely idle; but either be reading, or writing, or praying or meditating or endeavoring something for the public good.

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

Without the way, there is no going; without the truth, there is no knowing; without the life, there is no living.

All men commend patience, although few are willing to practice it.

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

First keep peace with yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.

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.