Quotes from Thomas a Kempis

Established custom is not easily relinquished, and no man is very easily led to see with the eyes of another. If thou rest more upon thy own reason or experience than upon the power of Jesus Christ, thy light shall come slowly and hardly; for God willeth us to be perfectly subject unto Himself, and all our reason to be exalted by abundant love towards Him.

All Saints have passed through much tribulation and temptation, and have profited thereby. And they who endured not temptation became reprobate and fell away. There is no position so sacred, no place so secret, that it is without temptations and adversities.

given to thee. If it seemeth to thee that thou knowest many things, and understandest them well, know also that there are many more things which thou knowest

For a little reward men make a long journey; for eternal life many will scarce lift a foot once from the ground. Mean reward is sought after; for a single piece of money sometimes there is shameful striving; for a thing which is vain and for a trifling promise, men shrink not from toiling day and night.

Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall have abundance of peace.

To think of oneself as nothing, and always to think well and highly of others is the best and most perfect wisdom.

We are not wise in ourselves.7 So we must support one another,8 be tolerant of each other,9 help, teach and advise one another. It is in times of trouble that we really discover the true value of our helpers. They do not weaken us, but reveal their true nature.

The resolve of the just depends upon the grace of God, not on their own wisdom; in Him they trust, whatever they undertake. For man proposes, but God disposes; it is not for man to choose his lot.

The more a man hath unity and simplicity in himself, the more things and the deeper things he understandeth;

Renounce all things, and thou shalt find all things; give up thy lust, and thou shalt find rest.

All of us are weak and frail; hold thou no man more frail than thyself.

Although I know nothing against myself, yet I am not hereby justified,(4) because if Thy mercy were removed away, in Thy sight should no man living be justified.(5)