Quotes from Thomas a Kempis

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

We usually know what we can do, but temptation shows us who we are.

Out of two evils, the less is always to be chosen.

It is futile to wish for a long life, and then to give so little care to living well.

It is vanity to desire a long life and to take no heed of a good life.

If your heart were sincere and upright, every creature would be unto you a looking-glass of life and a book of holy doctrine.

Whatever you do, do it with intelligence, and keep the end in view.

He who loves with purity considers not the gift of the lover, but the love of the giver.

The only safe ruler is he who has learned to obey willingly.

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

Of what use is a long life, if we amend so little? Alas, a long life often adds to our sins rather than to our virtue!

Faith is required of thee, and a sincere life, not loftiness of intellect, nor deepness in the mysteries of God.

How quickly passes away the glory of this world.

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

Be thankful for the smallest blessing, and you will be worthy to receive greater.

Be therefore thankful for the least gift, so shalt thou be worthy to receive greater.

God often gives in one brief moment that which He has for a long time denied.

Remember always your end, and that lost time does not return.

Whoever would fully and feelingly understand the words of Christ, must endeavor to conform his life wholly to the life of Christ.

The end of all is death and man's life passeth away suddenly as a shadow.

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

Now is the time to be doing, now is the time to be stirring, now is the time to amend myself.

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.

The measure of every man's virtue is best revealed in time of adversity - adversity that does not weaken a man but rather shows what he is.