Thomas Kempis

When a man is out of sight, it is not too long before he is out of mind.

— Thomas Kempis

As iron put into the fire loseth its rust and becometh clearly red-hot, so he that wholly turneth himself unto God puts off all slothfulness, and is transformed into a new man.

— Thomas Kempis

Adversities do not make a man frail. They show what sort of man he is.

— Thomas Kempis

He has great tranquillity of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men.

— Thomas Kempis

Everywhere I have sought rest and not found it, except sitting in a corner by myself with a little book.

— Thomas Kempis

Many deceive themselves, imagining they'll find happiness in change.

— Thomas Kempis

Bear the Cross cheerfully and it will bear you.

— Thomas Kempis

No one is qualified to converse in public except those contented to do without such conversation.

— Thomas Kempis

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

— Thomas Kempis

The enemy is more easily overcome if he be not suffered to enter the door of our hearts, but be resisted without the gate at his first knock.

— Thomas Kempis

Scruples, temptations, and fears, and cutting perplexities of the heart, are often the lot of the most excellent persons.

— Thomas Kempis

Don't flatter the rich, or appear to willing before the great.

— Thomas Kempis

Set me free from evil passions, and heal my heart of all inordinate affections; that being inwardly cured and thoroughly cleansed, I may be made fit to love, courageous to suffer, steady to persevere.

— Thomas Kempis

Love Him, and keep Him for thy Friend, who, when all go away, will not forsake thee, nor suffer thee to perish at the last.

— Thomas Kempis

He that loveth, flieth, runneth, and rejoiceth. He is free, and cannot be held in. He giveth all for all, and hath all in all, because he resteth in one highest above all things, from whom all that is good flows and proceeds.

— Thomas Kempis

Whatever you do, do it with intelligence, and keep the end in view.

— Thomas Kempis

Man proposes, but God disposes.

— Thomas Kempis

He does much who loves God much, and he does much who does his deed well, and he does his deed well who does it rather for the common good than for his own will.

— Thomas Kempis

Don't think so much about who is for or against you, rather give all your care, that God be with you in everything you do.

— Thomas Kempis

The intention which is fixed on God as its only end will keep people steady in their purposes, and deliver them from being the joke and scorn of fortune.

— Thomas Kempis

If your heart were sincere and upright, every creature would be unto you a looking-glass of life and a book of holy doctrine.

— Thomas Kempis

Thou art my glory and the exultation of y heart: thou art my hope and refuge in the day of my trouble.

— Thomas Kempis

Be not angry that you cannot make another what you wish them to be; since you cannot make yourself what you wish to be.

— Thomas Kempis

It is no little wisdom for a man to keep himself in silence and in good peace when evil words are spoken to him, and to turn his heart to God and not to be troubled with man's judgment.

— Thomas Kempis

It is vanity to desire a long life and to take no heed of a good life.

— Thomas Kempis

How sweet it is to love, and to be dissolved, and as it were to bathe myself in thy love.

— Thomas Kempis

Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of trouble, attempts what is above its strength.... It is therefore able to undertake all things, and it completes many things, and warrants them to take effect, where he who does not love would faint and lie down.

— Thomas Kempis

Love feels no burden, regards not labors, strives toward more than it attains, argues not of impossibility, since it believes that it may and can do all things. Therefore it avails for all things, and fulfils and accomplishes much where one not a lover falls and lies helpless.

— Thomas Kempis

Love makes everything that is heavy light.

— Thomas Kempis

Love is swift, sincere, pious, joyful, generous, strong, patient, faithful, prudent, long-suffering, courageous, and never seeking its own; for wheresoever a person seeketh his own, there he falleth from love.

— Thomas Kempis

Remember, your prerogative is to govern, and not to serve the things of this world.

— Thomas Kempis

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

— Thomas Kempis

It is much safer to obey, than to govern.

— Thomas Kempis

Peace and happiness are what you covet, but these are only to be obtained by labor.

— Thomas Kempis

Do not let your peace depend on the hearts of men; whatever they say about you, good or bad, you are not because of it another man, for as you are, you are.

— Thomas Kempis

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

— Thomas Kempis

The loftier the building the deeper the foundation must be.

— Thomas Kempis

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

— Thomas Kempis

Permit no hour to go by without it due improvement.

— Thomas Kempis

The highest in God's esteem are the lowest in their own.

— Thomas Kempis

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

— Thomas Kempis

The better you understand yourself the less cause you will find to love yourself.

— Thomas Kempis

Simplicity is the intention, purity in the affection; simplicity turns to God, purity unites with and enjoys him.

— Thomas Kempis

Wherever you go, you will always bear yourself about with you, and so you will always find yourself.

— Thomas Kempis

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

— Thomas Kempis

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

— Thomas Kempis

Pass no rash condemnation on other peoples words or actions.

— Thomas Kempis

You are a man, not God; you are human, not an angel. How can you expect to remain always in a constant state of virtue, when this was not possible even for an angel of Heaven, nor for the first man in the Garden?

— Thomas Kempis

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

— Thomas Kempis

Anyone who thinks hard work will never hurt you has never had to pay to have it done. Jesus now has many lovers of his Heavenly Kingdom, but few bearers of his cross.

— Thomas Kempis