Quotes from Thomas Kempis

First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.

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.

Great tranquility of heart is his who cares for neither praise nor blame.

Blessed are the ears that hear the pulse of the divine whisperer, and give no heed to the many whisperings of the world.

Without the way , there is no going; without the truth, there is no knowing; without the life, there is no living.