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Quotes About Virtue

Profound theology doesn't make anyone righteous; what pleases me is an exemplary life. Regret for wrongdoing is better than knowing its definition.
~ Thomas a Kempis
Two things specially avail unto improvement in holiness, namely firmness to withdraw ourselves from the sin to which by nature we are most inclined, and earnest zeal for that good in which we are most lacking.
~ Thomas a Kempis
For verily it is not deep words that make a man holy and upright; it is a good life which maketh a man dear to God.
~ Thomas a Kempis
is truly great who deemeth himself small, and counteth all height of honour as nothing.
~ Thomas a Kempis
He only is truly great, who hath great charity. He is truly great who deemeth himself small, and counteth all height of honour as nothing.
~ Thomas a Kempis
It is no great thing to mingle with the good and the meek, for this is naturally pleasing to all, and every one of us willingly enjoyeth peace and liketh best those who think with us: but to be able to live peaceably with the hard and perverse, or with the disorderly, or those who oppose us, this is a great grace and a thing much to be commended and most worthy of a man.
~ Thomas a Kempis
O sobie samym niewiele mniema?, a o innych zawsze jak najlepiej - to m?dro??, to jest doskona?o??. Nawet gdyby? widzia?, ?e kto? jawnie grzeszy albo dopuszcza si? zbrodni, nie powiniene? uwa?a? si? za lepszego, bo nie wiesz, jak d?ugo wytrwasz w dobrym. Wszyscy jeste?my u?omni, lecz ty nie s?d?, ?e kto? móg?by by? bardziej u?omny od ciebie.
~ Thomas a Kempis
Atajar al principio el mal procura; si llega a echar raíz, tarde se cura (1): Porque primeramente se ofrece al alma el pensamiento sencillo; después, la importuna imaginación; luego, la delectación y el torpe movimiento y el. Consentimiento. Y así se entra poco a poco el maligno enemigo, y se apodera de todo, por no resistirle al principio.
~ Thomas a Kempis
The more and better thou knowest, the more heavy will be thy judgment unless thy life be also more holy.
~ Thomas a Kempis
The learned are well pleased to seem so to others and to be accounted wise, but much that is to be found in learning little profiteth the soul. He that is intent upon things other than those that will help his soul's salvation is lacking in wisdom. Words will not satisfy the soul; but a good life giveth comfort to the mind, and a pure conscience affordeth great confidence in the sight of God.
~ Thomas a Kempis
If thou hast any good, believe that others have more, and so thou mayest preserve thy humility. It is no harm to thee if thou place thyself below all others; but it is great harm if thou place thyself above even one. Peace is ever with the humble man, but in the heart of the proud there is envy and continual wrath.
~ Thomas a Kempis
It is the grace of Christ, and not the virtue of man, which can and does bring it about that through fervor of spirit frail flesh learns to love and to gain what it naturally hates and shuns.
~ Thomas a Kempis
Many often err and accomplish little or nothing because they try to become learned rather than to live well. If men used as much care in uprooting vices and implanting virtues as they do in discussing problems, there would not be so much evil and scandal in the world, or such laxity in religious organizations. On the day of judgment, surely, we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done; not how well we have spoken but how well we have lived.
~ Thomas a Kempis
let thy discourse be concerning things which edify.
~ Thomas a Kempis
muchos estudian más para saber que para bien vivir,
~ Thomas a Kempis
To account nothing of one's self, and to think always kindly and highly of others, this is great and perfect wisdom. Even
~ Thomas a Kempis
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.
~ Thomas a Kempis
The man who is not yet wholly dead to self, is soon tempted, and is overcome in small and trifling matters.
~ Thomas a Kempis
Then enduring patience shall have more might than all the power of the world. Then simple obedience shall be more highly exalted than all worldly wisdom.
~ Thomas a Kempis
Who is forced to struggle more than he who tries to master himself? This ought to be our purpose, then: to conquer self, to become stronger each day, to advance in virtue.
~ Thomas a Kempis
Mightily and long must a man strive within himself before he learn altogether to overcome himself, and to draw his whole affection towards God. When a man resteth upon himself, he easily slippeth away unto human comforts. But a true lover of Christ, and a diligent seeker after virtue, falleth not back upon those comforts, nor seeketh such sweetness as may be tasted and handled, but desireth rather hard exercises, and to undertake severe labours for Christ.
~ Thomas a Kempis
because I am still weak in love and imperfect in virtue, I need to be strengthened and comforted by Thee; therefore visit Thou me often and instruct me with Thy holy ways of discipline. Deliver me from evil passions, and cleanse my heart from all inordinate affections, that, being healed and altogether cleansed within, I may be made ready to love, strong to suffer, steadfast to endure.
~ Thomas a Kempis
Remain tranquil and prepare to bear still greater trials. All is not lost even though you be troubled oftener or tempted more grievously. You are a man, not God. You are flesh, not an angel. How can you possibly expect to remain always in the same state of virtue when the angels in heaven and the first man in paradise failed to do so? I am He Who rescues the afflicted and brings to My divinity those who know their own weakness.
~ Thomas a Kempis
Vanidad es desear larga vida y no cuidar que sea buena.
~ Thomas a Kempis