"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 had [...]
"Jesus has always many who love His heavenly kingdom, but few who bear His cross. He has many who desire consolation, but few who care for trial. He finds many to share His table, but few to take part in His fasting. All desire to be happy with Him; few wish to suffer anything for [...]
"Why do you look for rest when you were born to work? Resign yourself to patience rather than to comfort, to carrying your cross rather than to enjoyment." Source: Thomas a’ Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Dover Thrift Editions, 1940.
"The true lover of Christ, however, who sincerely pursues virtue, does not fall back upon consolations nor seek such pleasures of sense, but prefers severe trials and hard labors for the sake of Christ." Source: Thomas a’ Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Dover Thrift Editions, 1940.
"Praise adds nothing to your holiness, nor does blame take anything from it. You are what you are, and you cannot be said to be better than you are in God’s sight. If you consider well what you are within, you will not care what men say about you." Source: Thomas a’ Kempis, The [...]
"You will never be devout of heart unless you are thus silent about the affairs of others and pay particular attention to yourself." Source: Thomas a’ Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Dover Thrift Editions, 1940.
"We take others to task for small mistakes, and overlook greater ones in ourselves. We are quick to feel and brood over the things we suffer for others, but we think nothing of how much others suffer from us. If a man would weigh his own deeds fully and rightly, he would find little cause [...]
"Now, all our peace in this miserable life is found in humbly enduring suffering rather than in being free from it. He who knows best how to suffer will enjoy the greater peace, because he is the conqueror of himself, the master of the world, a friend of Christ, and an heir of heaven." [...]
"First keep peace with yourself; then you will be able to bring peace to others. A peaceful man does more good than a learned man. Whereas a passionate man turns even good to evil and is quick to believe evil, the peaceful man, being good himself, turns all things to good." Source: Thomas a’ [...]
"Direct your zeal, therefore, first upon yourself; then you may with justice exercise it upon those about you. You are well versed in coloring your own actions with excuses which you will not accept from others, though it would be more just to accuse yourself and excuse your brother." Source: Thomas a’ Kempis, The [...]