Quotes from Thomas a Kempis

My Son, take it not sadly to heart, if any think ill of thee, and say of thee what thou art unwilling to hear.

A book has but one voice, but it does not instruct everyone alike.

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.

Know well that the enemy laboureth in all wise to stay thy desire in good and to make thee void of all good exercise.

O God, You Who are the truth, make me one with You in love everlasting. I am often wearied by the many things I hear and read, but in You is all that I long for. Let the learned be still, let all creatures be silent before You; You alone speak to me.

What good does it do to speak learnedly about the Trinity if, lacking humility, you displease the Trinity? Indeed it is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God. I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it. For what would it profit us to know the whole Bible by heart and the principles of all the philosophers if we live without grace and the love of God? Vanity of vanities and all is vanity, except to love God and serve Him alone.

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.He who knows himself well becomes mean in his own eyes and is not happy when praised by men.

Be at peace with yourself first and then you will be able to bring peace to others.

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

Thou art my glory and the exultation of y heart: thou art my hope and refuge in the day of my trouble.

What thou art, that thou art.

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