Quotes from Thomas a Kempis

As iron cast into fire loses its rust and becomes glowing white, so he who turns completely to God is stripped of his sluggishness and changed into a new man. When a man begins to grow lax, he fears a little toil and welcomes external comfort, but when he begins perfectly to conquer himself and to walk bravely in the ways of God, then he thinks those things less difficult which he thought so hard before.

Lo que más impide la consolación celestial, es que muy tarde vuelves a la oración. Porque antes de orar con atención, buscas muchas consolaciones, y te recreas en lo exterior. De aquí viene que todo te aprovecha poco, hasta que conozcas que yo soy el que libro para los que esperan en Mí; y fuera de Mí no hay auxilio eficaz, consejo provechoso, ni remedio durable.

That is the highest and most profitable lesson, when a man truly knoweth and judgeth lowly of himself. To account nothing of one's self, and to think always kindly and highly of others, this is great and perfect wisdom. Even shouldest thou see thy neighbor sin openly or grievously, yet thou oughtest not to reckon thyself better than he, for thou knowest not how long thou shalt keep thine integrity. All of us are weak and frail; hold thou no man more frail than thyself.

No se turbe, pues, ni tema tu corazón. Cree en Mí, y ten confianza en mi misericordia. Cuando piensas que estás lejos de Mí, estoy más cerca de ti regularmente. C1uando piensas que está todo casi perdido, entonces muchas veces está cerca la ganancia del merecer. No está todo perdido cuando alguna cosa te sucede contraria. No debes juzgar como sientes ahora, ni embarazarte ni acongojarte con cualquier contrariedad que te venga, como si no hubiese esperanza de remedio.

muchos estudian más para saber que para bien vivir,

To account nothing of one's self, and to think always kindly and highly of others, this is great and perfect wisdom. Even

Why seekest thou rest when thou art born to labour? Prepare thyself for patience more than for comforts, and for bearing the cross more than for joy.

You were born to work, so why do you look for rest?

Know thou that the love of thyself is more hurtful to thee than anything in the world. According to the love and inclination which thou hast, everything more or less cleaveth to thee. If thy love be pure, sincere, well-regulated, thou shalt not be in captivity to anything. Do not covet what thou mayest not have; do not have what is able to hinder thee, and to rob thee of inward liberty.

Yo penetro los secretos; y sé que te conviene mucho para tu bien, que algunas veces te deje desconsolado; para que no te ensoberbezcas en los sucesos prósperos, ni quieras complacerte en ti mismo por lo que no eres. Lo que yo te di, te lo puedo quitar, y volvértelo cuando me agradare.

If, with a single glance, you could see everything in the world spread out before your eyes, how fruitless a sight that would be! Raise your eyes to God on high and pray for your sins and deficiencies.

Occasions of adversity best discover how great virtue or strength each one hath. For occasions do not make a man frail, but they reveal what he is.

Cuanto más y mejor entiendes, tanto más gravemente serás juzgado si no vivieres santamente.

Do not those who always seek consolation deserve to be called mercenaries? Do not those who always think of their own profit and gain prove that they love themselves rather than Christ? Where can a man be found who desires to serve God for nothing? Rarely indeed is a man so spiritual as to strip himself of all things. And who shall find a man so truly poor in spirit as to be free from every creature? His value is like that of things brought from the most distant lands.

2. No tengas deseo demasiado de saber, porque en ello se halla grande estorbo y engaño. Los letrados gustan de ser vistos y tenidos por tales. Muchas cosas hay que, el saberlas, poco o nada aprovecha al alma; y muy loco es el que en otras cosas entiende, sino en las que tocan a la salvación. Las muchas palabras no hartan el alma; mas la buena vida le da refrigerio, y la pura conciencia causa gran confianza en Dios.

The man who is not yet wholly dead to self, is soon tempted, and is overcome in small and trifling matters.

La suprema sabiduría consiste en aspirar a ir a los reinos celestiales por el desprecio del mundo. Luego,

The spiritually-minded man putteth care of himself before all cares; and he who diligently attendeth to himself easily keepeth silence concerning others. Thou wilt never be spiritually minded and godly unless thou art silent concerning other men's matters and take full heed to thyself. If thou think wholly upon thyself and upon God, what thou seest out of doors shall move thee little. Where art thou when thou art not present to thyself?

To walk inwardly with God, and not to be held by any outer affections, is the state of a spiritual man.

The Christ speaks: Wherever you are, whatever you do, you will be restless until you turn to God. Does it upset you when a day doesn't go according to your plan? Is there anyone who has everything for which one could wish? No, not one. Kings and popes are not exempt. Disappointment affects everyone. Doldrums corner even the most devout unless they are among the few who are able to endure hardship willingly without complaining.

The Voice of Christ: My child, this is the disposition which you should have if you wish to walk with Me. You should be as ready to suffer as to enjoy. You should as willingly be destitute and poor as rich and satisfied.

Seek, child, to do the will of others rather than your own. Always choose to have less rather than more. Look always for the last place and seek to be beneath all others. Always wish and pray that the will of God be fully carried out in you. Behold, such will enter into the realm of peace and rest.

I am He Who teaches man to despise earthly possessions and to loathe present things, to ask after the eternal, to hunger for heaven, to fly honors and to bear with scandals, to place all hope in Me, to desire nothing apart from Me, and to love Me ardently above all things.

The fewer there are who follow the way to perfection, the harder that way is to find