Thomas a Kempis
If you desire to know or learn anything to your advantage, then take delight in being unknown and unregarded. A true understanding and humble estimate of oneself is the highest and most valuable of all lessons.Collection: Humble
Whoever finds Jesus, finds a rich treasure, and a good above every good. He who loses Jesus loses much indeed, and more than the whole world. Poorest of all is he who lives without Jesus, and richest of all is he who stands in favor with Jesus.Collection: Faith
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.Collection: Stars
In the morning fix thy good purpose; and at night examine thyself what thou hast done, how thou hast behaved thyself in word, deed, and thought.Collection: Morning
Two wings lift a person up from earthly concerns: Simplicity in intention, and Purity in feeling.Collection: Wings
All earthly joy begins pleasantly, but at the end it gnaws and kills.Collection: Greed
If thou art willing to suffer no adversity, how wilt thou be the friend of Christ?Collection: Art
Christ willed to suffer and be despised and do you dare complain of the same? Christ had adversaries and backbiters; and do you wish to have all men your friends and benefactors? When shall your patience attain her crown if no adversity befalls you? If you are willing to suffer naught that is against you, how will you be the friend of Christ?Collection: Motivation
Love is a great thing, a good above all others, which alone maketh every burden light.Collection: Love
He that seeks here any other thing but simply God and the salvation of his soul, will find nothing but trouble and sorrow.Collection: Soul
If God were our one and only desire we would not be so easily upset when our opinions do not find outside acceptance.Collection: Godly
Always be ready; always live in such a way that death can never find you unprepared.Collection: Way
The devil does not tempt unbelievers and sinners who are already his own.Collection: Devil
Do not interfere when your opinion is not sought.Collection: Opinion
We should have much more peace if we would not busy ourselves with the sayings and doings of others.Collection: Peace
Constantly choose rather to want less, than to have more.Collection: Want
Be assured that if you knew all, you would pardon all.Collection: Forgiveness
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.Collection: Angel
Love makes everything that is heavy light.Collection: Love
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.Collection: Adversity
Learn to humble yourself, you are but earth and clay.Collection: Inspirational
We must imitate Christ's life and his ways if we are to be truly enlightened and set free from the darkness of our own hearts. Let it be the most important thing we do, then, to reflect on the life of Jesus Christ.Collection: Jesus
Occasions do not make a man either strong or weak but they show what he is.Collection: Strong
The Lord has many lovers of His crown but few lovers of His Cross.Collection: Crowns
It is vanity to desire a long life and to take no heed of a good life.Collection: Life
Many deceive themselves, imagining they'll find happiness in change.Collection: Change
God often gives in one brief moment that which He has for a long time denied.Collection: Long
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.Collection: Differences
O Lord, Thou knowest that which is best for us; let this or that be done, as Thou shalt please. Give what Thou wilt, how much Thou wilt, and when Thou wilt. Deal with me as thou thinkest best. Place me where Thou wilt, and deal with me in all things just as Thou wilt. Behold, I am Thy servant, prepared for all things: I desire not to live unto myself, but unto Thee; and oh, that I could do it worthily and perfectly!Collection: Giving
Be thankful for the smallest blessing and you will deserve to receive greater. Value the least gifts no less than the greatest, and simple graces as especial favors. If you remember the dignity of the Giver, no gift will seem small or mean.Collection: Thank You
Temptations discover what you are.Collection: Temptation
We would willingly have others perfect, and yet we amend not our own faults. We would have others severely corrected and will not be corrected ourselves. The large liberty of others displeases us, and yet we will not have our own desires denied us. We will have others kept under by strict laws, but in no sort will ourselves be restrained. And thus it appears how seldom we weigh our neighbor in the same balance with ourselves.Collection: Law
He will be with you also, all the way, that faithful God. Every morning when you awaken to the old and tolerable pain, at every mile of the hot uphill dusty road of tiring duty, on to the judgment seat, the same Christ there as ever, still loving you, still sufficient for you, even then. And then, on through all eternity.Collection: Faith
Confidence is the illusion born of accidental success.Collection: Confidence
He is truly great who is little in his own eyes and makes nothing of the highestCollection: Christian
And if thy heart be straight with God then every creature shall be to thee a mirror of life and a book of holy doctrine for there is no creature so little or so despised but that sheweth and representeth the goodness of God.Collection: Religious
A life without purpose is a languid, drifting thing; Every day we ought to review our purpose, saying to ourselves: This day let me make a sound beginning, for what we have hitherto done is naught!Collection: Inspirational
I have often heard, that it is safer to hear and to take counsel, than to give it.Collection: Giving
No man is without his load of trouble.Collection: Men
Faith is required of thee, and a sincere life, not loftiness of intellect, nor deepness in the mysteries of God.Collection: Mystery
What thou art, that thou art.Collection: Art
Remember, your prerogative is to govern, and not to serve the things of this world.Collection: Memories
Both above and below, without and within, which way so ever thou dost turn thee, everywhere thou shalt find the Cross; and everywhere of necessity thou must hold fast patience, if thou wilt have inward peace, and enjoy an everlasting crown.Collection: Peace
If thou wilt receive profit, read with humility, simplicity and faith, and seek not at any time the fame of being learned.Collection: Humility
Love flies, runs, and rejoices; it is free and nothing can hold it back.Collection: Running
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.Collection: Love
Let not therefore thy heart be troubled, neither let it fear. Trust in me, and put thy confidence in my mercy. When thou thinkest thyself farthest off from me, oftentimes I am nearest unto thee. When thou countest almost all to be lost, then oftentimes the greatest gain of reward is close at hand. All is not lost, when any thing falleth out contrary. Thou oughtest not to judge according to present feeling; nor so to take any grief, or give thyself over to it.Collection: Grief
Don't flatter the rich, or appear to willing before the great.Collection: Flattery
Would to God that we might spend a single day really well!Collection: Might