Quotes from Thomas a Kempis

Man sees your actions, but God your motives.

Man considers the actions, but God weighs the intentions.

A man that is well ordered in his soul needeth little the unkind demeanor of worldly people nor yet their proud behavior.

All men are frail; but thou shouldst reckon none so frail as thyself.

A wise and good man will turn examples of all sorts to his own advantage. The good he will make his patterns, and strive to equal or excel them. The bad he will by all means avoid.

Therefore, a man ought to root himself so firmly in God that he will not need the consolations of men.

By two wings a man is lifted up from things earthly: by simplicity and purity.

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

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

Carry the cross patiently, and with perfect submission and in the end it shall carry you.

Endeavor to be always patient of the faults and imperfections of others for thou has many faults and imperfections of thine own that require forbearance. If thou are not able to make thyself that which thou wishest, how canst thou expect to mold another in conformity to thy will?

Love flies, runs, and rejoices. It is free and nothing can hold it back.

Of two evils we must always choose the least.

Remember that lost time does not return.

The good devout man first makes inner preparation for the actions he has later to perform. His outward actions do not draw him into lust and vice; rather it is he who bends them into the shape of reason and right judgement. Who has a stiffer battle to fight than the man who is striving to conquer himself.

The reflections on a day well spent furnish us with joys more pleasing than ten thousand triumphs.

In omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro. (Everywhere I have sought peace and not found it, except in a corner with a book.)

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

For a small reward, a man will hurry away on a long journey; while for eternal life, many will hardly take a single step.

He has great tranquillity of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men. He will easily be content and pacified, whose conscience is pure. You are not holier if you are praised, nor the more worthless if you are found fault with. What you are, that you are; neither by word can you be made greater than what you are in the sight of God.

Learned arguments do not make a man holy and righteous, whereas a good life makes him dear to God.

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.

All that is in the world is vanity except to love God and serve him only.

The deepest and most profitable lesson is this,the true knowlege and contempt of ourselves.