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Quotes About Wisdom

At the least, bear patiently, if thou canst not joyfully. And although thou be very unwilling to hear it, and feel indignation, yet check thyself, and suffer no unadvised word to come forth from thy lips, whereby the little ones may be offended. Soon the storm which hath been raised shall be stilled, and inward grief shall be sweetened by returning grace.
~ Thomas a Kempis
He who shunneth not small faults falleth little by little into greater.
~ Thomas a Kempis
This is great wisdom, not to be hasty in action, or stubborn in our own opinions.
~ 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.
~ Thomas a Kempis
Many things there are to know which profiteth little or nothing to the soul.
~ Thomas a Kempis
There is naturally in every man a desire to know, but what profiteth knowledge without the fear of God?
~ Thomas a Kempis
The more humble a man is in himself, and the more obedient towards God, the wiser will he be in all things, and the more shall his soul be at peace.
~ Thomas a Kempis
Teach me, O Lord, to do Your will; teach me to live worthily and humbly in Your sight; for You are my wisdom, who know me truly, and who knew me before the world was made, and before I had my being.
~ Thomas a Kempis
How many there are who perish because of vain worldly knowledge and too little care for serving God. They became vain in their own conceits because they chose to be great rather than humble. He is truly great who has great charity. He is truly great who is little in his own eyes and makes nothing of the highest honor. He is truly wise who looks upon all earthly things as folly that he may gain Christ. He who does God's will and renounces his own is truly very learned.
~ Thomas a Kempis
Not every desire is from the Holy Spirit, even though it may seem right and good.
~ Thomas a Kempis
If you wish to learn and appreciate something worth while, then love to be unknown and considered as nothing. Truly to know and despise self is the best and most perfect counsel. To think of oneself as nothing, and always to think well and highly of others is the best and most perfect wisdom.
~ Thomas a Kempis
To have no opinion of ourselves, and to think always well and highly of others, is great wisdom and perfection.
~ Thomas a Kempis
Rest from inordinate desire or knowledge, for therein is found much distraction and deceit.
~ Thomas a Kempis
Shun too great a desire for knowledge, for in it there is much fretting and delusion. Intellectuals like to appear learned and to be called wise. Yet there are many things the knowledge of which does little or no good to the soul, and he who concerns himself about other things than those which lead to salvation is very unwise.
~ Thomas a Kempis
If all were perfect, what should we have to suffer from others for God's sake? But God has so ordained, that we may learn to bear with one another's burdens, for there is no man without fault, no man without burden, no man sufficient to himself nor wise enough. Hence we must support one another, console one another, mutually help, counsel, and advise, for 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.
~ Thomas a Kempis
We must not trust every word of others or feeling within ourselves, but cautiously and patiently try the matter, whether it be of God.
~ Thomas a Kempis
let not the weight of the writer be a stumbling-block to thee, whether he be of little or much learning, but let the love of the pure Truth draw thee to read.
~ Thomas a Kempis
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
No man can safely speak, unless he who would gladly remain silent.
~ 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 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.
~ Thomas a Kempis
let the love of the pure Truth draw thee to read. Ask not, who hath said this or that, but look to what he says.
~ Thomas a Kempis
True it is that every man willingly followeth his own bent, and is the more inclined to those who agree with him. But if Christ is amongst us, then it is necessary that we sometimes yield up our own opinion for the sake of peace. Who is so wise as to have perfect knowledge of all things? Therefore trust not too much to thine own opinion, but be ready also to hear the opinions of others.
~ Thomas a Kempis
If thou knewest the whole Bible, and the sayings of all the philosophers, what should all this profit thee without the love and grace of God?
~ Thomas a Kempis
Rest from inordinate desire of knowledge, for therein is found much distraction and deceit. Those who have knowledge desire to appear learned, and to be called wise. Many things there are to know which profiteth little or nothing to the soul. And foolish out of measure is he who attendeth upon other things rather than those which serve to his soul's health. Many words satisfy not the soul, but a good life refresheth the mind, and a pure conscience giveth great confidence towards God.
~ Thomas a Kempis