Top 319 Quotes & Sayings by Thomas a Kempis

Remember that lost time does not return.

What most of all hinders heavenly consolation is that you are too slow in turning yourself to prayer.

Wait for the Lord. Behave yourself manfully, and be of good courage. Do not be faithless, but stay in your place and do not turn back.

I would far rather feel remorse than know how to define it.

Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.

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

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

Bear the Cross cheerfully and it will bear you.

Occasions do not make a man either strong or weak but they show what he is.

Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.

It is much safer to obey than to rule.

No man ruleth safely but he that is willingly ruled.

How quickly passes away the glory of this world.

Activate yourself to duty by remembering your position, who you are, and what you have obliged yourself to be.

A humble knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than a deep search after learning.

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.

All men commend patience, although few are willing to practice it.

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

Never be entirely idle; but either be reading, or writing, or praying or meditating or endeavoring something for the public good.

Who has a harder fight than he who is striving to overcome himself.

What else does anxiety about the future bring you but sorrow upon sorrow?

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

Of two evils we must always choose the least.

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

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

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.

Intelligence must follow faith, never precede it, and never destroy it.

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

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

The loftier the building, the deeper must the foundation be laid.

A man is hindered and distracted in proportion as he draws outward things to himself.

Man proposes, but God disposes.

How seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same balance with ourselves.

Out of sight, out of mind. The absent are always in the wrong.

What difference does it make to you what someone else becomes, or says, or does? You do not need to answer for others, only for yourself.

The acknowledgment of our weakness is the first step in repairing our loss.

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

Oh, how swiftly the glory of the world passes away!

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

Be assured that if you knew all, you would pardon all.

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

Of two evils, the less is always to be chosen.

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

Patience is necessary in this life because so much of life is fraught with adversity. No matter how hard we try, our lives will never be without strife and grief. Thus, we should not strive for a peace that is without temptation, or for a life that never feels adversity. Peace is not found by escaping temptations, but by being tried by them. We will have discovered peace when we have been tried and come through the trial of temptation.

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

Love flies, runs, leaps for joy; it is free and unrestrained. Love gives all for all, resting in One who is highest above all things, from whom every good flows and proceeds. Love does not regard the gifts, but turns to the Giver of all good gifts. Love knows no limits, but ardently transcends all bounds. Love feels no burden, takes no account of toil, attempts things beyond its strength; love sees nothing as impossible, for it feels able to achieve all things. Love therefore does great things; it is strange and effective; while he who lacks love faints and fails.

Carefully avoid in yourself those things which distrub you in others.

Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing more courageous, nothing higher, nothing wider, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller nor better in heaven and earth; because love is born of God, and cannot rest but in God, above all created things.

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

When anger enters the mind, wisdom departs.

Always be ready; always live in such a way that death can never find you unprepared.

If you want to learn something that will really help you, learn to see yourself as God sees you and not as you see yourself in the distorted mirror of your own self-importance.

Two wings lift a person up from earthly concerns: Simplicity in intention, and Purity in feeling.

Always keep a good distance between yourself and lying, quarreling, detracting, insulting and gossip. The person who can do that will some day learn to enjoy the silence.

If we live in peace ourselves, we in turn may bring peace to others. A peaceable man does more good than a learned one.

To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love.

In the Cross is salvation; in the Cross is life; in the Cross is protection against our enemies; in the Cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness; in the Cross is strength of mind; in the Cross is joy of spirit; in the Cross is excellence of virtue; in the Cross is perfection of holiness. There is no salvation of soul, nor hope of eternal life, save in the Cross.

Man sees your actions, but God your motives.

Jesus has many who love the kingdom of God, but few who bear a cross. He has many who desire His comfort, but few who desire His suffering. All want to rejoice with him, but few are willing to suffer for Him. He writes; there are many who admire his miracles, but there are few who follow in the humiliation of the cross.

Love is a mighty power, a great and complete good. Love alone lightens every burden, and makes rough places smooth. It bears every hardship as though it were nothing, and renders all bitterness sweet and acceptable.